1998 Camry Starting Issue - Please Help! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

scjerry98 · 12-11-2011, 05:35 PM

hi everyone, and thanks in advance.

i was driving home yesterday, and about 5 minutes before i got home, the check engine light on the dash came on. today, i started the car and i smelled some smoke which appeared to have come from the engine bay. since then, i have not been able to get my car started and thought i'd take a video of trying to figure out what's going on. i haven't gotten the check engine codes yet but i will post them here as soon as i can.

You Tube

(the clicking you hear after the first try of cranking is my car door locks opening and closing)

any idea what is wrong? i'm leaning towards the starter but i have no idea why the starter would cause the check engine light to come on while i am driving. any advice on where to start looking is greatly appreciated!!!

wc1972 · 12-11-2011, 09:52 PM

Could it be the battery?
The latter tries of starting do not sound as strong as the 1st one?
It is winter time, batteries do at this time.

pmesfun · 12-11-2011, 10:04 PM

Sounds like you have a V6?

I think the starter is bad, or the battery is real weak.

scjerry98 · 12-12-2011, 01:03 AM

@wc1972- i put a multimeter on the battery terminals and measured ~12.4v. this isn't with a load, of course. any suggestions on how i can test if the battery is bad? i did get it back in 2006, so it may be it.

@pmesfun - my 98 is a 4 cylinder 5fse engine, if that helps. any tips on how to test the starter? i've read that the starter can be removed and taken to autozone for testing.

also, the past few weeks, i have noticed the car taking a bit longer to start than usual. instead of the normal chugchugchugvroom, it was more like chug... chug... chug... chug...vroom.

***BMR*** · 12-12-2011, 10:26 AM

Any auto parts store can test both the battery and the starter. The battery can still be in the car. The starter has to be removed.

I listened to your video, and I'm not sure which I think it is. I lean towards it being the battery. It sounds like the starter starts to turn the engine over, and then its gear disengages and makes a squeally-grindy noise. Like the batt's voltage is too low to keep it going properly.

csaxon · 12-12-2011, 01:03 PM

I agree with BMR the engine turns 2x then the starter clicks. That indicates a weak battery. Get a battery charger to restore its power or get a new battery.

***BMR*** · 12-12-2011, 01:47 PM

Before you replace anything, you should get the CE light error code(s) pulled and post 'em up. It might be unrelated, might not. Also, it's possible the battery & starter are fine, and the alternator's bad; not charging the battery. So before you start throwing parts at it, get all those tested.

scjerry98 · 12-21-2011, 01:39 AM

Got the battery tested at local O'Reilly. The CSR said it would take about 1 hour so I left to buy some sodas (I wish I could get some to all of you who posted here) I came back and he said that the battery failed testing about 2 minutes after I left. Bought a Kirkland battery from Costco and installed it. It started right up!!! Thanks for all your tips and advice. I love this forum!