99 Camry "Need Help"
 

I really need some help. For the past 2 weeks my car has had trouble starting. Once it gets started once that day it seems to do fine the rest of the day. Yesterday i had good bit of trouble getting it to start but finally got it. Then last night I could not get it to start at all. All it does is make a loud click noise once and then a ringing noise until i turn the switch back off.

I know the battery was low back in the summer. I tried jumping it off but to no avail. Could it possibly be that battery is completley shot or that it has dead cell?

Could it be the starter? I have not clue where starter is on car and would love a diagram and a way of checking it. That would help greatly. I am not very handy so would not know how to replace.

Could it be Solenoid? I have heard from few others that this may be problem but have no clue how to check it or where it even is located on the 99 Camry?

I plan on going to get battery in the morning and seeing if it will help getting a new one.

Most say it's not but do you think it could be the alternator on the car?

Once i turn key i just get a loud 1 time click. Any ideas or helps would be appreciated. Thanks

click is solenoid trying to engage. ringing noise - if it sounds like this - is when solenoid expands from starter into the flywheel, but only spins, as one or 2 of the flywheel teeth are chipped off. I have never seen starter with busted solenoid gear teeth, but who knows, possible.
if you are not handy, don't even try. find the best priced electrician shop in the area and let them do it.
oh, at least, buy a dollar worth battery cleaning tool and clean cables and poles.

Doubt if it is the battery.

Suggest removing the starter and examine the gear that sticks out the back. Along with this look at the teeth on the large ring gear inside the hole the starter was mounted on.

Determine if the teeth of either gear are damaged.

The AutoZone website should have something on removing the starter in the sites vehicle repair guide sections. Look under the year, model and engine type. If 4 cylinder this would be a 5SFE, if v6 a 1MZFE.

A Google search may turn up YouTube videos on removing/replacing the starter.