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1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain


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Speckle317
New User

Sep 28, 2009, 5:56 PM

Post #1 of 7 (10502 views)
1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

Hello--I have a 1993 Toyota Camry 2.2L/4cyl, just hit 160,000 miles, bought it earlier this summer.
So far I've had the timing belt replaced, water pump, most of the belts, motor mount, all the oil changes,
and got a brand new starter last month.

For the past week or two whenever it rains the car has had problems starting.
It would try to--(it sounded like it was starting slowly) it would slowly catch after trying a few times and then I could drive it.
After I drove it for awhile and the sun came out it would start up perfectly fine with no problems--so I connected this with
a moisture problem.

Then this Friday it rained a lot and the car was outside (no garage parking here at college).
Saturday morning I got in the car to go to work and it would not start.
It would try to--the window shield wipers were going very slow and the lights were dim--and it was trying to catch but just wouldn't.
After several attempts the car wouldn't even make the noise it was making--now it just makes an initial click when I first try, and then a short burst of little clicks and then nothing.
The lights were brighter at first but now we can't even see the dash clock.
The car still makes a dinging noise one time when the door is ajar and the key is in the ignition.
We tried jumping it with my friend's car, but my Camry still just makes that clicking noise
and will not start.

My mechanic that I always use from home is about 300 miles away, and since the
car won't start--it's been about 3 days now--I can't drive it to a mechanic here.

The battery connnectors/cables look good to me, from what I've been reading
I'm thinking distributor cap/faulty wiring/ignition coil?

If it doesn't start soon I'll have to use my Roadside Assistance
from my insurance and get it towed somewhere. I'm willing to do that,
but does any one have any ideas or suggestions before I take the next
step?

I really appreciate your time.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 28, 2009, 6:15 PM

Post #2 of 7 (10493 views)
Re: 1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

You have 2 different problems here. First, you have a battery issue that needs to be addressed first. Get a good, strong battery in there and see if you still have the wet starting problem.

Your on the right track for that issue. Anything is the secondary ignition can cause that. That includes tghe plugs, cap, rotor, wires and coil. The coil would have to be cracked but that's pretty common and hard to see. start out with cap, rotor, wires and plugs. If that doesn't solve your problems, then look at the coil.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Speckle317
New User

Sep 29, 2009, 9:07 PM

Post #3 of 7 (10479 views)
Re: 1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

Just to follow-up.

I took the battery out and took it to AutoZone.
They tried charging it and tested it--said it was junk.

I ordered a new battery and it should be in tomorrow.
I'll install it-I bought a wire brush to clean the connectors--and
then post the results here.

Thanks for your response HammerTime.


Speckle317
New User

Sep 30, 2009, 5:10 PM

Post #4 of 7 (10465 views)
Re: 1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

So I got the new battery today--cleaned the connectors--put it in,
and then started the car.
It started right up--and then died a second later.

When I turn the key I can hear the engine trying very hard to turn over,
but it's just not getting there. It hasn't started since and I'm hesitate
to just sit there and try repeatedly for fear of damaging something.

I popped the hood and had someone try to start it--I can see the
Drive/Serpentine belt (which I had replaced less than a month ago
incidentally) turning, but the engine is not starting.

Any suggestions from this point? Should I stick with the
idea of it being something electrical?

Thank you!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 30, 2009, 5:17 PM

Post #5 of 7 (10461 views)
Re: 1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

 All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions

rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to

conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be test during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test

good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.



Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.


2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.


3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.


4) If all other tests are passed. then perform a complete compression test and record the results. All cylinders should be over 120lbs in most cases

and all be within 10% of each other.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



ampretty001
User

Oct 1, 2009, 10:48 PM

Post #6 of 7 (10449 views)
Re: 1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

The best thing to do now is to towed it to an auto shop cause you say can't start the engine..And to save for wasting money in buying parts that wont work out..Let it repaired by a car specialist...


profleet
Novice

Oct 4, 2009, 6:37 PM

Post #7 of 7 (10438 views)
Re: 1993 Toyota Camry won't start after rain Sign In

Common failure on older Toyota Camry and Corolla distributer cap fails. 1st ck for spark at plugs, if none you have a choice take to a good shop to diagnose or replace distributer cap and recheck. The coil is an integral coil and can not be tested by a DIY. The coil and distributor failed often on these cars. They are not cheap and need to be correctly diagnosed so the wrong part is not replaced. A good honest shop can test for the difference. Measure resistance of coil inside distributer and compare to factory spec.

link deleted...................not allowed



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Oct 4, 2009, 6:38 PM)






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