99 Camry CE Starter Clicks

[north_fur]

Engine doesn't turn over...just clicks from starter. Battery appears OK as headlights appear bright. It's cold out but the car's block heater has been on for over 12 hours and it's working.

Car has approx 80,000 miles...problems and probability could be??:

PROBLEM--------------PROBABILITY

- battery ---- low probability?
- battery connections ---- high?
- ground block connection - ?
- starter connections - ?
- starter plunger??
- complete starter -
- starter relay switch??

Is it practical for a layperson to remove the starter and place new starter contacts?? Is the plunger within a soloionoid which in turn is attached to the starter?

[sandslady2]

most likely your battery connectors. They are known to go bad in the Camrys.

[Brian R.]

Most likely the starter contacts. They are easy to get to and replace. See the following links.

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

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...OnlineOrdering

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/starter/

I would put battery connectors as less likely to be the problem than the starter contacts. Still a possibility though.

[yotatechie04]

I had the same exact problem in mine...all I did was cleaned the corrosion off the battery terminals and replaced the started contacts, as Brian R. had advised, and the car was as good as new.

[north_fur]

First, I have replaced the two copper contacts within the starter solionoid and cleaned the plunger. Second I have also cleaned the battery posts. Thirdly, the battery seems OK as the battery has a green lite and the battery tester shows it as medium plus....plus the headlights come on fairly bright. Lastly I hooked up a battery boost (100 amp). When I first changed the starter connects it turned over and started one time ....came back three days later and it just clicks.

*Now not only does the starter just clicks..but I noticed when I go from low beam to high beam on the headlights...the lights flicker for a few seconds between high and low and I hear a flickering switch sound coming from the dash when this flickering is occurring.....HELP PLEASE!!

[yotatechie04]

It sounds like a relay gone psycho. You might want to start checking some of the relays, and the wiring for shorts.

[north_fur]

How does one check the starter relay for fault??? And where is the starter relay located? Is the solonoid separate from the starter relay switch? Does command start cause dead spots on the solonoid?

[yotatechie04]

I do believe that the starter relay is located in the main fuse and relay block in the engine bay. The starter solonoid is attached to the starter motor, thus it's not in the same location of the relay. Relays can be checked by sending power to them to see if there is an audible click from inside. If there is no click, the relay is bad.

[north_fur]

I changed the starter contacts (the old ones showed some wear) AND then I replaced the battery on my 1999 camry...and the starter now works fine!

I'm in the north and its very cold and I guess my battery was also losing its "cold cranking capacity"....even though the headlights came on farily bright. I appreciate the great advise that I received earlier - thanks.