Chosen Solution

My 1999 Toyota Camry won’t start, sometimes it will if I tap on the starter and press on the gas as I turn the key. Could my starter need replaced or my fuel pump?

This may be too late but… I had this problem with my 1999 Camry and it turned out to be a bad starter motor. At first tapping on it would allow me to start the car but after a while it’d take more and more until at one point it just stopped starting period. If this turns out to be your problem it’s a pretty cheap and simple fix to do yourself for the most part: pick up a starter at O’Reillys , pop the old one out and the new one in. It was pretty straightforward so I didn’t use a guide or video but this video seems to be a good start.

never pump the gas pedal on a fuel injected car when trying to start it

If tapping on the starter gets it going then yes you need a new starter heres how to do it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAm-qtI

Turn the key to the “on” position without trying to start it, you should hear the fuel pump run for a few seconds then stop. Also you could pick up a cheap fuel pressure tester at an auto parts store and attach it to the valve on your fuel rail to get a true reading. Do you have a multimeter? Check the battery to make sure it is reading at least 12V DC, the value should go up to about 13-14V once the engine is started, that lets you know the alternator is charging up the battery correctly. When you say you “tap on the starter” are you crawling under the car and hitting the starter motor/solenoid? If you are and it works, it a good sign that the starter solenoid and/or starter is bad and sticking.

Everything in the car turns on and when I go to turn it on it makes a clicking sound when I try to turn it on but it won’t start