96 Camry Starting issue

I have had issues with my Camrys/Sienna where it seemed something was wrong with mechanical components as you describe but it almost always ended up being the battery. Most auto parts stores will run an electrical test for free and inform you what the problem is. Perhaps that would be a good place to start. If it ends up being the starter that thing is really easy to replace, just make sure you get a replacement with the connectors on the same side as the original.

Thanks...I will have the battery checked first. Is it better to just buy a rebuilt starter if I need one, or is it feasible/possible to rebuild on your own?

I have not rebuilt one myself so I cannot say.

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I don't know how it works these days, but in the 90's when I was working on our Cressida, starter parts were hard to find. The Cressida had a problem similar to yours - sometimes there would be a click but no start. I took the starter solenoid apart and discovered that one of the copper bolts used as a terminal in the circuit that directed power to the actual starter motor had worn away (when the solenoid engaged the starter gear it also shorted across two terminals to send power to the motor). At that time, Toyota offered no parts for the starter, not even a replacement solenoid. Paying $500 for a new starter or pounding salt were the only Toyota approved choices. At that time none of the local parts stores carried a rebuilt starter for the Cressida, so I was not very happy. In desperation I wondered into a local auto electric rebuilder. I merely held up the worn bolt and told one of the workers something like - "I bet you don't know what this is." Amazingly he immediately identified it as a contact from a Toyota starter. I said something like "Wow, they must fail a lot." He laughed and said something like " Not really, that Toyota crap doesn't usually last long enough for that to fail"(I cleaned that up a bit). He then reached below the counter and gave me a new one - for free. Shortly thereafter the starter worked as good as new - which allowed me to get rid of the POS Cressida.

Ed

I called our local toyota shop and they do sell a contact replacment kit...about 12 bucks and change. I found a couple sites on the web with pictures of the install..looks pretty simple actually. Still going to have the battery checked as golferman suggests

That is exactly what happened on my '97 Camry a couple of years ago. Mechanic said the armature of the starter had a "flat spot" in it, and replaced the starter. No more problems. In your case it may be the same, or possbily a problem with the solenoid.

I saw one as well:

Ed

I couldn't get one in the early 1990's. Toyotas were not so common then and I guess Toyota hadn't figured out the contacts were crap - at least when used by Americans. Interestingly, I have a Kubota tractor on my farm and a Kubota diesel lawn tractor - both had this exact same failure. Fortunately solenoids are available now - unfortunately I had to by the whole solenoid, the contacts were not easily replaceable.

Ed

The symptoms you are describing are the classic symptoms for worn starter solenoid contacts as Ed White described. I would start there first.

You guys were spot on. I had the battery checked, which was fine. Pulled the starter and looked at the solenoid contacts and they were very worn...down to about 1/3 of the original thickness at the perimeter. I got the "rebuild" kit from our local toyota dealer...about 20 bucks. Put them in this afternoon and it seems to be all back to normal. Thanks for all the help once again!

You guys were spot on. I had the battery checked, which was fine. Pulled the starter and looked at the solenoid contacts and they were very worn...down to about 1/3 of the original thickness at the perimeter. I got the "rebuild" kit from our local toyota dealer...about 20 bucks. Put them in this afternoon and it seems to be all back to normal. Thanks for all the help once again!