Need some help, 86 Camry

[from cranston]

I just brought home an '86 Camry from Maryland to Northern Virginia, about a 50 mile trip in all. The car started up and drove fine the entire way, but when I got home, I put the car in reverse with the e-brake on to check and see if the reverse lights were working (I'm not sure if that matters) and the car just died down and cut off. It won't start now and I'm not sure what the problem could be. Its not the starter or any of the plugs, and I'm just wondering if anyone might have an idea of what I should look for. Thanks

[fredk]

is it getting gas?

[from cranston]

I'm not sure. Fuel pump or filter is what I first thought of, but I got a whiff of gas when my brother was trying to start it and I was under the hood. It wasn't too strong, but I smelled it. Not too sure where to look if that's not the problem though. :-/

[Kep]

Putting it in reverse with the parking brake on shouldn't be a factor (no more so than using the brake while you're in reverse). Do the standard check for fuel and spark. (A quick and dirty test is to spray some starter fluid in the air filter. If the car tries to start you tend to suspect a fuel problem and exonerate the spark system. If it doesn't try to start you tend to suspect an electrical problem but it doesn't completely exonerate a fuel problem. Go easy on the starter fluid, just a one second squirt.) Smelling gas is never a good sign. Look around the injectors and look for a real clean area (pretty good sign of a fuel leak). I had a cracked injector once that allowed air in and the gas drained back into the tank overnight. I had to crank it a lot longer in order for the fuel pump to refill the fuel lines. Without the gas smell I would tend to suspect the EFI relay and/or fuse. Out of curiosity, when you put the key in the on position, does the Check Engine Light come on along with the other trouble lights?

Kep