car won't start...got fuel, got spark

[schwarz]

Bought an 89 Camry I4 3S-FE w/ 168K miles a week ago and it ran fine, go to drive it home and it stalls 2 blocks down the road and I haven't been able to start it since. Didn't have spark so I replaced the distributor cap and wires, new ignition coil (old one looks like it exploded), new plugs and now I have spark. Also have fuel (can smell it but not actually tested for it so I assume its getting it). Timing belt is intact and the cam and rotor spin when I crank the car. CEL is on when I turn the key but it just cranks and won't fire. Starter is good and the battery is new.

The only other symptom I have is when I crank it, I get smoke out of the fresh air pipe at the front of the car (goes to air filter housing). I'm at a loss here as to what to do next and what the cause of the smoke is. Only other known problem is the water pump needs replaced. Any help is appreciated as to where to turn next. Thanks.

[new echo owner]

Check the static timing to make sure it is correct?

N.E.O.

[fredk]

sounds like your timing belt jumped a couple teeth

[schwarz]

And fredk for the win...took apart the covers and found the waterpump in worse shape than expected. The sproket had a chunk missing from it and all the bearings loose inside the belt cover with quite a bit of metal filings strewn about. The belt itself was cut in a few places, had a few teeth missing and the edges frayed a bit. Needless to say it had skipped more than just a few teeth (off by about a dozen).

Anyhow, got a new water pump and installed that, aligned the cam and crank as per the Chiltons manual, put a new belt on, got everything reassembled and it still won't start. I double and triple checked the timing and everything is still fine.

New symptoms....still have spark, still have fuel and it will start on occasion but it runs real rough until it sputters out and dies (for MAYBE 10 seconds). Won't start until after a few more tries and does the same thing. Battery is still good and it cranks strong and sounds like it wants to start but won't.

Thinking maybe a fuel delivery issue now? Again, any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

[Doctor J]

Double check the cam timing; one forum member had similar problem:
The car started ran for several seconds then died, the belt was two teeth off.
Pull the trouble codes
Check the connector at air flow meter.

[schwarz]

Double cheacked the timing and everything was fine. Adjusted the distributor timing and got it to run decent. Also checked the AFM connector and it won't run without it being plugged in.

Now the car runs great at idle. When given gas, it hesistates and then when it feels like it, just takes off (in park it revs and responds just fine). Engine doesn't rev at all when I try to accelerate either, it's like I'm not even touching the pedal. Going uphill doesn't happen and if I floor it, it putters out and dies. Looked at the throttle cable and it moves as it should, just the engine doesn't respond to it. Next step is to check the TPS I'm assuming?

[new echo owner]

Check fuel pressure too.

N.E.O.

[Kep]

I'm not sure if this would cause this significant a problem but when you checked the timing did you jumper the two terminals in the diagnostic port?

Kep

[Doctor J]

Run compression check as leaking valves can cause power loss under load.

[schwarz]

SOLVED! Timing belt was off by A tooth. Took it all apart to quadruple check it and it was off by one lousy tooth (even though it was fine before I put it back together the first time). Took the belt off and lined everything back up again, got it set back up and turned the crank about 20 times to make sure it was still all lined up. Put everything back together, started it up and runs like a champ. Everything is still aligned, compression is good, fuel output is good, trans shifts smooth and all is well. Thanks all!