hard to start camry? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

spanishfly714 · 02-15-2011, 08:17 AM

This is my 1st camry se with a 2.4 and i'm not sure if its normal? but everytime i start it. i have to hold the key for a few seconds for it to start? is this normal? most cars i have i turn the key and it starts right up? I changed the air filter and spark plugs but no change? anything else i should try?

gdanaher · 02-15-2011, 10:22 AM

If you want an answer you need to provide more info. What year is it, how many miles???

spanishfly714 · 02-15-2011, 10:46 AM

My camry se is a 2005 2.4 auto with 98000 miles

fatngs · 02-15-2011, 11:59 AM

i would test the battery & starter..... advance auto will do it for free

spanishfly714 · 02-15-2011, 12:06 PM

I will have that tested was wondering about the timing? does this eng. have a timing belt or chain?

fatngs · 02-15-2011, 12:08 PM

chain

NegativeTen · 02-15-2011, 12:58 PM

You'll need to be a bit more specific on the how exactly it's "difficult" to start. Does the engine crank healthily while you have the key turned, and then a few seconds later it fires right up? Or is the cranking sluggish and uneven, and it barely even wants to start?

If it's the former, I'd look into something internal to the engine (plugs, wires, coils, MAF, fuel pump, or even timing like you suggested). If the latter, then most likely the issue is your battery or starter.

Hope this helps!

gdanaher · 02-15-2011, 01:00 PM

Assuming the battery checks ok and the starter spins quickly as it should, the next step would be to pour a couple cans of injector cleaner in the gas, and then pull the air intake apart ahead of the throttle butterfly and zap it with some carb cleaner. Try to clean the crud out from around the throttle area. Lots of folks around here will swear by SeaFoam and I won't argue with them. Check any vacuum lines for a break or leak. These last better than they used to, but still sometimes they fail.

spanishfly714 · 02-15-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NegativeTen

You'll need to be a bit more specific on the how exactly it's "difficult" to start. Does the engine crank healthily while you have the key turned, and then a few seconds later it fires right up? Or is the cranking sluggish and uneven, and it barely even wants to start?

If it's the former, I'd look into something internal to the engine (plugs, wires, coils, MAF, fuel pump, or even timing like you suggested). If the latter, then most likely the issue is your battery or starter.

Hope this helps!

the engine crank healthly. just takes a few seconds to crank? I changed plugs, air filter and put a can of seafoam in the tank which i'm still running.

spanishfly714 · 02-15-2011, 01:34 PM

will try carb cleaner this weekend... : )

NegativeTen · 02-15-2011, 02:14 PM

Be sure to get non-chlorinated carb cleaner. If the chlorinated stuff gets on the wire sensors of your MAF you can run into more trouble than you've bargained for. Better yet, get a can of MAF Cleaner (I think CRC makes it) instead. Even so, avoid spraying directly on the MAF wires.

If it's cranking fine then your problem then your problem is only one of three root causes: spark, fuel, or air. Those three things are the essential components to ignition, and any one can give you exactly the problem you're having. Either you're getting too much or not enough fuel (fuel pressure regulator, or fuel pump), too much or not enough air (cracked vacuum, leaky manifold, deposits in the throttle body), or a bad spark (weak, or out of time).

Make sure your plugs are properly gapped if using single-electrodes, make sure wires are all snug, check for vacuum leaks. If all of that fails and you're still at a loss, move onto checking the fuel pressure and more serious things like compression.. but it's probably nothing that serious.