You have the classic signs of a cracked coil, so I would suspect the starter solenoid first. But to be on the safe side take your vehicle to an auto parts store and have the battery and alternator tested.
First I thought the battery so I brought it to Sears and they told me the battery was bad. Sears changed a new battery and I thought the problem went away, but it is still not starting in the morning and evening. It looks like it links to cold temperature. What should I do? help!
You can change the starter solenoid and that should fix the problem. Solenoids/coils are encased in plastic and if they get cracked (from a hard bump, very hot weather, getting wet when hot, etc) they will not work when cold, but when warm the crack closes and will work.
That is a surprise! Since you had it is the freezer before testing, if it was the starter solenoid, it should have passed the test. So back to the drawing board. I read through some posts on edmund.com about the 2001 Toyota Avalon starting problems. There were several people that said they fixed their cold starting problem with an idle control valve and in a Toyota forum discussion several said that the starter relay fixed theirs. It seemed to be an even split.
I think it is more likely the starter relay than the idle control valve, but on Toys you can't be sure.
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To check the starter, have someone hold the key in the crank position while you tap the starter with a hammer. This is a common practice. This is likely a temperature related problem.
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I took the starter out and brought it to AutoZone for testing before buying a new starter. I even tried to simulate the cold morning by putting in the freezer and cooler when driving there. The test showed it was a good starter. I still insisted by doing the test myself. Before testing, I put it in my freezer for about 2-3 hours but the test showed it worked.
I called a dealer asking what might be and the potential cost. Of course they said to bring it in, but they mentioned possibly some pressure sensor that could prevent the starter from cranking. Any other suggestions? Or do you still think that it is a starter solenoid?
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