94' NEED HELP...Won't start!! Ran perfect, now won't start!

[meanielinguine]

Hey Group,

Gotta a major problem. I just bought a 94' Camry a 5 days ago. It ran perfect for 2 days, WOO! I put exactly 209 miles on it ! Well I drove it to the store and came back out about 3 hours later and it started right up and i drove it about 1000 yards and it died. Then wouldn't start again. I have treid several times to start since then, and it does kind of a HICCUP to where it wants to start, but acts like it isnt getting any fuel.
I thought it could be the timing belt since Toyota's are notorious for timing belts going bad. I did the old Screwdriver in the plug wire and touched it to metal and it showed sparks.

When I went out today and tried to start it, it kinda had a faint clicking noise from the passenger side of the engine, then went away. I have a half tank of fuel , so it's not out of fuel, lol.

I was told a trick to spray some gas in the intake, so im goingto try that in the a.m.. Would anyone have any ideas??
TThere is a post from October on here of a guy who kinda had the same problem, but turned out to be Injectors, Could it be injectors? It did run. I kinda thought maybe Rotar, It has rained here for 5 days straight!

Any ideas would be great or any tricks, I was told to go and download the Generation 3 manuel b/c there is a lot of ways to check stuff in there, but my computer will not let me download it!!

So any help from ANYONE would be great,
Thank you
Brandy

[somick]

I am sorry for your problems!

I am not familiar with your Camry's generation, but the usual things have to be checked:
So does the distributor rotate when you crank the engine?
That would tell you about the integrity of the timing belt.

Good luck,

Sam

[Brian R.]

The most likely problem is the ignition coil. If your spark is not really hot and gives a sharp SNAP! when you crank it, look at the coil. The coil is the problem way more often than injectors for problems with starting.

Don't spray gas in the intake.

[davidov]

This may sound stupid but check your battery terminals aren't corroded. I have a 94 Camry 4 Cylinder and it just wouldn't start, would click from passenger side but wouldn't start. I jump started it and it would run until I turned it off then it just wouldn't start again. Took it to a mechanic and it turned out to be the terminals were corroded (lots of white stuff on them). If it is this it's a very cheap fix at a mechanic (cost me like $50 australian dollars) or if you're mechanically minded...which im not.... you could probably change them yourself.

[jdmccright]

I second Brian on the coil. It is usually the cause of a start then no-start problem in such a short time frame. As I've said in a similar thread...any spark isn't necesarily a good spark.

[artbuc]

Originally Posted by meanielinguine

I thought it could be the timing belt since Toyota's are notorious for timing belts going bad.

I can't offer much help on your problem but I am curious about this comment. I have been driving Toyota and Lexus cars for over 34 years. Have had many different models and have never had a timing belt issue. Also read quite a bit on various Toyota/Lexus forums and have never heard anything but good stuff about Toyota timing belts.

[jdmccright]

Unless the belt was changed at the dealer, this '94's probably had at least 2 or 3 belt changes and likely used aftermarket brands. And even using those I have not had an issue when run past the recommended change time (I know, I'm tempting fate). No history of them recorded in this or other forums either. The 5s-fe engine has been a pretty solid engine with excellent longevity. They even made it a non-interference engine to prevent damage IF it did break. I dunno about other vehicles or engines, but in this case I think that comment's rubbish. Now back to the problem at hand....

[RIP]

" I thought it could be the timing belt since Toyota's are notorious for timing belts going bad."

Originally Posted by artbuc

I can't offer much help on your problem but I am curious about this comment. I have been driving Toyota and Lexus cars for over 34 years. Have had many different models and have never had a timing belt issue. Also read quite a bit on various Toyota/Lexus forums and have never heard anything but good stuff about Toyota timing belts.

Just one guy's impression based on his experience. Can't justify saying he's right or wrong since we have no idea what experience he has had. All I can say is I haven't had the same experience though I've had problems with two belts breaking, neither due to the belt.

[meanielinguine]

WOW..sorry took so long to reply..but we took the car to a TOYOTA mechanic..lol..turns out not the fuel pump @ all..it was the Water Pump went out and when the band on the pump went out it made the car lose time..so I guess the old school way to check the timing didnt work.. 300 bucks later and I have a new water pump and new timing belt.. I thinkthe price the mechanic charge is a very good price, especially since when you say TOYOTA everyone see's dollar signs when fix them..

[Brian R.]

Thanks for the update.

[Mike Gerber]

$300 is a very good price for the waterpump and timing belt. Dealers in my area charge $300 just to replace the timing belt on a 4 cylinder Camry engine.

Mike