This one is really perplexing. My newly purchased '95 Avalon starts fine when warm. After sitting all night or several hours I turn the ignition key (1st & 2nd time) and get nothing (no starter turn over). Sometimes on the 3rd try it starts normally. Sometimes it's the 4th or 5th try.....
Btw, Battery is 1 day old, starter and alternator both check fine and I have no codes except for Knock Sensor: P0325....
Are you saying the engine cranks but won't start or that the starter does nothing when you turn the key on?
Did you need a new battery for some reason? If starter and alternator checked out then the only thing thats changed is the battery. Some new batteries are defective and may have a bad cell.
__________________ It worked fine until I fixed it!
csaxon, the starter does not crank; it's almost like it isn't in the circuit or something. It's weird...then I try the ignition key a couple of more times and it will start right up....
the previous battery did go bad and did test bad. I had this new battery tested (at a different place than where I bought it) and it, the alternator and the starter all tested good.
Well I decided to try something different this morning when I went out to start my car--I gave it gas this time and it started up immediately the first time! I'll try it again tomorrow and see what happens...
I'd recommend checking the starter relay, because i would assume it has to be either battery, wiring, relay, starter, or ignition switch.
yeah, I'm thinking the ignition switch or the starter relay...
looks like it's time to figure out where the starter relay is+find out what one of those costs.
God forbid it's not the ignition switch--I KNOW that sucker's gotta be PRICEY!
Tomorrow's here and it didn't start (in Park or Neutral) for like 6 tries--the 5th it tried to start and then did start on 6th attempt. I think giving it gas actually made it harder to start this morning....
take a listen... is the solenoid clicking when you turn the key? if the solenoid clicks but the starter doesn't turn, smack the solenoid with a hammer and try again.
take a listen... is the solenoid clicking when you turn the key? if the solenoid clicks but the starter doesn't turn, smack the solenoid with a hammer and try again.
I agree with the advice so far...though I'm not sure what help it is to "smack the solenoid with a hammer." The starter doesn't turn until the starter gear travels out and engages the ring gear. It is designed this way so the gears don't grind. A common failure is the solenoid. You will hear the relay clicking, but the solenoid doesn't push the gear out and therefore the starter never turns. You can buy a rebuilt starter for $100 bucks or so (after turning in your core.) If you don't hear the click, it points to your fuse, relay, or ignition switch. Changing the starter is one of the easier home mechanic jobs and will usually save you $200 dollars over what a typical shop will charge.
Last edited by ImDisaster; 02-09-2010 at 04:26 AM.
maybe you guys are calling it the relay. my old ford used to have it screwed to the side of the engine compartment, i think now they are all integral to the starter. it is a big electromagnet that moves a big copper washer to close the couple-hundred amp circuit that runs the starter motor. not the little plastic job in the fusebox (that's what i call a relay). the copper washer burns and corrodes and doesn't always complete the circuit. a smack will often jiggle it into a different position where it'll make contact.
maybe you guys are calling it the relay. my old ford used to have it screwed to the side of the engine compartment, i think now they are all integral to the starter. it is a big electromagnet that moves a big copper washer to close the couple-hundred amp circuit that runs the starter motor. not the little plastic job in the fusebox (that's what i call a relay). the copper washer burns and corrodes and doesn't always complete the circuit. a smack will often jiggle it into a different position where it'll make contact.
You are correct. The solenoid acts as a relay...but it is also there to engage and disengage the starter gear from the ring gear. Because the solenoid acts as a relay for the starter motor (which is what draws the huge current), I don't think another relay is required. Most starter failures I've seen occur from sticking solenoids that never engage the gears.
started right up this morning but not this afternoon when it was back to cold--it took like 5 tries. I listened intently and it makes a faint click when it won't start....
Did some research and found out about 'Denso starters+their solenoid contact issues and also found this video:
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It worked fine until I fixed it! 
Linear Mode
