Cars.com

Dear Tom and Ray:

I own a 1991 Toyota Camry that has never been any trouble until lately. Whenever the weather becomes humid, the car won't start. I first noticed the problem several months ago when I was driving and the car actually died. My impression was that if I stepped on the gas harder, it died more quickly. Eventually, the car wouldn't start at all in the humid weather. The engine would crank, but it wouldn't start. In the past year, I've had a new timing belt, new spark plugs and new wires. The part about the humid air is the perplexing part. Any ideas? -- Jason

Tom: I suppose you've already ruled out relocating to the desert Southwest, Jason.

Ray: Actually, it sounds like a classic case of a bad coil. The coil is what generates the spark. And when it fails, the spark would be interrupted and the car would hesitate and die.

Tom: And as we all remember from our high school physics, water conducts electricity. So moisture (a k a water) in the air is likely to "steal" some of the electricity that would normally go to the spark plugs. And that's why it's worse when it's wet out. Eventually, it'll get so bad that you won't be able to start it, even on dry, sunny days.

Ray: The best solution is to replace the whole distributor, which includes the coil, igniter, cap, pickup, rotor and plug wires. It's expensive (around $500 with labor), but, as you say, this car has never been any trouble. So just consider yourself due. Good luck, Jason.

Which is cheaper, buying or leasing? Should you keep a car forever or dump it after three years, before trouble starts? Find out in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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