jtadriaens

I have a 92 camry, 4 cylinder, while driving it the other day it just died, while moving. It was the coldest day of the year (-15) and I think it may be related to the temp. The car was warm and had been running perfectly up until then. It has spark, and the check engine light did not come on. I thought maybe there was moisture in the gas, so I put some ISO-Heat in the tank and let it sit for a few days but it still won't start. It has not been above freezing since then and I don't have a warm place to put the car. I checked all the fuses i could find and the efi relay, they were all fine. I don't know if the car has a fuel pump fuse, or where the relay for it may be located. I would like to check if the pump is working but I'm not sure how, I can't hear it, but I'm not sure if I've ever been able to hear it.
Thanks for the help.

Joe W

To check for fuel try cranking the engine awhile then pull one of the spark plugs and see if it is coated with fuel.If not try spraying starting fluid into the throttle body.

jtadriaens

I pulled one of the plug wires and turned the engine over for a bit then checked the plug and it was completly dry. I was also able to hear the fuel pump this time.

Parmenides3

The fact that the car died while you were driving it suggests an electrical problem, to me. At least, that's where I would start. Since you seem to know what you're doing, I presume you checked down around the distributer cap for loose or broken wires. I once lost a wire at the cap, and the car died just as I was rolling into my parking place. Just a thought.

__________________
"A thing cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same way." Aristotle

Parmenides3

Just an afterthought...if you're looking for a way to warm up the engine, you might pick up an heavy-gauge extension cord and an electric dipstick.

__________________
"A thing cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same way." Aristotle

Joe W

It seems that the engine is not getting fuel.Has the fuel filter been replaced lately and have you tried starting fluid?

Big blue truck

To check fuel pressure jump the B+ and FP in the diagnostic plug in the engine capartment with the ignition on and crack a fuel line. If there is no fuel pressure its the pump or wiring to the pump. I would say the pump. Good luck

jtadriaens

I've now let the car sit until it is definately warm enough to thaw the gas and it still won't start. All four plugs have spark and I just replaced them and the plug wires becuase they were pretty worn. It seems to be getting gas because I can smell it on the plugs when I pull them. I tried spraying starter fluid in the throttle body and it still wouldn't even pop. When I pulled the plugs after that they were full of starter fluid, so it wasn't getting burnt. I checked the timing belt and it is intact. I don't know why it won't start, could the spark be to weak to ignite the gas/starter fluid?

Brian R.

How did you check the spark?

jtadriaens

To check the spark, I pulled the plugs and rested them on the edge of the valve cover where they went into the engine and then had a friend crank the engine over. I've never checked spark on a car before, but it was a gold/orange colored spark, which seems kind of weak to me, not the hot bright blue spark I've seen on dirt bikes and snomobiles.

Brian R.

Sounds like a weak spark.

Double check all connections of ignition coil, igniter and distributor.

Check your ignition coil resistance.
Primary (+ to - terminals) - 0.36 to 0.45 ohms cold

Secondary (+ to high tension terminals) - 9.0 to 15.4 kohms cold

Check distributor air gap between signal rotor and pickup coil projection - 0.2 to 0.4 mm (0.008 - 0.016 inches)

Check pickup coil resistance - 135 to 220 ohms

Check crankshaft position sensor (remove connector from generator drive belt adjusting bar) - 985 to 1600 ohms

Replace igniter if all these are within specifications.