92 camry wont start

[slc500]

my wife started the car and then its stop running. I check for spark.... no spark, I did remove the distributor cap and she tried to start the car and the rotor was moving. ( so the timing belt is ok) I put a new cap and rotor on..... still no spark. I checked all of the fuse and they are ok. I'm not sure if its the ICU or not... I have no ideal where that is or what it looks like or what step to do next.

[idmetro]

I don't know when they switched to ignitors but previous generation camrys used a coil inside the distributor that is a known weak point; mine has consumed two in 180K miles. Haynes manual will detail how to check with a multimeter.

[slc500]

Thanks.... going to look for that tonight

[slc500]

Up And Running Thanks Idmetro For Your Help!!!!!

[idmetro]

AWESOME! Glad I could be of some help.

[hawkeye1956]

What timing for people with the same problem. My daughter just called me from college with the same symptoms on her '92 Camry hand me down with 180,000 miles on the odometer. It ran fine the last time she drove it and now it wont start. It is turning over just fine so I am hoping I have the same problem with a bad ignition coil. Is that the only part you had to replace? I will be making the short trip this weekend to work on it. In my case, I am also due for a timing belt so I will need to check for that as well. Regarding timing belts, it is diffucult to know when to change these as the 60k recommendation sounds like overkill to me. For those who have had them break, how many miles did you have on them when they broke? Of course the goal would be to catch it ahead of time ;-)

[hawkeye1956]

Idmetro, It looks like you are 2 for 2 here as the ignition coil also fixed my problem. I went ahead and changed the rotor and cap while I was at it as both are original and most likely overdue. I found that removing the entire distributor made it much easier to get the coil out. I was a bit surprised that the coil cost $75 at Napa but didnt have time to shop around as I was working on it in a university parking lot 100 miles from home. I think I will also get the timing belt replaced in a few weeks while I can still do it on my own terms rather than after it breaks. With 90k on this one, I am probably on borrowed time. Thanks to all who provided input to this and all issues!!! The past experiences of others is invaluable when used in the correct context.

[idmetro]

Glad to hear my coil experiences could help reduce your pain. I too have benefited greatly from this forum so am happy to share what I can. I especially appreciate hearing from the folks who have "been there" what their fix turned out to be and how to check to see if it might apply to my current situation. Sounds like timing belts have wide variation in their life expectancy depending on chronological age, fluid leaks and the like. I second your thought of getting it done while you can do it on your terms. In my case I changed mine at 126K miles. On a different vehicle I suffered a failure at 135K miles.

[WRG]

My 93 camry 4 cylinder cranks but doesn't hit. Sounds like your problems. I took a plug wire off and there wasn't any spark. Took the distributor assembly to a parts place and compared the ohms to the new one and they showed the same. I hate trying half a dozen parts and still not fix it. Did anyone check and see if the old coil shows resistance through it? I also noticed an ignitor positioned not too far from the distributor. Or is it worth trying the coil anyway?

Thanks for any help.

[Amarc]

You can't trust the ohns test because i did that and the resistance measured in spec and changed everything else thinking that the coil was good but the coil was still the problem. I would go for the coil. If you are close to a wrekers I would get a used one if you want to save a few dollars. I did that four years ago and it is still running.

[RIP]

WRG - I'd bet you'll have more people looking at this if you start a new thread with it than just adding a post to another thread.

Have you downloaded the 94 Camry manual at the top of the Camry forum yet? Also have you looked at Camry FAQs and Information at the top of the forum? They are full of info about starting problems. Why? I'd bet a quarter of the threads on this forum deal with starting problems. Have you used the forums' search function to find them? Do you have a manual?

[WRG]

I'll download the help articles and start my own thread next time. The new coil fixed my problem and it seems to run better too.

Thanks

[hawkeye1956]

The problem with checking a coil with an ohm meter is that resistance is measured as resistance to DC current. Coils work off AC. If the rotor turns when cranking the engine and you have no spark, I would definitely change this coil. If you have time to shop around a bit, you can find one for under $50. I spent more because I didnt have the luxury of time. Best of Luck.

[Happy420]

I am having a similar problem with a 92 camry with the 3vz-fe motor. originally we bought the car from a used dealer (our first problem). We never got the car home, 19.6 miles after leaving the dealership the motor blew. We eventually put a different motor in (still a 3vz-fe) along with new distributor, plugs, coil, ignitor, etc.

Now after all of this, and $5500.00USD the engine will turn over just fine but doesn't fire.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you in advance for any help.

[87toycamry4dr]

i think i have the same prob. my car will turn over where all the lights and everything will turn on but when i try 2 turn the main part on it wont start i tried pressing on the gas that wont work i wont my car 2 start so that when the shop tows it away i dont have 2 pay that much, a little help here plz