# 97 Toyota Camry intermittent starting issues **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 8, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-toyota-camry-intermittent-starting-issues/204218 "2025-10-08T14:39:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blake-s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Blake-s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Blake-s)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-toyota-camry-intermittent-starting-issues/204218/1 "2025-10-08T14:39:33Z")
I have a 97 Toyota Camry LE 3.0 with 160k miles that has had intermittent starting problems for over a year now. Sometimes the car will start first try no problem and other times I can try it 10 times and it will just crank although it will eventually start. When the car starts everything runs perfectly fine until last week when I was going about 45 and the car suddenly stalled, I started pulling over to the side of the road and before I even got on the shoulder rpm’s jumped back up and the car ran perfectly fine the rest of the day. The next day it did the same thing except the rpm’s never jumped back up so I pulled over and killed the car for about 5 minutes and when I got it to start again it ran perfectly fine the rest of the day and I haven’t had it stall since. I’ve already replaced spark plugs, coil packs, alternator, battery, fuel pump, and yesterday I cleaned the throttle body and IAC but right after cleaning it took 4 tries before it finally turned over. I don’t even know where to begin diagnosing with it being an intermittent problem, and there are no codes for me to read with my scanner, any suggestions are much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-toyota-camry-intermittent-starting-issues/204218/2 "2025-10-08T14:43:16Z")
A failing crankshaft position sensor can cause what you describe. > **[Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor Symptoms & Problems](https://www.1aauto.com/content/articles/bad-or-failing-crankshaft-position-sensor-symptoms)** > > Problems with the crankshaft sensor will often present as problems with engine timing. If you think your sensor has failed, here are some common symptoms of a bad crankshaft sensor that can help you in determining whether or not it has failed. Tester ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-toyota-camry-intermittent-starting-issues/204218/3 "2025-10-08T17:46:22Z")
+1 Another one for (possible) crank sensor… BTW, glad to see you were finally able to post in the maintenance/repair section, I was reading your Making a post issue thread when you deleted it… lol Welcome to the forum… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-toyota-camry-intermittent-starting-issues/204218/4 "2025-10-08T18:43:03Z")
Yeah I replaced my crank sensor pre-emptively. You may have two different issues though at the same time. Lack of starting may be an issue with the switch or the mechanism that operates the switch. I had that problem once and found the rod that activates the switch was out of adjustment so it wouldn’t always activate the switch. Crank sensors are reasonably cheap though. Cost me an $80 tow plus repair when my cracked one failed. Then again on another car. 60 mile tow, rental car etc. don’t rely on a mechanic inspecting it. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-toyota-camry-intermittent-starting-issues/204218/5 "2025-10-16T17:44:23Z")
See if you can monitor the live data such as the engine RPM with the scanner as the problem happens. The RPM should show something when cranking. You could have a loose electrical connection that’s causing something critical to lose Voltage.