2002 camry le won't turn over - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

silvia_s14 · 07-26-2007, 12:56 PM

i have a 2002 camry le with 178,742 miles. so today i go to a local denny's to have some grub. i come out to my car and it won't turn over. check the batt cables and messed w/starter still nothing. i have a 1/2 tank so i know it's not that. i turn the key and all my seat belt, oil, and engine lights come on. just won't turn over. so i have it towed home, take the starter out take it to autozone where they tested it and say it's no good. i take it to kragen and they test it three times and 3 times it passes as good starter. the guy at auto zone was new there so i don't think he tested it right. the kragen guy said it could be my batt but it's a 1 1/2 old. i don't think it could be that.
please help, this is my only car and i realy need it right now. thanks

somick · 07-26-2007, 01:24 PM

Find somebody who can give you a jump start.

If it starts, go to Kragen (let the car run) and ask them to test your battery and alternator.

If your battery and alternator test OK you should troubleshoot you ignition system.

By the way, did you check fuses?

Sam

silvia_s14 · 07-26-2007, 02:10 PM

thanks for replying. i checked the fuses under the hood and inside the car they look good. won't be able to check the batt or jump it tell my bro gets off work around 430 or 500. but will check and get back to ya. alternator was just replaced not to long ago so it shouldnt be that. thanks for the help. please any other ideas. thanks again

Mike Gerber · 07-26-2007, 03:47 PM

It could be the starter's solenoid contacts. To test this give the starter a rap with a hammer or a small wrench. Give it a good tap, but son't try to crack the thing. Now try to start it or have someone hold the key in the start position and you go out and tap the starter. If the starter now turns, you have identified the starter solenoid contact problem. This would explain why it tests good at one time and tests bad another. The starter solenoid contact problem can be very intermittant. Do a search for "starter contacts" and read up on the problem.

Mike

TRD VVTi · 07-26-2007, 04:16 PM

What does having a half tank have to do with the vehicle not turning over? It wouldn't matter it you didn't have any gas it all. It would have to crank first and fuel has nothing to do with that.

Personally, I think you should have someone that knows at least the basics check the car for you.

The battery and connections is the first thing that you test.

Get a manual and learn how to properly diagnose problems.

You're jumping around for no reason at all. Diagnosing that condition takes a few minutes at most.

GET A REPAIR MANUAL OR CHECK OUT THE ONLINE MANUAL.

Mike Gerber · 07-26-2007, 04:32 PM

["I]What does having a half tank have to do with the vehicle not turning over? It wouldn't matter it you didn't have any gas it all. It would have to crank first and fuel has nothing to do with that[/I]."

I was thinking about that too.

Mike

silvia_s14 · 07-26-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvia_s14

i have a 1/2 tank so i know it's not that.

i know it has nothing to do with that but i posted this in other forums and i got stupid answers like alternator , does it have gas. so i just put that in so i wouldnt get that answer on this forum..
i'm not jumping around but i am a little ? right now. i sent it out to toyota said the car should be done friday. well thanks i guess for the help

gdanaher · 07-26-2007, 05:20 PM

If you turn the key to start and the idiot lights dim out badly then the likely culprit is the battery. You need some basic tools like a volt meter and you need to know how to use them. Just sitting, the battery should show in the ballpark of 13.5-14 volts. If it's closer to 12 volts then it might be bad. The starter solenoid might be bad and at this mileage I would highly suspect it. Since you have no trouble checking skills I would highly suggest that you take it to the local mechanic and have them diagnose the problem. This one is very basic and not at all rocket science.

carlo$ · 07-27-2007, 07:33 AM

ciclk:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2034953/11

white3ch0c0late · 07-27-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdanaher

If you turn the key to start and the idiot lights dim out badly then the likely culprit is the battery. You need some basic tools like a volt meter and you need to know how to use them. Just sitting, the battery should show in the ballpark of 13.5-14 volts. If it's closer to 12 volts then it might be bad. The starter solenoid might be bad and at this mileage I would highly suspect it. Since you have no trouble checking skills I would highly suggest that you take it to the local mechanic and have them diagnose the problem. This one is very basic and not at all rocket science.

Isn't it 14 volts with the car on? I could be wrong, but I thought it was around 11 volts just sitting.

TRD VVTi · 07-27-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by white3ch0c0late

Isn't it 14 volts with the car on? I could be wrong, but I thought it was around 11 volts just sitting.

You're right but the battery should still hold 12 volts when the vehicle is off.

Voltage isn't really an accurate way to test a battery or an alternator.

Amps is where it's at. Putting the battery and charging system under load is the proper way to test each.

silvia_s14 · 07-27-2007, 02:44 PM

i got the car running again and it turns out the guys at kragen were wrong. toyota tested the car and tells me the starter is no good. so i purchase one from them brand new 220.00 and installed it myself. took about 30min and was on my way home. thanks for the help guys. i do have a volt meter but my batt tested good and the alternator was good to. stupid kragen

TRD VVTi · 07-27-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvia_s14

i got the car running again and it turns out the guys at kragen were wrong. toyota tested the car and tells me the starter is no good. so i purchase one from them brand new 220.00 and installed it myself. took about 30min and was on my way home. thanks for the help guys. i do have a volt meter but my batt tested good and the alternator was good to. stupid kragen

I'm glad you got it fixed reasonably.

You can't accurately test an alternator or a battery with a voltmeter. You can only perform a preliminary voltage check.

Brian R. · 07-29-2007, 02:02 PM

Mike was probably correct in that it was your solenoid contacts. You could have replaced them for realy cheap if you wanted to take the time.