Sorry for the long title. I think my problem is different than the average “my Camry won’t start” thread. Also, I’m not a certified female mechanic (nor claim to be), but I have done a lot of repairs through the years on the cars I’ve owned.
I am a survivalist. This all happened while working in San Diego.
What I have: 1986 Camry sedan 2.0L with 139,856 original miles. (bought it from 94 year old neighbor 8 years ago when it had only 28k miles). It came with the typical flimsy manual as well as the
“BGB”.
Current problem: it won’t start unless I play with fuses and jump start car with diagnostic wire.
What ?? And steps taken:
8/30/09 - after work, friend and co-worker and I decide to drive to casino. Car starts up fine, but seems a little rough. Went to get gas, starts back up head to freeway. Travel on a slight hill not even passed first exit, car jolts. From experience I know to get over. Check engine light is not on when that happened and now neither is car. I check the battery and noticed the fluid is gone, fill battery with purified water, try again (nothing) Car is cranking, but not turning over. CHP comes and pushes car off fwy. Ask for jump, try again (nothing). Pushed to a park and ride lot where we remain. Reading the book, we check the fuses (fine), coil, (fine), spark (yes) etc. Change battery terminal out re-do wiring, check hoses, try again (it tries, but nothing). Tow driver friend of friends comes tries to jump, (almost, but nothing), suggest fuel pump or maybe timing issue. I suggest a possible short. Get towed back to work and slept in employee lot.
8/31/09- go to work seek out racetrack mechanic. Another semi-mechanic comes, I tried to do diagnosis but unable to get anything. Realize that check engine light isn’t coming on, check wiring again (nothing). He sprays carb cleaner in throttle (starts for split second and dies), he suggest change fuel filter and says fuel pump. I say think it’s a short. Unable to start I wait for friend with own car repair business to come and help. Check hoses, reach for tape and begun taping. Twelve hours later he shows up and without tools
-ugghh!!
By this time I discovered that I have blown efi 15 amp fuses and the 15 amp fuse below it too. I locate replacement fuses, but this kit is missing 7.5’s. I replace fuses, discovered I had original battery terminal, so change it again, redo wiring, check hoses for leaks and cracks, notice in start position check engine light is now back on, reset codes, perform diagnosis, it reads normal. Attempt to start (almost, nothing).
Go back and notice efi 15amp fuse has blown again. Friend w/out tools shows, I tell him think it’s a short and to check the timing. After several cranks retarded timing complete. Now out of 15amps he replaces it with a 10amp. Check light on, reset, code normal (starts, dies). Switch fuses around, check air filter and compartment, try again (starts, with white smoke, on for a minute, then dies). Check fuses again, none blown, move fuses around, have him adjust timing a little more, (it starts, run it for 10 mins then drive 91 miles back home).
9/1/09- take bus to autozone buy relay switch, fusible links, 7.5’s , extra fuses and a fuel filter. Buy 6pack open bottle of wine...Changed fuel filter, replace fuses(nothing). Notice check eng light gone again too. Fuses weren’t blown, replaced them anyway. Checked hoses, use test light, can’t find short, but its not lighting up on all relay spots. Read thread on cleaning throttle. Went to kragen and bought some air sensor cleaner and followed directions. (it starts) added some lucas fuel injection cleaner and let it run for about 45 mins revving it up periodically. Fixed? Ha! Turned it off. Went to restart (nothing). Go back to fuses, another blown fuse, and notice h20 is now on top of battery. Not a good sign. Change fuses, get check light, reset, code normal, this time check fuel pump (I hear it running), remove wire (nothing). Spray quick burst of starter fluid (it starts and stays on) I turn it off, restart (nothing) Neighbor who helped change filter suggest bad pump, I have him here it running. Only problem is, you can not hear it running in start position, but you can with the wire in the designated diagnosis spots. He suggest I leave the wire in than start it, I say the book says no, reluctantly do it anyway and viola! Car starts.
9/04/09- drive to work. Get off work drive over to camp site. Next morning (nothing). I’m now stuck again. After going through everything again, decided “screw it!” , check engine light on, placed wire in terminals Fp and B+ for fuel pump operation. With out car on (for some reason) singed by finger and thumb, ouch!! Used a different wire, heard pump humming, cranked it and viola!! It started and I was able to get home.
Since then, I’ve either left the engine on, with mom in car, run and do errands, take my chances that it might not start, and when it doesn’t, I play with fuses, get the check engine light to come on (good sign), place the wire I now keep on dash board inside the fuel pump diagnosis spots and start it up.
I already know this process can not be good and will eventually bite me in the… however, it is working for now. What am I missing, what should I check? Aside from getting an old crank and having the “keystone cops” do my intro please help get this car back to normal. Thank you-pop
Linear Mode
