ikant

Ok guys and gals, here is my issue. Got up, did the duties in prep to leave for work. Get into the car, turn the ignition key....and it just goes, "click"...and nothing happens. Tried it again...and again, but same outcome--"click" . Everything lights up normally; door "pings", instrument panel, dome and courtesy lights come on . I pulled my DMM and the battery voltage is 12.61v.

Mechanic won't be able to get to this side of town until later tonight--he's on call for other vehicles...[I should have been a mechanic--always in demand..LOL!!]. But for the time being, I decided to offer it to all of you for theories/ideas to the cause. [Plus, it'll make me appear more car-tech saavy when he shows up --instead of the usual, "what do you mean, that needs to be replaced??" ]

JSM1284

Starter issue maybe?

GoodRevs

Sounds like a starter issue, but it could also be the battery is drained to the point it can't provide enough power to start the car but not so much that the dash/lights won't function.

decypher

^sounds about right to me

BDSL

If the engine doesn't turn, it can be either the battery or the starter.

Give the battery a boost to see if the engine turns. If not, your starter is dead.

PFB

A loose battery cable clamp could do it.

decypher

Is it possible it could be the alternator to or no??

donbryce

My '96 Camry does this infrequently. Try banging on the shifter while in park, and move the lever back and forth. My theory is that the starter lock-out is worn.
Could also be your starter solenoid sticking. A good whack with a hammer will sometimes fix this.

Jontay

Have had this problem periodically with other cars I have owned. Most times it has been weak battery. Try jump starting or different battery.

Barclay

Tapping the solenoid with a hammer might help. If you are brave, you can hotwire the solenoid. I had an old VW that responded to that treatment until I could replace the solenoid.

ikant

Ok, he's here... Gonna see what's up (show my "extra" brain power). Thanks guys--be back with a verdict in a bit.

yeldogt

You do not list the year or model of your car?

Failure of the contacts in the starter solenoid is a very common problem with the Toyota starter. If you go on e-bay you will see people selling various parts of the starter solenoid. I normally get the kit with both contacts and the plunger.

The starter is very easy to remove and it takes all of 45 min to fix the starter and put it back in the car.

More often than not - a new starter is installed when actually all that is needed is $20.00 in parts.

Obviously -- make sure the battery and cables are in good shape.

ikant

Well verdict, it was the starter itself. We purchased a new one--$130 at nearest Autozone. Took him all of 20-25 minutes to remove and replace while we chewed the fat about my wife's car going into the shop today. Felt really relieved to hear my engine start up right out the gate. Thank you all--right on the money!!...EPIC!!

Oh Yeldogt forgot to post vehicle, it's a '96 ES--currently at 296,419 miles.

decypher

Glad to hear you got it all worked out! ES with 300K on the ODO #WINNING

yeldogt

The starter and solenoid are all together -- the solenoid is the smaller part.

This is the failure when all you get is the click -- many of the replacement starters are not all that good. The Toyota unit is very high quality.

If you ever have a situation where the car just clicks and you have to turn the key a few times to get the starter to work ---- Order the parts for the starter and fix it - contacts and plunger. It will eventually fail if you don't -- anyone with basic tools can fix this.

Many times people think it is the battery -- or if you test the starter it will show up as pulling too many amps. Its the contacts.

Some of the dealers stock the parts also - but they like selling starters


Glad you got it fixed