Car help thread!
 

I know there are some car guru's that lurk here, I was wondering if I could get some advice on what might be causing my car to randomly not start. I have a shitty 1995 Toyota Camry.
Randomly, although it seems to happen more often in colder weather, my car will not start. When I turn the key, the engine keeps clicking, but never turns over. If I let it sit a couple of hours, and usually by this time, the sun is out and things are warming up, it'll start no problems.

Things i'v had replaced (Not all of them related to this problem):
Fuel pump
Water pump
Timing belt
Thermometer
Catalytic converter
Head gasket
Battery

So far my only guess is the starter and/or alternator. But what leads me to believe it isn't those, is, once the car starts, it's fine (also awhile ago, I had diagnostics run on the battery, starter and alt - they all *checked out*). When it isn't starting, the sound of the engine revving, but not turning over is not like the sound you'd hear from a dead battery or anything, as even trying to jump the car does nothing. Like I mentioned, it seems to be related to cold and warm weather. I guess it might also be the distributor cap/housing?
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

you could have a lazy starter motor.

damp Ignition leads.

You saying it could be in fact related to the starter? This is my strongest guess, but i'd hate sink in more money in this POS on trial and error.
Are ignition leads costly? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/blush1.gif

well over there probably two to a penny.. and I'm quite surprised you haven't changed them as part of what has already been done

do you know how to check your battery and alternator ?

Well after all that and it was still having problems, I had that diagnostic run on the starter and etc, and it all came back as *passed* but I still had my doubts. I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to engines.

Have some one turn the key and you look where the clicking sound comes from. Most likely its from the starter solenoid or the starter.

If the engine does turns over and over but does not start, then the issue is some where else.

I had the battery changed a little over a year ago, and I clean the terminals every now and then. My terminals and lead wires are pretty beat up and old though, I thought about replacing those too, but the bolt on the terminal connectors is so rusted that I can't remove it, I used so much force I actually bent the connector, but I was having these problems well before and after bending it.

Use WD40 and some water/baking soda mix to remove the rust and loosen up the bolt.

I did try that. It's literally fused together.

This is accurate. The engine turns and turns. It's like it really *wants* to start, it just doesn't.

start looking into the Ignition system,I take it these symptoms are starting to become more prevalent as the weather becomes more inclement ?

you could have tracking in the distributor cap,and arcing of the rotor arm.

get your plugs changed and re-gaped,get new leads and cap with rotor arm.

Do me a small favor. Hold the gas pedal to the floor and try starting the car. Does it start??

Well it hasn't acted up so much this summer, but I did try then last winter and it had no effect.

When was the last time you looked at the air filter and the spark plugs?

And the distributor cap and rotor?

Sounds to me like a "flat spot" in your starter motor.

Happens only when cold.

Check the plugs, the coil and the battery.
Did you get a cheap battery? Might not have enough cold cranking amps. After all, you do live in CO where it can get pretty cold there.

Your starter could have issues too.
Last winter my truck was hard starting when cold, and just randomly stopped working on day during the summer, so I just went a head and replaced it. Could have been stuck on the crank or something, but parts for the S10 are cheap and I don't like getting stuck and asking for a push.

The Engine turns over but does not start.