I have a 1990 Toyota Camry with 114,000 miles. When I go to start the car nothing happens. I do not hear a crank a grind, nothing but dead silence. I do have satisfactory power elsewhere, radio, wipers, lights are bright. Everything works but the car starting. One mechanic already is "wanting to run a series of diagnostic tests", which now doubt helps pay for his vacation. I am pretty sure the starter is the original but can't be 100%. Any advise before I spend a bundle? Thanks

Make sure your battery is adequately charged. Batteries will power everything except the starter and still be bad. Also, make sure your cables are clean and well connected at both ends.

If battery is well charged and the cables are good, it is probably your starter solenoid contacts. They are a known problem with many of the Toyota engines and are both cheap to replace and relatively easy to do. There is a post in the FAQ thread about this problem and will tell you more than you want to know.

As Brian said confirm your battery and connections are up to speed. One indication of a bad starter is making the car start by tapping on the starter as you turn the key. Another way is to open the hood and listen for a click at the starter. No click can indicate a starter issue. I would then feel the starter relay in the fuse box near the battery. If it clicks and the starter doesn't, the starter or it's connections is the problem. If you or a friend can use a meter come on back.

I agree 100% with Brian that it most likely is the starter solenoid contacts inside the starter judging by the age of the car and the history of the system. I just changed these contacts on my daughters 94 Camry for the identicle problems. Could be a challenge for someone not mechanically inclined but certainly doable for most folks.

As Brian said confirm your battery and connections are up to speed. One indication of a bad starter is making the car start by tapping on the starter as you turn the key. Another way is to open the hood and listen for a click at the starter. No click can indicate a starter issue. I would then feel the starter relay in the fuse box near the battery. If it clicks and the starter doesn't, the starter or it's connections is the problem. If you or a friend can use a meter come on back.

I agree 100% with Brian that it most likely is the starter solenoid contacts inside the starter judging by the age of the car and the history of the system. I just changed these contacts on my daughters 94 Camry for the identicle problems. Could be a challenge for someone not mechanically inclined but certainly doable for most folks.
Could the culprit be a bad neutral saftey switch? Those are known to go bad and cause a no start issue.:frown:

JOET/CAMRY

Could the culprit be a bad neutral saftey switch? Those are known to go bad and cause a no start issue.:frown:

JOET/CAMRY

Sure could. I'm waiting to hear if the starter relay clicks. If it clicks, the NSS is good.

As Brian said confirm your battery and connections are up to speed. One indication of a bad starter is making the car start by tapping on the starter as you turn the key. Another way is to open the hood and listen for a click at the starter. No click can indicate a starter issue. I would then feel the starter relay in the fuse box near the battery. If it clicks and the starter doesn't, the starter or it's connections is the problem. If you or a friend can use a meter come on back.

I agree 100% with Brian that it most likely is the starter solenoid contacts inside the starter judging by the age of the car and the history of the system. I just changed these contacts on my daughters 94 Camry for the identicle problems. Could be a challenge for someone not mechanically inclined but certainly doable for most folks.
RIP,

What would be the path the 12 volt current takes once it leaves the battery when one tries to start their car? I remember you mentioned it awhile back in a post you replied to. It went something like this........... battery > starter relay >ignition switch > :dunno:

When you wrote (. I'm waiting to hear if the starter relay clicks. If it clicks, the NSS is good) it made me think about the path the 12 volt current takes and how I don't know.:frown:

Thanks alot.

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

RIP,

What would be the path the 12 volt current takes once it leaves the battery when one tries to start their car? I remember you mentioned it awhile back in a post you replied to. It went something like this........... battery > starter relay >ignition switch > :dunno:

When you wrote (. I'm waiting to hear if the starter relay clicks. If it clicks, the NSS is good) it made me think about the path the 12 volt current takes and how I don't know.:frown:

Thanks alot.

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

Battery/ignition switch/neutral safety switch/starter relay/starter solenoid (or starter)

Power for the starter is always at the starter via the primary battery connection. The solenoid closes the starter contacts to complete the path for power to flow through the motor and ground.

I have scoured the proverbial internet with no luck. Can someone provide me instructions on how to change the selenoid contacts within the starter and how to change the starter itself? A pdf diagram or a link to same showing where these parts are would also be most helpful. My 1990 Camry is the 4 cylinder. Thanks for all the responses

You didn't check the FAQ at the top.

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...rInfoPages.htm
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=166530
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml
http://yotarepair.com/startercontacts.html
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter/
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/...r/haveblue.htm
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/technical...er_rebuild.htm
http://www.startercontacts.com/install.htm
http://www.colorado4x4.net/tech/star..._contacts.html
http://www.barneymc.com/toy_root/techneek/starter.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/adherence.4x4/start_bj.htm
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...312&forumid=10

Battery/ignition switch/neutral safety switch/starter relay/starter solenoid (or starter)

Power for the starter is always at the starter via the primary battery connection. The solenoid closes the starter contacts to complete the path for power to flow through the motor and ground.
Thanks RIP,
I'm gonna copy this info down in my Chilton, Haynes repair manuals for future reference otherwise I'll probrally forget.:biggrin:

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY