i recently got a 99 toyota camry 4cyl.
it was starting and all but stupid me decided to wash the engine bay .. i did and next thing i know its not starting.. i got 2 coil packs as well connected them but not mounted on the car.. still doesnt start whenever i turn the ignition the check engine, oil and all the dash lights stay the same meaning they dont dim but the clock dims ??? so now i am clueless if someone knows whats goin on and can let me know that would be great.. thank you in advance

We need to know exactly what is happening when you turn the key. Does the starter crank (turn over) the engine or not? If not, do you hear any sound at all, like a click or a series of rapid clicks?

Mike

oppps sorrry forgot to add that it does not make any noise what so ever.. no clickin nothin.. just the clock dims thats it nothin else.

Bad battery or loose battery terminals, most likely. If the terminals are clean and tight, get a jump, drive to the parts store and get them to test the battery.

could it be any of the relay's seems liek the battery is fine.. there is no clickin etc.. the dash lights up fine with cel check oil door and all those lights im so lost for real.. i think me washin the motor made this happen

help...

95_GTI,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I just got back from vacation and saw your private message.

I agree with AccordCodger. Even though they look clean and tight, I would remove the battery cables and thoroughly clean the battery terminals and the cable connections. You can purchase a terminal cleaning tool for a few dollars at any auto parts store. You would be surprised at the black residue that builds up on the battery terminals over time. They should be shinny clean. While the battery cables are off, look at the positive connection on the starter. Check for corrosion there and clean as necessary. Sometimes we overlook the basics. If that still doesn't solve the problem, then I would move on to the relays. Open the box under the hood that contains the relays. The underside of the cover should be marked. Look for the starter relay and pull it form the box. Check for corrosion of the terminals on the relay. Scrape off any corrosion. Dry the box with a hair dryer. If the car still doesn't start, try substituting an identical relay from a nonessential component under there. If the car now starts, you can go out and purchase a new relay.

If the car still doesn't start, you will need to download the generation 4 manual stickied at the top of this forum. (It's good to have on hand for a variety of things and it's free.) Then, using a DVM, start doing further electrical tests as specified under the starting system troubleshooting section.

Good luck.

Mike

hollyy this car is driving me crazy now abt a week ago. i asked my cuzin to try and start the car while i was hittin the starter and as soon as i hit on the tranny where the shaft from the starter goes into, it starts. started again rite then but after abt then after abt 5 min didnt start .. so now im thinking that the starter motor is gone. i got it changed nothin happened doesnt start then i got another used starter thinking that one is blown still doesnt start. changed the starter relay didnt start. i got an engine relay tried starting it guess what didnt start i have no idea what the stupid problem is with this car its driving me nuts .. btw thanks for the help b4.. also checked the fuses the small ones they seem dark where the forks go into the fuse box but the fuse was not blown.

Remove the starter relay. Turn the key and check for 12 vdc at contact #1 at the relay socket. If it's not there or low, you may have a bad neutral start safety switch. You could try jiggling the shifter and see if it starts (or if the voltage comes and goes). That's another indication of a bad NSSS. Voltage path is : battery/ignition switch/neutral start switch/starter relay/starter. It's amazing how a simple system like this can be such a PITA.

Here's a picture of it. It's at the shift linkage on the transmission. Kinda near the starter when you smacked it. http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry/99/Automatic_Transaxle_I4_A140E.pdf Pg 147 of the file, page 1897 on the diagrams page. This came from the Camry manuals thread at the top of this forum.

I sent you a private message on this problem, but after reading RIP's post I have to agree with him that the neutral safety switch is another thing to check. Try tapping that directly and see if the car starts.

Mike

thats what i was thinking as well ill give that a try as well thanks

I sent you a private message on this problem
Why private, Mike? Isn't the idea of a forum somewhere we can all learn from each other.

Why private, Mike? Isn't the idea of a forum somewhere we can all learn from each other.


He sent me a private message. I just clicked on REPLY and responded to it. Here's a copy of my response:

Are you hearing any noises at all? Do you hear any click or clicks? If so, is it 1 click or a series of clicks? Have you tried any other accessories when it doesn't start? Does the dome light even light up? I had an incident today where I turned the key on my well maintained 94 and got absolutely nothing. The dome light wouldn't even come on. I was at a friend's body shop and went back inside. My friend got out his portable jumpstarter. While he was unwinding the cables, I got out my DVM and checked the battery posts. I got 12.2 volts. My friend said just get in and he would hook up the jumpstarter. When he did we noticed the negative battery terminal was loose on the negative battery post. It was perfectly cleean but loose. I took a 10MM wrench out of my trunk and tightened the terminal. The car started right up. I was a bit embarrased. I usually have to help him with mechanical problems. My point is sometimes we forget the basic stuff. Check connections at the battery and the starter for tightness and cleanliness.

When you say you got the starter changed, was it with a new or rebuilt starter or was it one from a wrecking yard? The wrecking yard ones may be just as bad as the one you originally had in your car. Have you dissassembled any of these starters to check for corroded contacts inside the solenoid? Used ones may be just as bad as the one that was originally in the car, since this is now a common Toyota problem.

If all this checks out OK, you have to start working your way back from the starter. Check the cables leading from the battery to the starter for proper resistance. Then check the wiring from the battery back to the ignition switch in the car for continuity. Then check the ignition switch itself. You will probably need a manual to do these checks. Remember, there are manuals available for free downloading at the top of this forum. I remember 1 generation 3 Camry where it was the wiring under the dash leading to the ignition switch.

Good luck.

Mike

Mike