Starting trouble with 1991 Camry

I have a 1991 Camry (4cyl) with about 130,000 miles. Overall it runs
great, however occasionally when my wife has been driven it for a while
and decides to run into a store when she comes back out the car won't
crank over. It seems like no power is making it to the starter. She
ends up having to wait for about 30 minutes for the engine to cool
before the vehicle will start up. Once the engine has cooled it starts
right up everytime.

So far I have replaced the following:

Starter
Ignition switch
Main EFI relay

The car always starts right up when the engine is cold. If anyone has
any ideas I would be glad to hear them. I am thinking of replacing the
Coolant Temperature Sensor, does anybody have any thoughts on how
effective this might be?

Thanks in advanced,

[color=blue]
>
> The car always starts right up when the engine is cold. If anyone has
> any ideas I would be glad to hear them. I am thinking of replacing the
> Coolant Temperature Sensor, does anybody have any thoughts on how
> effective this might be?
>[/color]

I can't help, sorry. But I am very interested, I once had a 1990 Jetta
that did the EXACT same thing. I always thought the stater was getting
too hot, and I considered making a heat sheild between the exhaust
header/manifold and the starter, I sold the car before I got around to
it though.

Jerry

Oh one other thing, kinda important, I have had HORRIBLE luck with
remanufactured starters from chain auto parts stores in my 4Runner, I
actually bought one from Auto Zone, and then got THREE warranty
replacements within 3 weeks, all of which failed with similar results
to yours. I ended up buying a new one from the Toyota dealer, no more
trouble. So if you replaced the starter with one from an autoparts
store, something to consider.

Jerry

<jpleming@satx.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1147893323.230334.121710@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I have a 1991 Camry (4cyl) with about 130,000 miles. Overall it runs
> great, however occasionally when my wife has been driven it for a while
> and decides to run into a store when she comes back out the car won't
> crank over. It seems like no power is making it to the starter. She
> ends up having to wait for about 30 minutes for the engine to cool
> before the vehicle will start up. Once the engine has cooled it starts
> right up everytime.
>
> So far I have replaced the following:
>
> Starter
> Ignition switch
> Main EFI relay
>
> The car always starts right up when the engine is cold. If anyone has
> any ideas I would be glad to hear them. I am thinking of replacing the
> Coolant Temperature Sensor, does anybody have any thoughts on how
> effective this might be?
>
> Thanks in advanced,[/color]

Check the contacts in the starter relay for wear. When the car is acting
up, has anyone tried shifting to neutral to see if it starts? If is starts
in neutral but not in park, you should check the neutral safety switch.

The coolant temperature sensor will not have any effect on the no-start
condition.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Yeah, it won't start in neutral either. Do you know where the starter
relay would be located by chance?

Thanks,

<jpleming@satx.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1147899264.591812.305210@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Yeah, it won't start in neutral either. Do you know where the starter
> relay would be located by chance?
>
> Thanks,
>[/color]

It will have at least 4 wires - 2 thick wires to carry the current to the
starter motor and the other wires will be thinner gauge control wires. The
thick wires will run between the starter and the battery. It may be an
integral part of the starter. When you replaced the starter, where did you
get it?
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

I got the starter from autozone.

Ray's got you on the right track. The neutral safety switch is a common
cause for this.

<jpleming@satx.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1147901688.939922.327400@38g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I got the starter from autozone.
>[/color]

I've heard of a lot of complaints about the quality of aftermarket starters
so replacing it is no guarantee that the problem is fixed.

Did the starter include the relay?
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

My 89 Corolla 4WD had what seems to be the same habit.
We changed starters and solenoid contacts and alarm immobiliser switch and
we tested the ignition switch thoroughly, but nothing really helped.
At last we found that the cause was oxidation under the transmission end of
the negative main battery cable.
When that connection was rubbed clean and tightened the problem fully
disappeared.
By the way, that car now has gone past 400 000 km, and the original clutch
is now beginning to wear out.

Asbjørn


<jpleming@satx.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1147893323.230334.121710@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I have a 1991 Camry (4cyl) with about 130,000 miles. Overall it runs
> great, however occasionally when my wife has been driven it for a while
> and decides to run into a store when she comes back out the car won't
> crank over. It seems like no power is making it to the starter. She
> ends up having to wait for about 30 minutes for the engine to cool
> before the vehicle will start up. Once the engine has cooled it starts
> right up everytime.
>
> So far I have replaced the following:
>
> Starter
> Ignition switch
> Main EFI relay
>
> The car always starts right up when the engine is cold. If anyone has
> any ideas I would be glad to hear them. I am thinking of replacing the
> Coolant Temperature Sensor, does anybody have any thoughts on how
> effective this might be?
>
> Thanks in advanced,
>[/color]