How To Diagnose An Engine No-Crank Problem (1992-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry)

STEP 4: Starter Motor Test

Up to this point, you have confirmed:

• The battery accepts a full charge (TEST 1).
• The engine did not crank and the battery voltage stayed at full or dropped to 10 to 12 Volts (TEST 2).

This usually points to a bad starter motor and in this section, we'll check it.

To safely and easily perform this test, we need to use a remote start switch. If you don't have one, you can buy one here: Actron CP7853 Remote Starter Switch For 6V And 12V Automotive Starting Systems (at: amazon.com).

IMPORTANT: Remove the key from the ignition switch for this test.

NOTE: The battery must be fully charged to get an accurate test result.

OK, let's get started:

1. 1

   Unplug the wire from the starter motor's 'S' terminal.
   
   NOTE: This wire has a female terminal.

2. 2

   Connect one end of the remote starter switch to the battery's positive (+) post.

3. 3

   Hook up the other end of the remote starter switch to the starter motor's male spade 'S' terminal (not the wire's female terminal).
   
   This part can be tricky, so take your time and make sure it connects to the male spade 'S' terminal.

4. 4

   Use the remote starter switch to send 12 Volts to the starter motor solenoid's male spade 'S' terminal.

5. 5

   You'll see one of two things happen:
   
   1.) The starter kicks in and turns the engine over.
   
   2.) The starter motor does nothing.

Here's what your test results tell you:

CASE 1: The starter motor cranked the engine. That's exactly what you want, so the starter motor's working fine.

If turning the key to START doesn't crank the engine, the starter motor probably isn't getting its START signal. Check out this tutorial to troubleshoot the issue:

• How To Test The Starter Motor (1992-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry).

CASE 2: The starter motor DID NOT crank the engine. Most of the time, that means the starter motor's bad and needs a rebuild or replacement.

Before you call it dead, we should run two more tests. First, check if the starter motor's getting its 12 Volt START signal. Then, do a voltage drop test on the battery cable connected to the starter motor solenoid.

Both tests are explained step by step in this tutorial:

• How To Test The Starter Motor (1992-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry).

More 2.2L Toyota Camry Tutorials

You can find a complete list of 2.2L Toyota Camry tutorials and wiring diagrams in this index:

• 2.2L Toyota Camry Index of Articles.

Here's a sample of the tutorials you'll find there:

• How To Test Engine Compression (1990-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry, Celica).
• How To Test For A Blown Head Gasket (1990-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry, Celica).
• How To Test The Fuel Pump (1996-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry).
• How To Test The TPS With A Multimeter (1997-2001 2.2L Toyota Camry).