91 DX Camry wont start!

[Joey2619]

Hey guys,
My 91 Camry has compression, spark, fresh fuel, vaccum, and timing looks to be on the money, buit she wont start. On a cold day, about 10 degrees F outside, I drove to NAPA to pick up some parts, when I came out, tried to start, but wouldnt. It wants to start, but it wont. Im not sure where to go from here, any help would be great.
-John

[Mike Gerber]

We need more details to try to help you. What engine, 4 cylinder or V6? How many miles on the car? What happens when you try to start it? Does it crank normally and not start or does nothing happen when you turn the key; or do you hear a click, click, click? Have you done anything to the car recently before this problem surfaced? Have you done any troubleshooting on your own; if so what? Is it producing spark? It is getting fuel? Have you checked to see if the timing belt is intact?

Mike

[Joey2619]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

We need more details to try to help you. What engine, 4 cylinder or V6? How many miles on the car? What happens when you try to start it? Does it crank normally and not start or does nothing happen when you turn the key; or do you hear a click, click, click? Have you done anything to the car recently before this problem surfaced? Have you done any troubleshooting on your own; if so what? Is it producing spark? It is getting fuel? Have you checked to see if the timing belt is intact?

Mike

CSI is working, should be getting fuel, were going to check that this upcomming weekend, fourbanger, I have to go check again, but im pretty sure it cranks normally.


EDIT: The original ECU and the one from the junkyard both give out NORMAL OPERATION codes.

[Mike Gerber]

I would first remove the oil cap and have someone crank over the engine while you look to see if the cams are turning. This will varify the timing belt is intact. This can also be varified by pulling the distributor cap off and cranking the engine to see of the rotor is turning.

Next I would check for spark. This generation 2 3SFE engine has a known problem with the internal coil (inside the distributor) developing a crack and shorting itself to ground on any bare metal part inside the distributor. If it turns out to be the coil, you can replace it with an aftermarket one for around $45-$50.

My next step would be to take the gas cap off and put your ear there while someone first turns the key to the run position and then to the crank position. Listen for the whine of the fuel pump.

Let us know the results of those simple tests.

Mike


I see in your original post that you say the engine has spark and compression. Was it a nice blue spark and how did you varify this? Also, how did you varify that it has compression? Did you check compression on all 4 cylinders or just one? A broken timing belt will give compression on 1 or maybe 2 cylinders but not all 4 depending on what stroke the cylinders were at when the belt broke.

Mike

[Joey2619]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

I would first remove the oil cap and have someone crank over the engine while you look to see if the cams are turning. This will varify the timing belt is intact. This can also be varified by pulling the distributor cap off and cranking the engine to see of the rotor is turning.

Next I would check for spark. This generation 2 3SFE engine has a known problem with the internal coil (inside the distributor) developing a crack and shorting itself to ground on any bare metal part inside the distributor. If it turns out to be the coil, you can replace it with an aftermarket one for around $45-$50.

My next step would be to take the gas cap off and put your ear there while someone first turns the key to the run position and then to the crank position. Listen for the whine of the fuel pump.

Let us know the results of those simple tests.

Mike


I see in your original post that you say the engine has spark and compression. Was it a nice blue spark and how did you varify this? Also, how did you varify that it has compression? Did you check compression on all 4 cylinders or just one? A broken timing belt will give compression on 1 or maybe 2 cylinders but not all 4 depending on what stroke the cylinders were at when the belt broke.

Mike

Without even touching the car, the fuel pump works, cause it spits good fuel out of the cold start injector from yesterday, we get spark which was checked by a light yesterday, we took the timing belt covers off, timing belt is there, and finally, the distributor spins as well when we pull the drivebelt

[Mike Gerber]

Pull a spark plug out and then put it back in it's plug wire. Lay the spark plug down on the cam cover and have someone crank over the engine. Is the spark bright blue or orange in color? An orange color means that it is a weak spark. This will not ignite the fuel mixture under compression.

Mike