No spark can you help

[sonictherevenge]

I was on the way home today and noticed it jumped a little when accelerating, Got home when back out in a few hours and it wouldnt start.
I removed the plug wires one at a time and there was no spark on any of them. I took the distributor cap off and bumped the engine for fraction of a second the rotor turned so the timing belt is probably Ok. But I'm not sure what to change, next. I am thinking the coil in the distributor or the spark ignitor I just dont have the money to go changing out parts with no real knowledge of whats likely the problem. Any advice you have I really thank you.

94 Camry
2.2liter engine.

[Mike Gerber]

You are right in thinking the coil as your next option. You can test it with a digital volt/ohmeter and the specs from any manual. There is an actual Toyota factory service manual stickied at the top of this forum. Download the generation 3 manual. It is actually a 94 Camry manual. It will show you how to test the coil. Also inspect it for hairline cracks.

Mike

[sonictherevenge]

Thanks I'll check that for sure before spending anything, The manual was very nice thanks to you all Now I just have to read it and learn how to set timing correctly. ..

[jdmccright]

For this Gen Camry, this appears to be the time for those original OEM coils to die...around the 150k-180k mile range. As Mike suggested, check the primary and secondary coil resistance with a DMM, replace if it is even close to out of spec.

I'd also suggest replacing the cap & rotor, or at least inspect for cracks & clean off the oxidation crust from the cap terminals and rotor tip. Clean/regap or replace the spark plugs and check the plug wires for cracks, and correct resistances. You've got it apart, might as well do it all at once.

Good luck!

[sonictherevenge]

Update

I found a crack in the distributor cap between were the coil contacts and were the rotor contacts. I applied 12 volts to the center post and using a test lamp touched ground and the ignition coil post I get nothing. Could the crack cause the complete breakdown of the path.
Also I checked the coil resistance It should be .39 and .55 I get about .9 it is still hooked up though could that throw the reading off .4 ohms.
Also the plug wires showed nothing (open) the DVM doesnt show any change at all I checked all the wires and they all show the same thing. It should be about 25K or less but I checked all the ohms scales and it didnt move at all.

[Mike Gerber]

1. A crack in the distributor cap could cause a breakdown of the path under the high intensity voltage inside the distributor. It needs to be replaced.
2. You need to check the coil exactly as shown in the manual. If it is out of spec doing the testing procedure that way, it needs to be replaced. While I would get a Toyota OEM distributor cap (Also I would swap out the rotor too.), you can get an aftermarket coil at most parts stores for around $40 that should work fine IMHO.
3. If all the wires showed open and your test probes were reaching the metal contacts down inside the spark plug ends, then there are breaks inside the metal strands of wire and those too needs to be replaced. As far as aftermarket or OEM for the wires, I really can't say. What you might want to do is go to one of the Toyota dealer sponsers on this site for the wires and the distributor cap and rotor and get a price.

Mike