YACT: Car won't start, except when pumping gas pedal

[Atrail]

My gf has a 92 Camary that intermittently (2-4 times a month) will not start. i.e. Turn key and nothing happens except unbuckled seat belt alert. (Battery has juice)
It finally did it one day while I was around and I got in there and pumped the gas pedal while turning key and it started up.
This give any clue to what maybe causing this?
Plugs, Cap, Rotor, Wires, and even Starter have been replaced in the past if her memory serves her correctly.
183,000K miles
Automatic
Thanks for any help!

 

[freakflag]

Has the fuel filter been replaced in recent memory?

EDIT: Strike that...I reread your post. Is it a manual or automatic transmission? If it's a manual, there's a thing called a nuetral safety switch that won't let the starter engage unless the it's activated by pressing in the clutch pedal. Maybe her's is going bad and you dancing on the accelerator jiggled it enough to let it start. BTW...pupming the gas on a fuel injected car=not good.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Sounds like your throttle body may be sticking, clean it or have it cleaned, might help out some.



CrackRabbit

 

[Howard]

Injectors clogged, or fuel pump broken?



I'm not sure why opening the throttle allowed you to start the engine...

 

[db]

Have the fuel pressure checked. Possible bad fuel pump. Not sure if it's in the fuel tank--if it is, it'll cost.

 

[Evadman]

Pushing the gas pedal to the floor while not running tells the computer that it is cold outside, and you are setting the choke (that is how they worked on carb'ed cars) So it adds extra fuel by increasing the fuel pressure, or turning on the extra injectors.

Sounds like you have a fuel problem.

 

[JC]

Turn key and nothing happens

Nothing, as in it doesn't crank over? Pumping the gas should have nothing to do with it, since it has fuel injection.

 

[freakflag]

that intermittently (2-4 times a month) will not start. i.e. Turn key and nothing happens

It's not a fuel problem. It's not cranking. Reread the edit of my original post.

 

[Atrail]

Turn the key silent as night besides the internal beeps...
Automatic

 

[Ronstang]

Sounds like your idle air bypass/idle speed motor....what ever they call it on your kind of car. Seems that it is sticking closed on occasion.

 

[JC]

Next time it happens, try this: hold the ign key to 'crank', and move the shift lever back and forth a bit, to see if it's the neutral safety switch. Otherwise, I'd say it's got a starter with a flat spot, or a bad ignition switch.

 

[freakflag]

Originally posted by: JC
Next time it happens, try this: hold the ign key to 'crank', and move the shift lever back and forth a bit, to see if it's the neutral safety switch. Otherwise, I'd say it's got a starter with a flat spot, or a bad ignition switch.

BAH! Beat me to it.....

 

[Ronstang]

Oops...didn't see the post above my earlier one......I agree with JC here....sounds like neutral safety switch.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

LOL. When I went to Africa, I bored someones car and he told me to start the engine like this too.

It was a Camary as well, maybe a 91.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I don't know.. I would check the ground cable at the frame and the ground cable jumper to the block. Are the connections clean at point of contact and are they tight.
Maybe, just a maybe, Its completing the circuit through the throttle cable.
At that mileage, if it has been on salty roads its worth a look see...:sun:

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: JC
Next time it happens, try this: hold the ign key to 'crank', and move the shift lever back and forth a bit, to see if it's the neutral safety switch. Otherwise, I'd say it's got a starter with a flat spot, or a bad ignition switch.

I thought he meant it would turn over but not start. Man, I am slow tonight. JC has the answer right here.

 

[TGregg]

Originally posted by: Atrail
My gf has a 92 Camary that intermittently (2-4 times a month) will not start. i.e. Turn key and nothing happens except unbuckled seat belt alert. (Battery has juice)
It finally did it one day while I was around and I got in there and pumped the gas pedal while turning key and it started up.
This give any clue to what maybe causing this?
Plugs, Cap, Rotor, Wires, and even Starter have been replaced in the past if her memory serves her correctly.
183,000K miles
Automatic
Thanks for any help!

Exactly what happens when you turn the key over? Does it go Klickety-Clack, or does it actually turn over?

 

[TGregg]

No noise at all I take it, in case JC has it on target. If you hear no noise at all (and you have any sorta charge in yer battery), then something is saying to the car "Y'all ain't allowed to start yet."

 

[Atrail]

Originally posted by: JC
Next time it happens, try this: hold the ign key to 'crank', and move the shift lever back and forth a bit, to see if it's the neutral safety switch. Otherwise, I'd say it's got a starter with a flat spot, or a bad ignition switch.

Ok, sounds good.
Thanks a bunch!

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: freakflag
Has the fuel filter been replaced in recent memory? EDIT: Strike that...I reread your post. Is it a manual or automatic transmission? If it's a manual, there's a thing called a nuetral safety switch that won't let the starter engage unless the it's activated by pressing in the clutch pedal. Maybe her's is going bad and you dancing on the accelerator jiggled it enough to let it start. BTW...pupming the gas on a fuel injected car=not good.

1) neutral safety switches are on autos and manuals

2) pumping the accelerator on a fuel injected car does jack shitt, it's the carburetors that flood.

 

[Crappopotamus]

cleaning the throttle body on my max helped with my stalling issues. mine was more of a sputtering dying when it was cold though...