Have your battery checked. It sounds more like a dead or dying battery!! If you have a multimeter read between neg and pos posts, a healthy battery should be 12.6 vdc or slightly higher. If batt voltage is not 12.6vdc, check your alternator output, it should be about 14.2 vdc or higher with engine running.

 

Or use a Battery Tester like this from Amazon, about $25.

 

Hey Strega315 thanks for the reply,

I checked the battery with a multi meter and I'm getting 12.65 volts. Dang wish I would've done the alternator test, but I already pulled the starter (maybe I'll put it back in and try). I didn't see any corrosion on connections but interestingly one wire had several cracks and I could see the copper wire in side. Is it a myth or do reman starters have a shorter lifespan than OEM?

 

You should check the battery with a load tester. Just cause it show 12 volts does not mean it has the amps turn crank the engine.

 

Thanks Chuy for the suggestion, I'll have to pick one up and try it.

 

Get a Denso reman from Rock Auto, if you need a starter.

 

Thanks for the tip Old Mechanic.

 

If you have the original Denso starter, I would try pulling it all apart and cleaning up any rust or corrosion that you find with fine grit sandpaper or Emory cloth, even using a Dremel to thoroughly clean all the copper contacts. Make sure you blow out the housing with LP air before reassembling. A dab or three of bearing grease for both bearings then reassemble and see where you’re at. I did this with my stock original OEM Denso starter in my 1991 Corolla back in 2019/20 and she’s been working fine ever since. Got nothing to lose but an hour or two.

 

The MOTOPOWER makes diagnosing automotive batteries easy. Here’s the reading for my 1994 Camry’s 6 year old battery. It would start the engine fine, but leave the radio on for 15 mins w/ engine off and it would kill the battery. Notice 77 CCA instead of the rated 600 CCA and the Life (SOH) reading of 0.0% - the battery was at end of life, despite still being able to start the car. (I was getting ready to travel from the Midwest to the East Coast when I verified proper battery operation.)

 

Oh nice!! I'm going to have to pick one of those up.

 

Here’s the readings on the new battery: Still at 12.66 vdc but the CCA is now measured at a whopping 755 CCA’s, 135 more CCA’s than its nominal rating. Life (SOH) is at 100.0% with the charge state also indicating 100.0%


Great little battery tester that draws its power from the tested load so no need to recharge or carry around spare batteries. Highly recommended.

 

remove, clean and re-tighten all cables first. Have battery checked.
I have yet to replace a toyota starter or alternator

 

All cables were clean and tight. I'll have to have the battery checked. I think you are right, the Camry still has the original denso alternator, however the starter is a reman that I believe isn't a denso.

 

As the others have stated, take your battery to an auto parts store for a load test, to make sure that is not all your issue.

Regarding the cosmetic cracking of the rubber boot, don't worry about it, the wires inside it also have insulation on them.

Regarding the starter, if the rebuilt one that was in your car is a rebuilt Denso unit usually the only part of those that ever wears out are the contacts. You can buy the contacts for far less than buying a new aftermarket starter, and replace those contacts for a brand new lease on life.

 

Thank you! Will do, I'll have to get the battery checked. Okay, good to know I was alittle worried about the cosmetic cracking of the rubber. I don't think the rebuilt one in the car is a denso, appears to be a Napa brand. Good to know, would denso contacts work on a napa starter? are they a universal part?

 

I had the exact same issue with the starters in both cars. Yours is also likely worn contacts. Search Denso Starter Repair.

 

Thank you for the advice. Since the starter isn't a denso would the process still be the same?

 

I'll third the recommendation to fix your starter rather than buying anew one. Especially look inside the solenoid. If yours is like my starter, there is an electromagnet-driven plunger that crosses two copper poles in there. One of the two poles has a tendency to loose more metal so it becomes shorter. You can probably just replace that one pole for a few dollars and be good to go.

 

Here is a thread I created a while back that might help. You can scroll through the entire thread and back up a couple of posts. I chased some wrong ideas before I found the issue in the starter.

https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/key-switch-issue-big-bend-ntnl-park-trip.1701798/?post_id=14464115#post-14464115

 

Thank you, I'll give it a read.

 

Update:

Hey everyone, appears the starter was the problem. A family member who likes driving the car offered to pay for a new starter, so I put a new one on the car this morning. The car started up right away and I repeated starting the car multiple times with no problems. No more ‘Click no start’ issue.

I think everyone who mentioned it was the internal contacts being worn were probably right. Again, thanks to everyone who commented and gave suggestions, I really appreciate it.

 

I saw the NAPA reman sticker and instantly know that starter is likely junk,


if the battery is OK go get a Denso starter or even a used OE denso starter and have a shop rebuild it for you.


It's the best thing you can do for yourself to save you time and frustration.

 

Replace the copper contacts in the solenoid and it will fix the problem. No need to get a new starter.

 

So my 1999 Camry le 2.2l in the last few weeks wouldn't turn over sometimes. I would just get a click and the second time it would start. Over the last few days it has gotten worse, to the point where I can turn the key multiple times and get nothing but a click. I'm thinking the starter is going/developed a flat spot. The starter is not original and was replaced in 2018 and has 27k on it (I can't be sure but I think it was done at 118,000 mil mark, I might be able to dig up the info. car currently has 145,000).

My questions are: How long do starters last? Is this common? What replacement brand should I go with?

It needs starter contact in the solenoid. Usually it is only the hot side that wears down from arcing. The OEM rebuilds have been replace when they reman them. There is a difference between a OEM REMANUFACTURED and an aftermarket rebuilt! I have seen a lot of aftermarket rebuilds in my 46 years as a parts manger at a Toyota dealership. NAPA reman You get what you pay for.

 

You can get a brand new starter not a reman on Amazon or eBay. I got one for $100 free shipping. Over a year old and it works perfectly. It cranks faster and stronger than it ever has. I owned the car since 2006. A lot of people say the new ones from eBay are junk but I put one on my 1999 Dodge Dakota a few years ago and another one on my 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring. All are working perfectly. I also put a new alternator on the Camry from Amazon it was $89 still working fine over a year later.