2001 Toyota Camry Starter fuse

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY
145,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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KEN HOEGERL
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My Toyota is occasionally blowing the 5 amp starter fuses. I 'm using a jumper wire from the starter to the positive battery terminal to start the car. I've replaced the starter, solenoid, relay and ignition switch. I replaced the solenoid first, because the starter began to spin occasionally when starting. The car never blew a fuse before this. The other replacements followed trying to eliminate the blown fuse problem. The car runs fine and all other accessories work. I assume there is a short circuit in the system, but it doesn't do it all the time. After replacing each of the parts, the car started fine and I thought the problem was solved. I've backtracked my work looking for problems I may have created without success. Any answers or suggestions would be apreciated.

Frustrated.
Jun 11, 2009 at 10:31 AM
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RACEFAN966
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Ok first when you say you replaced the starter solenoid was it just the solenoid on the starter or did you replace the starter as unit?
Jun 11, 2009 at 10:38 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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I replaced the solenoid first, then purchased a starter and solenoid combined. Now I have two new solenoids.
Jun 11, 2009 at 7:50 PM
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RACEFAN966
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Ok now does this fuse blow as you turn the key on or do you have to crank it first and then it blows? Looking at the wiring diagram it seems that the wire coming from that fuse goes to a junction behind the right side of the dash to the neutral saftey switch then to a junction at the left side of the dash and then to the starter relay. So we may have to do a test on the starter relay. Let me know when the fuse blows and we will take it from there.
Jun 12, 2009 at 9:19 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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The fuse blows as soon as the the key is turned to start. The starter never turns over. I've replaced the relay.
Jun 12, 2009 at 10:29 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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[quote:b073b801e8="racefan966"]Ok now does this fuse blow as you turn the key on or do you have to crank it first and then it blows? Looking at the wiring diagram it seems that the wire coming from that fuse goes to a junction behind the right side of the dash to the neutral saftey switch then to a junction at the left side of the dash and then to the starter relay. So we may have to do a test on the starter relay. Let me know when the fuse blows and we will take it from there.[/quote:b073b801e8]

The fuse blows immediately when the key is turned to start. The starter never turns over. The relay has been replaced, unless there is more than one relay.

I have never checked the fuse in the "on" position only before trying to start the car.
Jun 13, 2009 at 8:33 AM
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RACEFAN966
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Ok if you would replace fuse and turn key on engine off do not try to start and see if the fuse blows. Let me know what happens and I will look over the wiring diagram and see what we need to check next.
Jun 13, 2009 at 8:57 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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[quote:46dbd88be8="racefan966"]Ok if you would replace fuse and turn key on engine off do not try to start and see if the fuse blows. Let me know what happens and I will look over the wiring diagram and see what we need to check next.[/quote:46dbd88be8]

I'll check it tomorrow, my wife has the car. She's getting handy using the jumper wire.

P.S. The car doesn't always blow the fuse. It may go days before it does it again! It's intermitten and unpredictable.
Jun 13, 2009 at 9:19 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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[quote:c5a71e2c19="racefan966"]Ok if you would replace fuse and turn key on engine off do not try to start and see if the fuse blows. Let me know what happens and I will look over the wiring diagram and see what we need to check next.[/quote:c5a71e2c19]

I replaced the fuse and turned the key to on. Then checked the fuse, it was fine. I then started the car again and again, no problems. I drove the car 30 minutes, stopped and started it up again, still no problem. Everytime I've done something to the car to remedy the blown fuse problem, its seems to have solved the problem. Then in a day or week later, it does it again. I'm befuddled!
Jun 15, 2009 at 9:58 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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[quote:82f16501b7="Ken Hoegerl"][quote:82f16501b7="racefan966"]Ok if you would replace fuse and turn key on engine off do not try to start and see if the fuse blows. Let me know what happens and I will look over the wiring diagram and see what we need to check next.[/quote:82f16501b7]

I replaced the fuse and turned the key to on. Then checked the fuse, it was fine. I then started the car again and again, no problems. I drove the car 30 minutes, stopped and started it up again, still no problem. Everytime I've done something to the car to remedy the blown fuse problem, its seems to have solved the problem. Then in a day or week later, it does it again. I'm befuddled![/quote:82f16501b7]

My wife started the car, went to town, 35 miles, called, car won't start. When she started the car in the AM, I had her turn on the lights first, to draw more current from the battery. In town she had also turned on the lights before starting the car but, this didn't do it either. Still befuddled!
Jun 15, 2009 at 1:07 PM
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RACEFAN966
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Ok you may have gotten a bad starter that is drawing to much from time to time. So if you can go the parts store and have a starter test done on the car and see what it drawing you may have to have it warrantied. let me know what you find.
Jun 15, 2009 at 1:30 PM
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KEN HOEGERL
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[quote:5f1c99f1ca="racefan966"]Ok you may have gotten a bad starter that is drawing to much from time to time. So if you can go the parts store and have a starter test done on the car and see what it drawing you may have to have it warrantied. let me know what you find.[/quote:5f1c99f1ca]

I don't believe it's the new starter because it blew fuses with the old starter. It only started blowing fuses after I replaced the solenoid because the starter began spinning and wasn't fully engaging. Blowing fuses only began after I replaced the solenoid originally. Since then, I've replace the starter and solenoid, relay, ignition switch, and many fuses. Why starter blows fuses when the ignition switch is turned to start is a mystery.



Still looking for ideas and suggestions.
Jun 16, 2009 at 1:09 PM
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RACEFAN966
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I know you don't want to believe it could be the starter but I would have it tested when its in the car anyway. Everything else is testing out ok its all pointing back to the starter. Now what you can do is disconnect the small wire to the starter (disconnect battery first). This is the wire that has power when the key is in the start position tape the end off so it won't touch metal connect the battery back up and then put the key in the start position and see if the fuse blows if it don't then the only cause can be the starter. Let me know what this brings.
Jun 17, 2009 at 9:43 AM
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KEN HOEGERL
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[quote:90d8d9fc4b="racefan966"]I know you don't want to believe it could be the starter but I would have it tested when its in the car anyway. Everything else is testing out ok its all pointing back to the starter. Now what you can do is disconnect the small wire to the starter (disconnect battery first). This is the wire that has power when the key is in the start position tape the end off so it won't touch metal connect the battery back up and then put the key in the start position and see if the fuse blows if it don't then the only cause can be the starter. Let me know what this brings.[/quote:90d8d9fc4b]

I 've followed your instructions. The fuse did not blow. I plugged the small wire back in and started the car over and over. No problem. I checked the old starter and it gives the same reading on my ohm meter.
Should I put the old starter back on the car? It works fine. The reason I'm skeptical is, the fuse problem began when the original starter was still on the car, that's why I replaced the starter.
Jun 21, 2009 at 11:50 AM
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RACEFAN966
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OK if it is working then great. I would not put the old starter back in as you will not be able to return the new one because it was installed and you had a fuse problem that started with that starter so it could have a intermitent short in it. So I would just let it be.
Jun 22, 2009 at 10:26 AM