97 camry starter keeps running

[wakeman]

After testing, buying and installing a new battery, I was still not getting the car to start. I bought a new negative clamp and installed. This time it cranked right up but when I turned it off the starter kept running like it was trying to crank. I took the negative cable off and tried reattaching but was getting sparks and the starter kicking in. Could it be a relay switch or some other electrical problem.

Thanks
John

[Brian R.]

Pull the starter relay and see if both opposite sets of contacts have continuity. If both pairs have continuity, replace the starter relay.

[Toysrme]

Starter solenoid is frozen.
Take a hammer & smack the housing of the starter a few times to (hopefully) dislodge it.
Go to a junkyard & get another one, or go to an autoparts store to find a cheap one. Don't pay much for a starter. Toyota, historically, makes the world's shittyest starters (everybody has something, go figure) & all the autoparts stuff is normally either cheap aftermarket, or rebuild OEM.
Between ultra cheap used OEM crap, new, highly expensive OEM crap, & fairly cheap aftermarket crap... It's all still crap LoL! Just do whatever is easyest.
Changing the starter is very easy. nothing more than unconnecting the wires & unbolting the unit.

FYI, the starter & solenoid are integrated in the same unit so that you can't replace just the solenoid. (I don't know how old you are, but if you're old enough to remember, solenoids use to be $5 and mounted separately so you could replace them).

[Brian R.]

He's right that it's probably a stuck solenoid, but try the relay first. Easiest and cheapest, by a lot.

[wakeman]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Pull the starter relay and see if both opposite sets of contacts have continuity. If both pairs have continuity, replace the starter relay.

Thanks got it unstuck but now I'm getting a click while trying to start and when it does start the starter is making a lot of noise.

[Brian R.]

From the sounds of it, you're going to have to replace the starter now anyway. IMO, get the best quality rebuilt one from NAPA or other quality parts store. You get what you pay for.

Others may have other opinions.