'99 Camry CE

[sandslady2]

Hello, I have a 1999 Camry CE 4 Cyl 5 speed with 87000 miles on it and it has not been wanting to start right away. If I leave my key turned to start and push the clutch in and out a few times it will eventually start. What could this be, starter, clutch?? Sometimes I have to play with the clutch 3 times sometimes 10 and then sometimes the car starts right up when I turn the key. While doing this I hear a clicking noise. Please help, I know it is not the battery because all the lights and everything work fine and the battery is only 7 months old. Any info is appreciated.

Thank you!!!

[InstallTech]

Could be a faulty clutch switch.

[sandslady2]

Originally Posted by InstallTech

Could be a faulty clutch switch.

How do I test that? Is is something we could do or do I need to take it to a mechanic.

Thanks!!

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by sandslady2

Hello, I have a 1999 Camry CE 4 Cyl 5 speed with 87000 miles on it and it has not been wanting to start right away. If I leave my key turned to start and push the clutch in and out a few times it will eventually start. What could this be, starter, clutch?? Sometimes I have to play with the clutch 3 times sometimes 10 and then sometimes the car starts right up when I turn the key. While doing this I hear a clicking noise. Please help, I know it is not the battery because all the lights and everything work fine and the battery is only 7 months old. Any info is appreciated.

Thank you!!!

If you hear 1 click, the most likely cause is a defective starter. More precisely, the contacts inside the solenoid of the starter are warn and defective. The click you are hearing is the starter relay activating, but the starter is not receiving the "current" through it's defective solenoid contacts, so the starter does not operate and engage the flywheel and start the engine. You have 3 options here. You can remove the starter and replace it with a rebuilt one. You can remove the starter and replace just the starter contacts inside the solenoid. They are available at the dealer. You can also remove the starter and have it completely rebuilt at an automotive electrical shop. I recently had this problem on my wife's 98 Camry and opted for the last option. I was wary of the quality of rebuilt starters at most auto parts stores today. It you replace it with a rebuilt starter or have your original starter rebuilt it will run about $125 either way, if you do the removal and reinstallation yourself. This is not that hard of a job. I know Pep Boys charges around $60 for the removal and reinstallation of the starter if you buy and have them install one of their rebuilt starters.

Do a search on this forum for "starter contacts" and read up on the problem. If you can't find any information on this site, try ToyotaNation.com and go to their Camry forum and do the same search.

Mike

[sandslady2]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

If you hear 1 click, the most likely cause is a defective starter. More precisely, the contacts inside the solenoid of the starter are warn and defective. The click you are hearing is the starter relay activating, but the starter is not receiving the "current" through it's defective solenoid contacts, so the starter does not operate and engage the flywheel and start the engine. You have 3 options here. You can remove the starter and replace it with a rebuilt one. You can remove the starter and replace just the starter contacts inside the solenoid. They are available at the dealer. You can also remove the starter and have it completely rebuilt at an automotive electrical shop. I recently had this problem on my wife's 98 Camry and opted for the last option. I was wary of the quality of rebuilt starters at most auto parts stores today. It you replace it with a rebuilt starter or have your original starter rebuilt it will run about $125 either way, if you do the removal and reinstallation yourself. This is not that hard of a job. I know Pep Boys charges around $60 for the removal and reinstallation of the starter if you buy and have them install one of their rebuilt starters.

Do a search on this forum for "starter contacts" and read up on the problem. If you can't find any information on this site, try ToyotaNation.com and go to their Camry forum and do the same search.

Mike

Yeah I only hear 1 click per try.

Thanks.

[Mike Gerber]

sandslady2,

Here's a link to an article that details how to replace the contacts yourself:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=166530

Mike

[csaxon]

Sandslady said "If I leave my key turned to start and push the clutch in and out a few times it will eventually start.
Sometimes I have to play with the clutch 3 times sometimes 10 and then sometimes the car starts right up when I turn the key."


Mike's probably right but check your clutch start switch before tearing the starter apart.

Look at the push button switch and make sure it's secure. (It's under the dash, just follow the clutch arm up and you'll see the switch with a button that the clutch arm pushes in.)

Then have someone push in the clutch pedal and make sure it contacts the button squarely and that the button is fully depressed by the clutch pedal arm.

Next, SAFELY check that the car will NOT START with the clutch pedal released! If it does then replace the clutch start switch.

You can also do a continuity check of the clutch start switch. Unplug it and hook up the volt meter to both contacts of the switch plug. Press the switch on and there should be continuity. Release the switch off and there should be no continuity.

If that checks out okay, then start the procedures that Mike gave you.

[Mike Gerber]

I think the key here is that she said she's "hearing 1 click per try." That is usually the starter relay sending power to the starter but the starter is not turning. If the clutch switch were a problem I don't think the starter relay would be activated causing the 1 click she is hearing. I could be wrong here.

Mike

[Brian R.]

I vote for the starter solenoid contacts as the problem. It is a very common problem with these starters. See the FAQ thread for a number of references and links.

[abrittis]

I agree. I vote for the starter as well if you are hearing a click. The starter on the 99 4cyl should be pretty easy to remove - since it's on the top / front of the engine near air filter.

Anthony

[dizzle1]

Hey,
Take a metal rod (like a car jack rod), take a hammer and hit the top body/housing of the starter (even better if have someone to attempt crank while some hits starter). multiple times if not once, that should set it straight then crank, & it should work. I been there before-it has worked for me, along with that: hold the ignition key in crank for longer then 2-3 secs (decent time for enough current to flow through starter wire), & also try quick-cranking it a few times (turn the key to crank fast instead of slow) & ofcourse not so hard where you bend and ;twist & damage your key now.

my 2000 camry le 4 cyl history:
May 2006-starter solenoid shorted and fried up/out & led to the damage of the car battery causing me to removing it asap before fire hazard occurs. so I brought another one from az (autozone), duralast. & I dumped the regular cars battery (everstart I think it is) & used my optima redtop that fits its equivalent fitment that I been having on the side since selling my previous vehicle that it use to be in.

January 2010- at the death of my 8.5 year straight usage optima redtop battery there is slow cranking and choking cranking, as weaker the crank is; then there is a small smoke rising from my starter & it doesnt smell friendly. So when you have a battery for so many years & it gets ridiculously slow to crank to too weak to crank then change your battery. its not worth the weak current energy forming/heating up and harming your starter solenoid circuitboard.

Good luck