2002 Camry Intermittant start issues

[LeakySeals]

Have a 2002 Camry XLE I4 wouldn't start yesterday. Not even a click. Last fall the battery was replaced because it wouldn't start. After a while it started so i went to Autozone to have it tested. Had to turn it off. The battery was fully charged 100%, I looked at the results myself. They cleaned the posts and connections, even tried jumping it, wouldn't start. I should have taken over at that point, they didnt make much of an effort to secure the jumper cables. The other vehicle did seem to go under load when they tried to jump start it so I assume they had it connected ok. After a few minutes, it started on its own, but slow, as if the battery was down. like a hard turn over. Oils good. So its sitting now as it cant be trusted.

Likely the starter, but would a failing starter turn over slow/hard?

i changed the cabin air filter the day before. Is there anything in the area of the cabin filter that i could have loosened? There were cables that were dangling, I had to lift them out of the way.

 

[The_Jeff]

The solenoid contacts do go out quite a bit on 'yotas. Generally it means a new starter.

Does the dome light in your car dim much when you try to start? A dome that goes dim says weak battery; one that doesn't do much of anything says the starter isn't pulling current.

You could also have a bad ground or battery lead.

 

[FL_Rob]

Bad grounds ..check and relube( with dielctric grease or just vasoline in a pinch).Manually loosen then re-tighten.

 

[zyxelenator]

sound like starter. Try old grandpas method. Get a hummer a beat a [censored] out of starter. Joke, try to tap it with low-medium force about 5 times. Might work.

 

[The Critic]

Most likely its the starter.

 

[ComfyShorts]

Its the starter...those toyotas are the number one car we do starters on. At least its an easy one.

 

[hypervish]

Starter contacts. You can switch them out, and it'll only cost you like $20. Plus, they are very easy to change.

 

[mechtech2]

You do know that cables have TWO ends? Both must be clean and shiny, and where they seat. 1/2 a job won't cut it.
Do this first, then see what's up.

 

[LeakySeals]

Interesting. The starter contacts and the other end of the battery cables are actually close together. Both are under the bottom of the air cleaner box. The one spot that cant get cleaned when I detailed the engine. Need to take everything out to see them. Will let you know what I find. thank you

 

[LeakySeals]

Update: I went through all the cables and connection no change. Just finished replacing the starter in the pouring rain. What I learned from this is starter failures can act like a weak battery (cranks sloooow).