I need some wisdom and guidance this one.

On my 1995 Camry LE, I would get an intermittent no engine crank or clicking from the starter. The clock and radio will go blank when I try to crank the car and the clock and radio returns after I stop turning the ignition. I would wait 30 minutes and then the car starts up.

This car has had a complete engine rebuild a year ago.
When this intermittent problem occurred, I replaced the battery (+5 years old) and the starter (183k on it) I checked the alternator which seems to be fine. I drove it about a mile from stopped, turned off the car and the car did not start immediately. Waited about 30 minutes and then it started.

The only other item I was considering was the ignition switch.
Am I on the right track or is there something else I am missing?

 

Make sure you check battery voltage. Then if you get it started check again with the engine running to be sure your alternator is working. Good battery will be above 12 volts and a good alternator should put out 13.5 to 14.5 volts or at least more than battery voltage.

 

A good sign the starter is bad is when you start a cold car, drive where ever, turn off the car. Say the car is only off for 5-10 minutes and everything is still warm, you try to start it and the starter wont turn over. The battery draw can still occur though, hence seeing your displays dim, etc.
Sometimes, giving a faulty starter a couple of knocks with a hammer will get it to go again, at least for that one start. Not sure why giving it a thunk or two would make it work again for that one start though!
I suspect your starter. Start with double checking the connections. If they are good, I would remove the starter and take it a parts store that tests them.

 

It turns over fine. Cranks but won't start.

 

Thanks for the suggestions

The Battery is new just replaced it.
The alternator checked out ok 👍
The starter was replaced and is working fine.

But I noticed that this issue occurs after I am driving and put the car in park and shut off the car. It almost every time I try to start the car, nothing happens.
Then I remembered that there is a Park / Neutral safety switch where it won’t let you start the car unless the switch is in either Park or Neutral.
So I when the car doesn’t start in the Park mode, I shift the transmission to neutral and it started but not every time. I would have to jiggle the shifter in Neutral a bit and it starts!

So it is probably a “going bad” Park / Neutral switch or an adjustment.
This part is the original part from 1995. Probably replacing it makes sense.

 

Ah, glad you got it figured out! Thanks for following up!