Sensor issue with 1998 Toyota Camry

Asked by Eliot Aug 22, 2020 at 04:44 PM about the 1998 Toyota Camry LE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 1998 Toyota Camry with a new battery, new alternator.

The check engine light has been on for a while. If the light is NOT on, the car
won't start. As soon as it comes on, the car starts. The engine will turn over
but not start if the light is not on. If you physically bang on the fuse box, the
light comes on.

Potentially related problem: the engine will sometimes shut off while driving.
Battery and oil lights come on, power steering turns off. Once the car is put in
park and the key turned off, it will restart again without issue (as long as the
check engine light is on). I thought this might be due to the original alternator
still being in use, so I replaced it, but today the problem restarted again.

I'm thinking cam or crank sensor. Has anyone had similar issues?

2 Answers
10

GeeCee12 answered 4 years ago

sounds like you lose power intermittently. Problem might be by the fuse box if you smack it and it works. Loose connection to battery or from battery to fuse box or from fuse box to rest of the car. Check for a loose wire. You can test this by trying to turn something else with power on next time you see check engine light isnt on

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James answered 4 years ago

Obviously the problem is in the fuse box since you can bang it and the engine starts. Sounds like the PCM is losing power, hence the no check engine light and no start and the stalling with no check engine light. Look in the fuse box for an ECM or PCM fuse and check the connection there. You should also remove the fuse box and with the ignition on wiggle some wires to see which wire makes the check engine light come on and off. With the ignition on and the engine not running the check engine light should be on steady! Hope that helps! Jim

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