Toyota Avalon Key Ignition Start Problem

[anoblesh]

Hello! My wife's 2000 Toyota Avalon has intermittent start problems which I believe is associated with the transponder system. The problem is when you turn the key all the way the car does not start. The radio and everything else turns on but there is no ignition...nothing! This is intermittent and just being patient and turning the ignition key on and off several times will get the car to start eventually. The battery is new.

This has been very hard on my wife and she is not taking my car instead.
Any help would be appreciated.

[corbinwaterski]

You've posted this in the Sequoia section. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

[BETANCES]

Originally Posted by anoblesh

Hello! My wife's 2000 Toyota Avalon has intermittent start problems which I believe is associated with the transponder system. The problem is when you turn the key all the way the car does not start. The radio and everything else turns on but there is no ignition...nothing! This is intermittent and just being patient and turning the ignition key on and off several times will get the car to start eventually. The battery is new.

This has been very hard on my wife and she is not taking my car instead.
Any help would be appreciated.

THE SAME HAPPEN TO ME TIME A GO, IS A FALSE CONTACT, THE WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS TO PULL OUT ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS IN THE MAIN FUSE BOX IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE CASE, CLEAN THE CONTACTS WITH CONTACT CLEANER AND LUBRICATE IT WITH WHITE LITHIUM GREASE, THEN INSERT AGAIN ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS

[Brian R.]

Don't put grease on the fuse contact surfaces.

It may be your starter solenoid contacts. It is a cheap fix to replace them and it is a common problem in Toyotas.

See the following thread:

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

[anoblesh]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Don't put grease on the fuse contact surfaces.

It may be your starter solenoid contacts. It is a cheap fix to replace them and it is a common problem in Toyotas.

See the following thread:

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

Thanks for the two previous advices. I did the first but used WD-40 to clean out the contacts and also cleaned the fuse contacts with small wire brush.

I had already replaced the starter contacts after reading a posted thread in the correct Avalon section.

Now with both being done I still have the problem. It is usually in the mornings and also after having just driven long distances (hour driving or more). It is my wife's car and she is getting frustrated. I've used a code reader and there are no codes showing.

I'm hesitant to take it to the dealer to spend big bucks to try and diagnose an intermittent problem.

Any other ideas on what it could be would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Brian R.]

Have you checked the battery terminals for tightness? Check the ground connection on the engine - clean and tight.

Make sure the starter contacts are tight - did you clean the plunger in the starter?

Replace the starter relay.

Try another key.

Could be your ignition switch.

Could be your neutral start switch.