Starter hotwired on when battery is connected.

[helloguysimnew]

Hey all,

Not sure if this is the right place to post it, but I have a problem with my 1999 Camry XLE. It's a 4-cylinder and just today when I went to start it, the starter wouldn't disengage while the engine was running or not running. If I put the battery cables back on, the starter automatically starts.

So, bad starter? Bad relay somewhere?

Thanks

[toyomoho]

The starter motor has a starter solenoid attached to it, the contacts in the solenoid could be stuck closed.

[helloguysimnew]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

The starter motor has a starter solenoid attached to it, the contacts in the solenoid could be stuck closed.

Is there an easy way to disassemble the solenoid or should the whole starter be replaced?

[aaronv94le]

Change the starter relay maybe? On my 94 the main engine relay would keep my fan on all of the time even with the key off. I tried everything but it would stay on and I changed the relay and problem solved.

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by helloguysimnew

Is there an easy way to disassemble the solenoid or should the whole starter be replaced?

Solenoid's pretty easy to rebuild. http://www.team-integra.net/forum/di...TopicID=123037 is a good write-up with pictures.

The FSM at http://www.camrystuff.com/manuals/Gen4/Starting.pdf has a good write-up on starter removal -- it's pretty easy.

It's also somewhat possible that the starter relay (which is nowhere near the starter) has stuck in the "on" position. Very mildly possible that the ignition switch is has stuck in the "start" position. The relay can just be pulled out to see if that fixes the problem. See page 18 of http://www.camrystuff.com/manuals/Gen4/99EWD.pdf for the location of the relay junction box (Junction Box #2 -- middle of driver's side engine bay), and the top of page 22 for the location of the starter relay in the junction box.

Before getting into the disassembly biz, you might want to give the solenoid housing (the big thing sticking out from the side of the main starter) a few middlin' hard wacks with a 2x4 or hammer -- might be enough to unjam the solenoid plunger, if that's the bad boy.

[JCamry94]

While I'm sure everyone's info is great save yourself the time and money and purchase a new starter with a lifetime warranty