1994 Camry Starter issues

[jasontf]

I have a 1994 Camry with almost 100k miles on it. It had an Audiovox alarm installed when I bought it from the dealer, something I've always had a love-hate relationship with.
I mention the alarm because I've had some things happen which I perceived to be electrical issues. However, I've just completed a pretty comprehensive check and didn't find anything out of the ordinary.

The issue of the day begins this way: my wife started the car (she mentioned it had a strange start), drove it a couple of miles, then went into a store. Came back out about 10 minutes later and turned the key. Nothing happened. We keep the lights on and they were strong, so there didn't seem to be a battery issue (there was no clicking from the starter, nothing). She tried a couple of times, then gave up. I came to get her and it started right up. I went through checking ground wires, etc, thinking it was an electrical issue. Then I put everything back together after finding nothing. I started it up, it sounded like maybe the starter had a disconnect when it started because it was like the starter engaged, then disengaged, then engaged again to start it, all in less than a couple of seconds. So I drove it around the block, came back and cut it off. I let it sit less than a minute, then tried to start it. Again, nothing. The lights were strong, no starter winddown (like a low battery not quite strong enough to turn the motor very fast), no clicking from the starter, just silence. I cut the key off, tried to start again, and it started right up. I then started it about 6 times, turning it off, turning the key off, then starting again. I couldn't replicate it.
Any ideas about what to try/check next?

[69GTSport]

You'll need to give more specifics on your comprehensive checks. Something simple to try to rule out the trans' neutral/safety switch is to wiggle the shifter or place the shifter into neutral and see if that makes a difference. Also make sure the battery wire going to the starter always has juice and the switched wire has juice whenever you turn the keyswitch to start. If the keyswitch circuit doesn't always show power, then you may have to look into disabling or unhooking the alarm system if it's tied into the starter circuit in any way.

[Mister_Perkins]

Are your dash lights indicating the gear your in??

On the drivers side Wheel well, there is a Black wire with a thin white stripe connected to a large black harness. Disconnect that harness and on the firewall side (side that runs inside the car) Probe the black/white wire with a test light, grounding the other side of the test light to the body. have a helper turn the vehicle in the "START" Position and confirm that the test light lights up. If so, move onto the Neutral Safety Switch as this will be the problem more than likely. If it DOESNT light up, you have a problem between the ignition switch and the Plug you just probed. Pull the knee bolster off and repair or replace the ignition harness.

I bet .. like the previous poster said, the Neutral Safety switch is culprit.

Have you tried putting the car in Neutral yet to start it ?

If your car is a 5-speed ... I would look more into a faulty ignition switch compared to a NSS


Since its an intermittent problem its going to be hard to replicate. My suggestion to you is to just wait until it does it again and test the ignition wire i posted earlier.

The ignition systems for our cars is fairly easy.

the NSS, Ignition switch, ECU, Igniter, Distributor, Coil, ignition pickup all work together to start the car.

For intermittent problems , I would say either Ignition switch or NSS Though.

generally once any of the other things go bad it just wouldnt run. A Bad contact on either the NSS or ignition switch would cause a problem to happen every once in a while


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edit:

There is also a key interlock solenoid too that could cause an intermittent no-start problem

[jasontf]

Thanks for these suggestions. I have disabled the alarm (disconnected the main box). I like the idea of the neutral safety switch. The dash light for the neutral is out, but the light for park works. When it happens again, I'll try the test described. Hopefully it doesn't happen late at night away from home

[Mister_Perkins]

When it doesnt start, try to wiggle the shifter around while your turning the key in park. Also try it in neutral. If it starts .. the NSS is definitely suspect