1997 Toyota Camry car won't start

KLUGEMAR

MEMBER
1997 TOYOTA CAMRY

Electrical problem
1997 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

Hi- the car worked perfectly yesterday. This morning the car clicked when I turned the ignition key. The head lights, the radio and all the interior lights worked.

I had the car jumped and the engine turned over promptly as usual. Everything sounded normal. All the lights and interior electrical sstems worked. I let the engine idle for about 20 minutes to be sure the battery was sufficiently recharged.

After 20 minutes of idling I turned the engine off amd immediately tried to restart the engine. While all the lights still worked the engine would not start and the engine just clicked over and over again. After a few seconds the dash board lights faded out, however the head lights and dome lights still worked.

I checked all the fuses, spark plug connections, and made a visual inspection of the engine, and found nothing unusual of out of place.

Is the problem a dead battery or with the alternator, starter or other engine component?

Thanks for your help

Bill

2 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Get a helper to hold key at cranking position -you bang on the starter if it engages the engine -replace the starter

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Friday, February 26th, 2010 AT 5:29 PM

KWOOLLEY

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Your battery is old and doesn't have a charge. Go to an autozone or O'reilly (checker) auto parts store they will have a free load test machine that will test the strength of your battery cause it souds like your battery has no CCA. Which means Cold Cranking Amps. That is what powers the starter. I have a 1997 Camry as well. I have changed the battery 4 times. If you can get a Performance battery with a warranty. Its expensive at first but you will save in the long run. Batteries with warranties around 5 years are only 60 to 100 $.