Engine won't start...any ideas?

[GrimReaper]

Hey guys. I have a 99 Camry LE (4-cyl) and the car won't start. Engine won't turn over at all. When I turn the key, it makes a single clicking sound and that's it. There are no codes (active or pending), and all fuses/fusible links are good. I'm guessing it's the starter solenoid but wanted to get other opinions before taking the starter apart. Anyone run into something similar?

TIA
-sam

[crah]

It could be your battery too. You many have enough power to run you lights, but not enough to turn over your starter. What you might want to do is try to jump start it first. If it still clicks, then I would look into your starter.

Always start with the easiest first.

[GrimReaper]

Originally Posted by crah

It could be your battery too. You many have enough power to run you lights, but not enough to turn over your starter. What you might want to do is try to jump start it first. If it still clicks, then I would look into your starter.

Always start with the easiest first.

Oops. Forgot to mention that I did try jumping it with the same result. Thanks for the suggention.

-sam

[anuthaCamry]

Check and see if it is a loose battery cable, if it's loose than and tighten it.

You can check to see if the engine is mechanically seized by rotating it at the crankshaft, carefully heeding instructions in a repair manual.

If the starter motor is at issue you can check if the cables are loose in that area, or if it is definately the starter you can repair or replace it. (I'm now a big fan of repairing rather than replacing starter moters, cause sometimes the problem could just be a dirty contact inside the selenoid that can be simply sanded, or a selenoid module that can be replaced for far less than a new starter)

[Mike Gerber]

Try to have someone turn the key and hold it turned while you hit the starter with a hammer. If the starter then turns, you have corroded contacts inside the starter. Look for a post about replacing starter contacts. This is not too hard of a job and is much cheaper than replacing the starter with a new or rebuilt one.

Good luck with the problem.

Mike

[GrimReaper]

Thanks for the addition ideas all. I'll go ahead and try them tomorrow.

-sam

[GrimReaper]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Try to have someone turn the key and hold it turned while you hit the starter with a hammer. If the starter then turns, you have corroded contacts inside the starter. Look for a post about replacing starter contacts. This is not too hard of a job and is much cheaper than replacing the starter with a new or rebuilt one.

Good luck with the problem.

Mike

Excellent advice Mike. I did exactly as you prescribed and the problem was indeed corroded contacts. The fix was extremely easy. The fix involved:

Removing the starter from vehicle
Removing the back of the solenoid housing
Removing and replacing the two corroded contacts
Putting everything back

Total time was about 45min~hour
Total cost: $16.88 (much cheaper than replacing the starter for ~$200)

I'll try to post some pics when I get a chance.

-sam

[Porkch0p220]

yeha get some pictures. even though i dont have this problem it might be helpfull in the future.

[88 LE]

Starter rebuild:

Repair your own STARTER


Pics from a starter that I rebuilt:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=4289640479

[anuthaCamry]

I've had corroded contacts/bad selenoids on two cars. On my honda, I was able to start it by cue-ing the thing with the CLUB, like it was a pool cue. I'm totally a fan of repairing starter motors now, my old subaru's selenoid had contacts that had enough copper left that I was just able to sand down.

[Mike Gerber]

GrimReaper,

Glad it worked out for you.

Mike