[timebuilder]

There is no more challenging failure than an intermittent failure.

Sometimes, throubleshooting the problem means installing an exhaust hose on the tailpipe (carbon monoxide kills) and warming the engine until the problem returns. Sometimes, it's a test drive.

There is some anecdotal evidence about coil failures on the Gen 2 camry, but you can't count on that right now. Just run the diags from the manuals and see what results you get after you re-create the failure.

 

[tybeejoe]

There is no more challenging failure than an intermittent failure.

Sometimes, throublshooting the problem means installing an exhaust hose on the tailpipe (carbon monoxide kills) and warming the engine until the problem returns. Sometimes, it's a test drive.

There is some anecdotal evidence about coil failures on the Gen 2 camry, but you can't count on that right now. Just run the diags from the manuals and see what results you get after you re-create the failure.

Thats the truth, thanks for your input. Maybe ill just replace the starter and coil anyways. Thanks

 

[timebuilder]

If your engine cranks well, I don't see a reason for changing the starter. It's only function is to rotate the engine.

I'd also do more testing before deciding to buy a coil. You could have a different problem.

 

[Mike Gerber]

There is some anecdotal evidence about coil failures on the Gen 2 camry, but you can't count on that right now. Just run the diags from the manuals and see what results you get after you re-create the failure.

Coil failure is pretty common on generation 2 Camrys. They have a tendancy to develope hairline cracks and short themselves out to any metal inside the distributor. This problem is most noticable in wet/damp weather. Was it wet out when this problem first surfaced? Was it dry out when the car just started up with no problem? FYI, you can purchase an aftermarket coil for around $40-$50. It should take you about 15 minutes to replace, if you mark the distributor before you pull it from the engine. That way you won't have to retime the engine when you reinstall the distributor. If you can't find any other problem, replacing the coil might be worth it, just for peace of mind.

Mike

 

[tybeejoe]

Thanks, itsbeen snowy out for the last couple weeks. And since Ive been having problems with the starter anyways I figured id replace it.

 

[timebuilder]

Many starters get replaced when all they need are some new contacts.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t27312.html

As you will see in some of the pictures, it is possible to put in a contact that is intended for another starter. When I have done this procedure, I match the contact design to the kind being removed.

 

[HomeGrown]

Interesting call about the coil. I replaced my coil in August last year, just after I got the car. In Oct. on my way to the Subaru plant in Indiana, my Camry died in Indianapolis. The symptoms were, it simply died while driving on the interstate. I pulled over, cranked, and it would start but not want to stay running. I finally got it going, and it stalled again after another mile or 2. This scenerio repeated itself about 3 or 4 times, until it simply wouldn't start again. I had it towed to a local Toyota dealer, who diagnosed it as having a "bad distributor". Now, I don't know WHAT part of it could have been bad, because I replaced the coil, wires, cap, and rotor. The service guy said there were other "internal parts" that sometimes go bad. Unfortunately I couldn't get my old one back because of the core charge on it. It's been running great since then, but I basically wasted my $$ on the new coil, since it went with the core.

 

[Nice89]

Actully it wants to start sometimes, but sometimes it just cranks and cranks with no hint of starting.

Ok, I just found this damn funny. How do you know it wants to start? Doesn't it either crank with no result or start? How can one tell when a car does not start but "wants to start" vs. not starting and not wanting to start?

If my car wanted to start at 7am but I overslept, would it then be mad at me and moody all day? Sometimes I think my car wants its own garage. It has always been shy by nature. It avoids eye contact and does not return phone calls. I think the parking garage makes it feel a somewhat akward and exposed.

At least the motorcycle is there to keep my bashfull Camry company during those long cold San Francisco nights.

Wait! It's a damn car. My car doesn't care if it sits for all eternity. The motorcycle, well that is whole 'nother matter indeed. It wants to be started NOW. The motorcycle wants to break the law and cruise for sluts. Too bad I am a married/honest citizen/boring-old-guy.

Maybe I have this all wrong. Let's start again. How do you know when car does not start that it "wants to start" vs. when it does not start because it does not feel like starting in the first place?

 

[timebuilder]

Most people use the expression "wants to start" to indicate that there are brief periods during cranking when the crank speed increases as the engine fires a cylinder partially and inefficiently, as opposed to an unchanging sound of even cranking with no sense of producing any power in the cylinders.

Does that help?

It's like referring to airplanes and ships as "she," a typical anthropomorphizing of an inanimate object.

 

[tybeejoe]

Most people use the expression "wants to start" to indicate that there are brief periods during cranking when the crank speed increases as the engine fires a cylinder partially and inefficiently, as opposed to an unchanging sound of even cranking with no sense of producing any power in the cylinders.

Does that help?

