1996 Wont start right???

[STEV070]

Hi, I have just bought a 1996 Camry and it has a starting issue.

I only managed to get one key with it and one immobiliser remote.

The key wont open the boot so I assume it may be the valet key???

So I unlock the car with the remote button, doors unlock, interior light comes on when door opened.

Put the key in the ignition and it turns around to start position no worries but does nothing, car wont crank over.

Only way to get it to crank over is to press the remote button again just before turning the key and it starts then.

I have a feeling this is something simple but cant think of what it is...

Anybody experienced this same thing.

Any advice would be much appreciated, Thank you.

[trentmeyer23]

The boot lock may have also been changed. I have a different key for boot, doors and ignition.

[Laurie Edward]

Hi. Maybe the key/starter issue is the way the immobiliser system works. I have no experience with them. Sorry.

Good luck. Laurie.

[thommo]

Is the chip in the key which over-rides the immobiliser system buggered?  This is what happened with my daughters 2002 Camry.  The chip in one key went bad and sometimes when she turned it to start - nothing (I'm talking about the key here, not the remote).  She found if she put the key in and out of the ignition lock 4-5 times eventually it would start.  But that was a bit of a PITA so she ended up just using her spare key in which the chip was fine.

[STEV070]

Thanks for your suggestions. It only has a plain metal key so there would be no chip in it. Is a 96 model supposed to have a chipped key?

I have also just noticed that it works fine if you unlock the car with the remote. Its only an issue if you unlock it with the key in the door.

If it is supposed to have a chipped key, That would make much more sense and explain why I am having this difficulty.

[Hiro]

5 hours ago, STEV070 said:

Thanks for your suggestions. It only has a plain metal key so there would be no chip in it. Is a 96 model supposed to have a chipped key?

I have also just noticed that it works fine if you unlock the car with the remote. Its only an issue if you unlock it with the key in the door.

If it is supposed to have a chipped key, That would make much more sense and explain why I am having this difficulty.

No, a '96 has a plain key and a chipped remote/immobiliser (there will be two little metal strips on the nose of the remote, this is the way to tell), the fact that the car won't start even after you remote unlock the doors is because the immobiliser isn't disengaging, which is why you have to press the button again inside the car before it will start.

In short, always use the remote to unlock the car if you intend on driving it.

[STEV070]

8 hours ago, Hiro said:

No, a '96 has a plain key and a chipped remote/immobiliser (there will be two little metal strips on the nose of the remote, this is the way to tell), the fact that the car won't start even after you remote unlock the doors is because the immobiliser isn't disengaging, which is why you have to press the button again inside the car before it will start.

In short, always use the remote to unlock the car if you intend on driving it.

Ahh ok Thank you, That is what I will do. I bought a spare new remote from Toyota as I don't want it to go flat or anything. I wont be going anywhere quickly...

Is there a way to fix the immobiliser not disengaging?

[Hiro]

9 hours ago, STEV070 said:

Ahh ok Thank you, That is what I will do. I bought a spare new remote from Toyota as I don't want it to go flat or anything. I wont be going anywhere quickly...

Is there a way to fix the immobiliser not disengaging?

No, because the system is working the way it is designed to.  The only way to disable the immobiliser before starting the car is to use the remote button, insert the remote in to the receptacle in the glovebox (I think, not 100% sure) or wait half an hour with the key in the ON position in the ignition.

 

There's no point using the key to unlock the doors if you have a remote that works just as well.