I'm new...did I do this wrong?

[ktsy]

Hi gang, I've posted a message on my Introduce myself page, but now I'm wondering if I should have posted it here? It's about a problem we're having with my daughters 2007 Camry.


Here's the problem... Last night when she left work, she made a quick stop. Upon returning to her car noticed her lights we on. She thought she had the wrong car. The car was running. She does not have remote start. She tried the fob to unlock the car and it wouldn't unlock, she had to use the key. A couple of bystanders didn't think the car was running, so they suggested she try the ignition...crunch..it was running. With the key in the on position, the car turned itself off. Then it tried to start itself over and over. She removed the key and it continued. A bystander then took the fob and randomly pushed it several times and it finally stopped. She waited a few minutes and started it and drove home. She has had this car 32 days. Given the recent Toyota scares, we are concerned. Any thoughts out there??

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Very strange. I've done some searching on the net and have found a couple of other people who have experienced this problem. There's a good chance that there's a remote start system installed that your daughter doesn't know about. An unlikely possibility is that someone nearby used the remote start feature on their car and it transmitted the same frequency as your daughter's (cheaper systems tend to do this). If the car turns off when you depress the brake pedal then this is a good way to tell if it has remote start installed.

If it turns out that it definitely doesn't have remote start, then it could be a problem with the starter motor that is causing it to start by itself.

The only other thing I can think of is an aftermarket alarm system. If one has been fitted then this may be the cause of the problem, either due to faulty wiring or a defective unit. You can try disabling it by following the instructions in this link (strangely enough, someone else with a Camry experienced the exact same problem your daughter is having. See the link below to read about it) -

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Car-Alarm...-started-1.htm

I'd suggest getting in contact with the previous owner and asking them if they know anything about it. If your daughter bought the car from a dealer then I'll make them take care of it. Best of luck, and please let us know how you and your daughter get on as I'd be very interested to find out what the cause of the problem was.

[gdanaher]

Did she buy the car new? I'd bet the farm and livestock that she has remote start. Press the lock button 3 times and then hold it down. If she was holding her keys in the store that is pretty easy to do.

[ktsy]

Thanks guys for your responses. We are unaware of any remote start system, but it did occur to me as an off-the-wall thought! Given all the recent concerns with Toyota, we are starting to second guess our decision. I hope it is as easy as that. She bought the vehicle from a Dealer and we will definitely be visiting them 1st thing tomorrow. Thanks again!

[Tobeit]

Originally Posted by gdanaher

Did she buy the car new? I'd bet the farm and livestock that she has remote start. Press the lock button 3 times and then hold it down. If she was holding her keys in the store that is pretty easy to do.

never knew (or bothered to find out) that the remote start came w/o the push start button feature. Did it? My remote start never, ever started on it's own.

to the op - just find out what remote start is installed - camry's don't start by magic and many (if not all) of these 'magic acceleration stories' turned out to be false. The latest transpo government report did not find one proofen example. They did find sticky pedals on the floor mats. I fully believe the stories that the car accelerates even when pressing the brake pedal are just that - stories.

[gdanaher]

The basic remote start is built into the standard key fob. A brand new key with a new car that has remote start will usually have a little sticker on it that says remote start, but it is a sticker and falls off in about 10 minutes. After that you just have to know. There are instructions for this in the owners materials, or just push the lock button 3 times and then hold it down for about 2-3 seconds and the car will likely start for you (assuming you have the remote feature).

[workerant]

^ wow, Toyota is that cheap? They can't make a little indent for the sticker to sit in?

[gdanaher]

Originally Posted by workerant

^ wow, Toyota is that cheap? They can't make a little indent for the sticker to sit in?

It's just a minor feature that the distributor adds to the car at the POE. No need in throwing away the original $150 keys, and once you have the car, you know you have the feature.

[ktsy]

Well you guys were right. Although the dealer "supposedly" did the 160 pt check that they do on "certified used" vehicles; and although we were told it did not have a remote; although we did the whole "push the button 3 times and hold down" test and nothing happened they found an after market remote installed. I brought it home as a souvenior. But they treated us right, taking no chances. They sent a wrecker to tow it. And while we were there, we discovered that everytime they detail it (car wash), the interior floors become absolutely soaked. So they sent my daughter home with a 2010 camry LOANER, so they could figure everything out and dry it out! We'll see what they come up with. Have to say, I am relieved it was a remote! Thanks for all your help.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by ktsy

Well you guys were right. Although the dealer "supposedly" did the 160 pt check that they do on "certified used" vehicles; and although we were told it did not have a remote; although we did the whole "push the button 3 times and hold down" test and nothing happened they found an after market remote installed. I brought it home as a souvenior. But they treated us right, taking no chances. They sent a wrecker to tow it. And while we were there, we discovered that everytime they detail it (car wash), the interior floors become absolutely soaked. So they sent my daughter home with a 2010 camry LOANER, so they could figure everything out and dry it out! We'll see what they come up with. Have to say, I am relieved it was a remote! Thanks for all your help.

If it has a sunroof, there is a TSB on drain hoses that could have disconnected that affected some GEN6 models.

[ktsy]

Thank you for your suggestion...BUT It does not have a sunroof. I'm thinking maybe some plugs or something like that. It seems to come from underneath from the pressure of the underwash.