Toyota Camry Cranks But Won’t Start

Question

My Toyota Camry engine cranks but won’t turn on. I don’t know much about internal combustion engines, but I guess if the crankshaft turns in order to start the motor, then it must mean the starter is getting power and activating. So why won’t the engine fire up? My Camry is a 3.5 L V6 and I bought it new in 2016. This is the first time it has ever had a starting problems. Why does my Toyota Camry crank but won’t start?

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Christian 3 years 2021-01-01T22:27:32+00:00 2 Answers 1898 views Beginner 1

Answers ( 2 )

    1
    2021-01-01T22:35:58+00:00

    If the Toyota Camry cranks but won’t start the battery could have a bad cell, test it. Ignition coils commonly fail so check for sufficient spark. The engine will not switch on if you have a bad coil. It could also be a fuel related problem.

    0
    2021-01-01T22:55:18+00:00

    Toyota Camry Cranks But Will Not Start Checklist

    One of the most nagging issues with a car is that of cranking but not starting. The first instinct that pops is that of “percussive maintenance’, where you just wish to bang, shake, fiddle and tinker with a few parts and expect the engine to growl into life. Surely there must be a logical reason behind the “crank & sputter” routine of car engines.

    Lets us take a considerate look into the issue of a car that cranks but won’t start.

    Firstly, if the ignition is cranking but not starting, it means it has a speck of life in it; so no point in taking out the whole starting assembly and replacing it with a new one and certainly no point in rotating the key again and again to suck that speck of life out of the battery. Instead, take a step back, take a breather and look into these five distinct epicenters of crank-not-starting dilemma and their possible solutions.

    1. Ignition Coil


    The induction system that converts battery power into voltage for the spark plug to create a spark might be faulty, moist or corroded. This causes the ignition coil to crank hard without producing enough voltages for spark plugs to ignite the fuel and air mixture.

    Ignition coil is an easily replaceable part, but you should dry clean it before doing that. Once contaminants are removed, an ignition coil is likely to survive a car’s lifetime.

    2. Electrical System

    The tips of spark plugs do get wobbly after excessive use. If that precise distance between the arc and coil gets disturbed, the ignition spark wouldn’t be powerful enough to allow fuel delivery and air compression; the bedrock of internal combustion engine tech. Check spark intensity with a spark tester or grounding the wires and then turning the ignition. Since the wire and ignition plug are at an inaccessible distance, get help from someone. If there is enough spark move on to the next probable malfunction.

    Flooded engine (from water or lubricant leakages) may cause dampness in spark plugs which can hamper performance. Unscrew the plugs, dry them and insert them back.

    Electrical fuses can also cause the electrical system to collapse and with it sink the whole starting mechanism. Always keep extra fuses with you and replace faulty fuses while keeping in consideration the amperage of the fuse required.

    3. Fuel System


    A clogged fuel line might be the reason behind the cranking and not starting. The gas you top up might contain metallic residues that can clog the fuel line or the inner skin of fuel tank itself may wear away tiny metallic shavings that get stuck in the fuel line. It is best to check leakages by running a tissue paper through the length of the fuel line (all of it might not be accessible by hand).

    The fuel pump that sprays fuel into the injector is a rather sensitive device. A bad fuel pump or the fuse that regulates the performance of fuel pump may cause cranking but not starting. Turn the ignition ‘On’ and listen for the buzzing sound in fuel pump. That sound indicates that the fuel pump is alright, and the problem might be somewhere else.

    4. Mechanical Issues

    Mechanical problems in this case mainly pertain to the compression volume produced by pistons at each stroke. Uneven cylinder compression pressure is caused by loose or broken timing chain or belt. Use a compression tester to check piston compression. A leak-down test may reveal compression shortage or leakage in even greater detail.

    5. Advanced Technologies

    While we do love tech-savvy cars, they come with a hefty baggage of gadgetry and gizmos that are elusive to the common driver. Cars are loaded with computers that can log even the slightest errors. It is up to the driver to take cognizance of these errors and make relevant fixes. If a car cranks but won’t start, the computer error log should be first thing you should look into.

    At any rate, do not crank the car repeatedly. As much as it hurts the ears, it can put a severe dent in your pocket for fixing an issue that requires a little patience and know-how of a car’s starting mechanism.

    P.S.: While it may be silly to suggest, do check if the car has enough fuel to start. This issue persists more times than drivers like to imagine, and often causes ignominy if caught by someone else.

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