Camry won’t start

[TObject]

My dad’s Camry doesn’t start. It was driven into the garage yesterday, no problems whatsoever before that. This morning – it just wouldn’t start. It is a 1998 4-cylinder Automatic. Wouldn’t start in Neutral ether. Looks like it is cranking the motor all right. Any ideas?

[Joe Dillard]

Pop the top of the distributer cap off & see if the rotor is turning. This will typically (but not in all cases), indicate that the timing belt is turning the cam, & the cam gear is turning the distributor.

This may not be 100% correct, but the dist needs to turn.

[Daless2]

TObject,

Have your Dad ship it to me here in Georgetown, Kentucky. I will bring it back to the factory just down the road where it was made and have it put back on the assembly line for a recycle!

Frank

Wish I could offer some real advice that would help your dad out. Sorry I can't.

[TObject]

It turned out be the Idle Speed Control Valve (they had to replace it), or at least that's what the dealer said.

The Camry is up and running once again. Thanks everyone!

[Hellbender]

TO--Explain to Dad that if he would trade the Camry for a TJ you could have saved him a lot of trouble.

2000 TJ 4.0L, A/T, all factory options.
Jeep Rater Score 360
http://www.hellbender.rockcrawler.com/
NRA Lifetime Member

[TObject]

Well, the Camry is used as a family vehicle – to go on the trips, haul groceries, sand etc. There is no way a TJ could comfortably seat four on a long trip. But I will try to get my dad in one of those huge diesel trucks.

BTW, here is some information on fix from yotarepair, I put it here so that I know next time, where to look:

IAC cleaning is possible. As more of the Camry's and Ravs go off warranty the valve is still causing the cold start problem. I was told by a tech that they have been cleaning the valves for several months without any comebacks. Its fairly easy, you need to get a used wiring harness or make your own I have even used the harness from an 90 Camry or any model with an IAC. Get a valve out of parts (the warranty bin should have several) and test your wire leads and by using a battery power the valve and see what contacts open the valve (one side opens and one closes the valve). You want the open direction. Now the next time you get one in take the hose off the throttle body and have some good carb cleaner, connect your leads to the IAC valve. Start the motor (it helps to have a friend keep it running) and spray into the square opening on the side of the throttle body while cycling the IAC valve off the battery, you must spray into the square hole, the motor will try to stall. At first nothing happens then you will hear an increase in air flow then an increase in engine speed. That's it. When you are done you will have to reset the engine light, I remove the EFI fuse for 15 sec. Its even easier if you just loosen the connection to the IAC and with someone controlling the Throttle you can just connect and disconnect the plug while spraying in the IAC port. 1/22

Another post from a newsgroup:
I have successfully cleaned my 4Cy 1997 Camry IAC valve about a month
ago. I was supprized at how easy it was to do.

Materials:

1. Carbuerator cleaner spray can with tube tat puses into the squirt
can nozzle, such as Gumout. Be sure it is catalytic converter safe.

2. Thin stiff wire similar to a cut down bicycle spoke or a very thin
screw driver. Use to release IAC connector lock.

Completely remove the large diameter (approx 3") throttle body
air-inlet hose. Find the squarish hole (approx 1/2" x 1/2") just
before the throttle plate in the wall of the throttle body housing.
Remove the IAC connector cable plug using the tool above, but keep the
plug aligned with the connector on the IAC valve. Start engine and
squirt the carb cleaner into the hole described above. Alternately
connect and disconnect the IAC connector plug without causing it to
lock the connector to cycle the valve. Repeat the process about 10
times.

While your'e at it, turn off the engine and clean the throttle body
and throttle plate. Open the throttle plate by turning the throttle
pulley and also clean the walls behind the throttle.

Reassemble and run the engine. If the check engine light comes on shut
the engine off and disconnect the negative battery terminal for about
5 minutes. Before disconnecting the battery verify that you know how
to reprogram the radio. Some radios have an anti-theft feature that
needs a special code.

It took me about an hour. The most difficult part of the job was to
revove the cruddy battery terminal bolt. I needed to replace the bolt
with a stainless steel bolt.


Can anyone say if using injector cleaner in gas, would help to eliminate carbon buildup in this valve, or is this a different story?

[This message was edited by TObject on January 08, 2002 at 03:09 PM.]