It's like referring to airplanes and ships as "she," a typical anthropomorphizing of an inanimate object.

Thanks timebuilder, thats exactly what I meant. Though I did have a good laugh with that post. I didnt mess with it last night but I tried to start it and of course it started no problem. Ill mess with it this weekend. Thanks

 

[HomeGrown]

Ok, I just found this damn funny. How do you know it wants to start? Doesn't it either crank with no result or start? How can one tell when a car does not start but "wants to start" vs. not starting and not wanting to start?

If my car wanted to start at 7am but I overslept, would it then be mad at me and moody all day? Sometimes I think my car wants its own garage. It has always been shy by nature. It avoids eye contact and does not return phone calls. I think the parking garage makes it feel a somewhat akward and exposed.

At least the motorcycle is there to keep my bashfull Camry company during those long cold San Francisco nights.

Wait! It's a damn car. My car doesn't care if it sits for all eternity. The motorcycle, well that is whole 'nother matter indeed. It wants to be started NOW. The motorcycle wants to break the law and cruise for sluts. Too bad I am a married/honest citizen/boring-old-guy.

Maybe I have this all wrong. Let's start again. How do you know when car does not start that it "wants to start" vs. when it does not start because it does not feel like starting in the first place?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Have you taken your car for counseling?

"wants to start" = *ALMOST* starting.

BTW: My Dodge Ram is suicidal. It wants to commit suicide so I can get the insurance money. I keep telling her to go for it! :whatwhat:

 

[timebuilder]

I think my camry is suicidal, as well. It has begun drinking (oil) and is unmotivated.

 

[tybeejoe]

Update

Ok its been running great for almost 2 weeks. Then I go out to start it today and the exact same problem. It runs then I go back out and its not. Now last time it had a little above E and the back end of the car is about a foot higher then the front, same situation here. Could this be a fuel pump since the fuel in the tank was low both times and the fuel pump cant pump the little bit of fuel? Thanks

 

[timebuilder]

Sure, it could be that.

I keep my tank as full as I can in the winter months. Try keeping the level higher, and see.

 

[tybeejoe]

Thanks Time you have been quick to reply with this post. Now do you yhink the pump is going out and needs to be replaced soon if thats the problem? Thanks again!

 

[Doctor J]

There is a small hose attached between the pump and the outlet pipe. The hose is about 2 inch long and located inside the tank. if the old hose was re-used it could be not properly attached to the pump or outlet pipe.This allows the fuel to leak out of pump back into the tank. Remove pump with bracket assy and inspect. The replacement hose is SAE30R2 specs.

 

[timebuilder]

That's a good observation from Doctor J.

Just as carpenters say to "measure twice, and cut once," you want to be extra careful whenever you do a repair in the tank, since today's fuel pumps live in that difficult to access place. It's great that some cars let you pull out the backseat and get right to the assmebly easily, but not everyone does that.

The easiest method for you to approach this problem (based on occam's razor) is to first make sure that you have enough fuel in the tank from which to draw. I also like to open the fuel line up front and make sure the pump can deliver that one pint minimum in thirty seconds, maximum. That check would be secondary to the fuel level assurance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_Razor

 

[tybeejoe]

Im pritty sure that its the original pump and my mileage is closer to 93000, isnt it around fuel pump failure time? And I just bought a 5 gal gas can to fill it up. Its parked outside and the back end is surrounded by snow so the easest things to try now ill do first untill I can get it in the garage. I really dont want to pull the tank either. Thanks!!!

 

[marc780]

Try one more thing, clean IAC. The vanes in your idle air control valve could be stuck in the run position (too much air and too lean to run cold). So i'd try cleaning it -

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t157470.html

 

[marc780]

Ok, I just found this damn funny. How do you know it wants to start? Doesn't it either crank with no result or start? How can one tell when a car does not start but "wants to start" vs. not starting and not wanting to start?

If my car wanted to start at 7am but I overslept, would it then be mad at me and moody all day? Sometimes I think my car wants its own garage. It has always been shy by nature. It avoids eye contact and does not return phone calls. I think the parking garage makes it feel a somewhat akward and exposed.

At least the motorcycle is there to keep my bashfull Camry company during those long cold San Francisco nights.

Wait! It's a damn car. My car doesn't care if it sits for all eternity. The motorcycle, well that is whole 'nother matter indeed. It wants to be started NOW. The motorcycle wants to break the law and cruise for sluts. Too bad I am a married/honest citizen/boring-old-guy.

Maybe I have this all wrong. Let's start again. How do you know when car does not start that it "wants to start" vs. when it does not start because it does not feel like starting in the first place?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: you should call Dr phil to do a phone in with your car, maybe hold the phone over the engine or something for replies