87 toyota camry won't start again

Those kind of symptoms sound like a faulty neutral safety switch to me. It probably has worn or dirty contacts.

Assuming it is an automatic transmission, it should start in either Park or Neutral. I have had cars that would start in one position but not in the other. I also have had to move the shift lever back and forth through its full range before it would start.

On a manual transmission, the switch is associated with the clutch pedal.

I think the switch is located near the transmission and can be easily disassembled and cleaned, but a dealer would probably just replace it (at a fairly high cost).

Merritt

When you turn the key, do the lights in the car darken *a lot*?

If so, your battery might be weak... even if it does power the stereo and dash lights, it might not have the juice to turn the starter (which takes A LOT of power).

Lots of places do free battery tests... I know Brake Masters does, not sure if there's one in your area...

Sorry to have to tell you this if you're short on money, but sometimes rebuilt aftermarket starters can be junk. I once went through something like seven generators under a "lifetime" warranty, until I got tired of it and bought the factory unit - no more problems since then. Started to have the same experience with a Pep Boys starter on my Toyota truck but after the second time of changing the starter, I 'd had enough, bought the Toyota remanufactured starter and never had another problem - plus that truck often sits for long periods of time and the starter has to do a lot of cranking to get the engine (carbureted) going - still works fine though. Now that the original starter is gone it's too late, but usually you can get them going again just by changing the copper contacts in the solenoid that carry all the current during starting and tend to pit and wear over time. By the way, you may be interested to know the difference between "rebuilt" and "remanufactured". Rebuilt they change only what went bad. Don't know if it's true but have heard some rebuilders do little more than put fresh spray paint on the old starter. "Remanufactured" like the genuine Toyota parts, means all parts that are subject to wear are replaced, like the bearings, brushes, etc., even though they are in working condition when tested - so presumably the reman. unit will last a lot longer and you're not subject to a marginal part failing shortly after the purchase.

Having gone through the "starter dance" a number of times in my younger years, I started buying only official Toyota or Nissan "remanufactured starters" from the dealer. Never had a problem.

Before that, just like you said, problem after problem. Not sure how good a "premium NAPA reman starter would be. I suspect it would be good, but I also suspect it would approach dealership prices.

For rebuilt parts you can buy poorly or non rebuilt junk sicne that is what these big parts stores usualy sell, once I went through 3 starters till I got a new one. Once 2 alternators. See if the ground and cable are good first to the starter, they can frey internaly and be hard to see if its broken. You might just have a bad starter.

Did you check the power cables and their connections. Next time it happens run jumper cables from the battery negative to ground and from the battery positive to the starter solenoid and see what happens.