Engine Performance problem
1999 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 107000 miles

I have a cold starting problem with this 99 ,4 cyl Camry. Intermittent initially but becoming more of a problem with the weather getting colder. I did basic tune up , cleaned and replaced a battery connection with no improvement. Battery voltage good. Car would start readily with starter fluid and run fine . MIL out ,and PCM has no codes. Warm starts are fine. Tested fuel pump and regulator .Pressure good and held for appropriate time. Changed fuel filter. Changed Coolant Temp sensor and seemed to improve but now colder overnight temps problem is back. Today couldn't start with starter spray. California emission ,so I believe there is no MAF or cold start fuel injector on this car. Now instead of a lean fuel condition on start up ,I'm starting to think this may be an ignition problem. Like I said the car runs great when I can start it ,including good performance on the road.

Hello –

We need to make sure you and I are on the same page so I am gonna need a little more info if that’s okay.

First is your Camry a CE, LE, Solara SE or XLE?

Next, a basic tune up….did that include new plugs, plug wires, air filter?

Battery voltage good – did you have a draw test done on it?

Please do me a favor, please go to Auto Zone or O’Reilly’s and for FREE they can pull the codes to the car. I know you did this but have them check once more. Most important: Once they check your codes, if they find something and you don’t get it fixed and need to get back with us, please make sure you tell us exactly what the code was, number and all. Example, if the code was E0568 O2 Sensor bad. Then make sure you give us all of that. Very big, while there for FREE also they can bring their tester out and check your battery, alternator and starter.

We need to figure out if it is electrical or fuel related. Pull a plug wire off of the spark plug and insert something into the end of it and have someone try to start the car and have the metal object really close to a piece of metal on the engine and see if you are getting a good strong popping blue spark. Don’t have your hands on any part of the metal!!! If there is no spark, then it is electrical. If you are getting good spark then you need to get a fuel pressure check on the fuel pump to ensure it is putting out okay. You have already said you checked the fuel pressure – do you remember what it was so when you give me the correct model vehicle I can compare it?

Please do the above and let’s take it from there.

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Please let us know if what the final fix was for your car so we can better assist others. Thanks!

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It's a LE. Changed plugs wires and plugs .Battery new with new ground to block and frame. Fuel press 46 psi and held for 5 min. Collent temp sens new. Coil pack bank 1 new. Air filter new. Tryed again today to start car, no luck. Turns over fine. Plugs wet with gas after attempt. Checked Crank position sensor for ohms and got a "open"reading. I got a sticker 2 wks ago after I changed the coolent temp sensor.Car ran fine until 1 week later. Mass Insp computer showed no codes also. I use same scanner as Autozone. I'm going to change crank position sens Sat. If this dosen't work I'm really stumped.

Hello –

The crank sensor cold should read between 985-1600 ohms of resistance. Also, the car will crank with a bad sensor but it will not start.

I am with you - - change the crank sensor.

Thanks for the donation

Please let us know if what the final fix was for your car so we can better assist others. Thanks!

Find a car repair manual for your car repair questions.

Consider the ISC or idle speed control motor. It is connected to the throttle body and sets idle air according to coolant temp. These can gum up causing cold start problems.

Problem solved. It was the crank position sensor. When I took the old one out ,I found the wire had a wear spot and a small break. Started with first turn with new sensor. I still don't know why I didn't a check engine light or a code in the PCM. Thanks for the idea toyotech ,I've run into that before.