Swap the engine or fix the old one? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

malakia71 · 11-02-2009, 05:49 PM

I got a 1990 Camry DX that does not run because of supposedly low compression in #3 cyl. Has just over 100K miles (I know the owner, now how much she drow) with oil being replaced every 3000 miles. The car ran beautifully until recently, when she could not start engine in one morning (crank, no start). The car towed to e mechanic, who said cyl 3 compression was low probably because of frozen ring. Pump was determined to be working because when he disconnected fuel line before injectors, fuel pumped out.

So the long story short, I have JDM 3sfm engine sitting here from previous project that never finished. I was going swap the engine with help f my buddy. But now I have hard time to believe the engine with that mileage and care can be that bad.

What would you advise? Is there anything else I could look. I haven’t twicked with existing engine yet. Perhaps the mechanic is wrong altogether. What would be the right strategy to start things to look?

drugal · 11-02-2009, 06:37 PM

Low compression in a single cylinder shouldn't cause it to not start. I drove my old Gen2 for hundreds of miles with zero compression on a cylinder, up and down mountains, around town, on highways, etc.. it'll run, just not very well.

If you can crank the engine over with the starter, and the fuel pump is working, I would check the ignition system.

white90dx · 11-02-2009, 08:03 PM

Yeah, I would also advise assuming the engine would start if it had fuel and spark. Low compression will create a poor running motor, not a non-running motor...

Check for spark and go from there.

-Charlie

malakia71 · 11-02-2009, 09:17 PM

One thing I noticed that the cooling fan (the left one) turns on stays on with ignition on; although obviously the engine is cold. I remember this happened to a volvo I once had, and it was bad coolant temp. sender. Wonder if this might have something with the engine not starting.

white90dx · 11-03-2009, 01:22 PM

The coolant temp switch for the fans is not related to the engine temp sensor (or the gauge temp sender, or the trans temp sensor, or the cold start injector time switch...). If one fan is on, there is a problem with the coolant temp switch (on the thermostat housing) or one of the relays that controls the fan system.

Also, one fan should never run by itself. When the A/C is on, both fans should run at a low speed (in series) and if the motor is hot (or the A/C line pressure too high) both fans should run at full speed (in parallel). The fans are labeled "A/C" and "Cooling" but they always run together.

Check for spark first... Also look for broken connectors on the water outlet of the motor or anything else unusual. Let us know what you find.

-Charlie

malakia71 · 11-03-2009, 08:40 PM

Pulled engine main relay; I am not sure if the numbering is correct, but there is no connectivity between what I marked as 1 - 3 and 2 - 4. There is infinite resistance between 4 and 5 either. All fuses (under the hood) and fusible links appear to be OK. Haven;t looked at the coil and wires yet. Please have a look at the engine bay. A sensor by thermostat is disconnected and I can't find where the other end is. There are at least two more connectors that are not hooked up to anything.

Here

oscaryu1 · 11-03-2009, 09:35 PM

Two bolt holes by valve cover is just the little ? shaped bracket (you have one near the right side of the bay, next to the valve cover too), for pulling the engine out/putting in.

atobe · 11-04-2009, 12:02 AM

your coolant sensor's other half is hanging right next to the AC line it's covered by the rubber. I can see it in the picture. which would explain why your fans are running constantly since it's not plugged in. it's a failsafe. i'm not so sure about the last picture i'd have to check on my car and see

good luck

kesando · 11-04-2009, 01:30 AM

I think that plug in the last pic is not connected on my car car too. Not sure whats its for but everything seems to work on my car except the dome light. I doubt its for that.

Rebound91 · 11-04-2009, 11:49 AM

The connector in the last pic is not connected to anything on my '91 fyi.

white90dx · 11-04-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscaryu1

Two bolt holes by valve cover is just the little ? shaped bracket (you have one near the right side of the bay, next to the valve cover too), for pulling the engine out/putting in.

LOL... the engine hanger is the least of his problems for those holes... He's missing the complete bracket that holds the pivot mount on the alternator and the accessory belt.

-Charlie

white90dx · 11-04-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malakia71

Pulled engine main relay; I am not sure if the numbering is correct, but there is no connectivity between what I marked as 1 - 3 and 2 - 4. There is infinite resistance between 4 and 5 either. All fuses (under the hood) and fusible links appear to be OK. Haven;t looked at the coil and wires yet. Please have a look at the engine bay. A sensor by thermostat is disconnected and I can't find where the other end is. There are at least two more connectors that are not hooked up to anything.

That last pic is probably for the "sub oxygen sensor" that may or may not be installed on your car. If it was originally a California delivered car, that would be plugged in to a secondary O2 sensor below the main catalytic converter. Check the wire colors to verify - it should have a black wire and a red w/ blue strip wire.

Also, if the radiator fans come on, your engine main relay is working fine - don't worry about that.

Oh... and... why is the timing belt uncovered and the main engine mount missing?

-Charlie

malakia71 · 11-04-2009, 06:31 PM

Please have a look at the belt side. Harmonic balancer missing here?

white90dx · 11-05-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malakia71

Please have a look at the belt side. Harmonic balancer missing here?

That's not the only thing missing over there...

Where are all the timing covers, engine mount, PS and accessory belts? It looks like that has been sitting out in the rain/weather for a few months with all that stuff uncovered.

-Charlie

malakia71 · 11-05-2009, 01:43 PM

I think someone started timing belt job and gave up. I received the car in the shape it is in the pic. I am trying get the engine started in the first place, supposedly very well cared engine, but no success so far... I am having both fans running when ignition on. Had to pull both 30 amp fuses to stop them (all relays seem good). Plugs are getting spark, haven't tested coil yet... I would need the engine mount and brakets whether I swap the engine or not; Probably boneyard is the best place to look. Do I need to jack up the engine to undo the mount from the donor car?