95 Camry won't start, not electrical

[Insomniator]

For the past year when its cold I can start it fine the first time but if I make a quick trip to get gas or something it won't start the second time without me waiting 5-10 minutes. It just acts dead like it has no battery (though the headlights, radio etc work fine even in this state).

If it gets fully warmed up for a long trip I can shut it off and restart it fine. I always wondered why it started fine the first time every time but not the second when cold. Today however, I tried starting it and i heard like a buzzing noise (like before the starter catches) and then just when it tried to catch I heard a little grind and a click. Now nothing... when the key is turned you can hear a click in the engine but nothing happens.

Any idea?

 

[jlee]

My guess is the starter is kablooey.

 

[infoiltrator]

Is this the original Starter?
It could be the brushes wore out, and bad contact was overheating the starter on cold starts. It could be the brush contact area wore down.
Most likely the motor coils insulation has broken down. When cold moisture has dried or settled, on short trips dampness interferes, on long ones things dry out again.
The click is the solenoid working. This is a relay that switches heavy current to the starter motor, the movement is also what moves the engagement gear into contact with the fly wheel to crank over the motor.

Probably the simplest thing is just exchange it for a rebuilt one.
Back in the day American car starters lasted around 60,000 miles give or take, you could buy parts and do it yourself. Japanese car starters have been good for over 200,000 miles since the 80's.

Best I know all rebuilds are sent to China now.

You can try an old trick That can work if this is just a bad alignment of connections.
Basically use a piece of wood to protect the starter casing and beat on the wood with a hammer. Used to work sometime.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, do the unofficial starter test.

When it won't start, give the starter a couple good whacks with a rubber mallet or a piece of 2X4. You can use a regular hammer, but don't hit so hard with that.

 

[exdeath]

Sounds like a weak battery to me. It starts a second time only after a long drive because it has time for the alternator to replenish it between starts. Check for 12.6v when off and 13+v when running.

Starting is the most demanding thing for a battery; it can easily power everything else in the car but fail to deliver enough cranking amps.

 

[Viperoni]

Check the battery and starter terminals for corrosion before replacing the starter.

 

[woodie1]

Your battery could be weak because the alternator isn't putting out enough juice to keep it properly charged.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes, we shouldn't assume the battery is okay.

 

[janas19]

This sounds more like a starter issue than a bad battery to me.

If your battery is bad, your car will show problems starting (if it even does that) consistently.

The inconsistent bad starts make me think your starter is showing it's age, as the gentleman above me commented.

 

[Raizinman]

How old is the battery in the car. If you don't know, then look at the battery for a sticker or code. If you see something like A1 that mean January 2011, or C0, that means March 2010, or perhaps D9 meaning April 2009. This will give you the manufacture date of the battery. Sometimes they melt the code into the side of the battery toward the top. Also, why do you believe as in your original post, that this is "not electrical"?? Did you have your vehicles electrical checked somewhere?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Your battery could be weak because the alternator isn't putting out enough juice to keep it properly charged.

I was thinking this at first but he says that it will charge up after a trip. I would say battery but it starts up the first time, every time - the second time it should turn over at least once... and the lights/radio wouldnt work.

My vote is the starter.
Give the starter at test. My experience is that when they begin to fail they will fail intermittently, as you described.

The click at the engine is the Starter Relay (an electrical switch that when activated(by turning the key) sends power to the starter).