need a toyota expert eastside Seattle

[stoth47]

I need a referral to someone who is a good Toyota tech on the eastside of Seattle (Bellevue / Redmond / Woodinville).

I have a 1986 Camry that cranks but won't start. It's been to two shops and they can't figure it out.

It now has a new distributor, MAFand ECU, coolant temp sensor and cold start injection timer, and plugs, wires, cap and rotor.

Timing is spot on, fuel pressure checks good; voltage to the coil is good; grounds between the battery, block, body and ECU are all less than .5 ohm.

I need someone who KNOWS Toyotas to figure this out. Thanks.

[stoth47]

I forgot to say you can hit me off list - i don't want anybody to break any forum rules.

My email is stoth47@yahoo.com. Thanks again.

[white90dx]

Sounds like the shop(s) have already done most of the standard stuff. Its time to get down and dirty... Have they checked for power and signal at the injectors? Based on the fact that pretty much everything has been replaced the ECU may be at fault? Oh, and its not something stupid like a broken timing belt, right?

Good luck in your search for a mechanic!

-Charlie

[stoth47]

white90dx
I was told at the second shop that the injectors were getting power. When the engine cranks you can smell gas. So it apparently is getting fuel.

My latest thought was that it might be a bad Throtle Positioning Sensor causing a continual over rich condition. The TPS is the only major part that hasn't been replaced.

The ECU was replaced with a "grade A" unit out of a working car, so it appears good.

[rshep]

Did you replace the coil ?

[TUBEJUNKE]

What color is the spark? It should be bright blue. Does the rotor button turn when you crank the engine? You need to look at both of these. Looks like at least one of two shops could have figured this out. How did the problem come about? What kind of engine is it?

[camrygt4]

Where in the Seattle area are you located, I'm in Bellevue I might be able to help.

[stoth47]

rshep
Coil had been replaced - it's inside the distributor. The distributor is a brand new unit.

tubejunke
Spark is blue - haven't taken the cap off and had the engine cranked - good call. I'll have it checked. It appears that the rotor is turning though since spark will be repeatedly generated on any given wire when the engine is cranked. I'm using standdard plugs, not platinum plugs (not recommended on this engine)

The engine is the 2ESLC. Initial problem was that the car would sputter and die while cruising, but would restart after sitting for 20 minutes. However the RPM would have to be kept high or the engine would die - that's how I got it home - kept the RPM up. The next morning it wouldn't start and has had cold starting issues since. The first shop replaced the coolant temp sensor and cold start injection timer and the car did start but not quickly. Drove it for about a month, and now it won't start.

For a recap: it has "grade A" used Mas Airfloe Sensor, new distributor with coil, new coolant temp sensor, new cold injection timer, new wires, new plugs, new rotor, used "grade A" ECU. Ground resistances from battery minus to block, block to body, body to ECU are all less than 0.5 ohm. I have been told by the second shop that there is full voltage to the coil and the injectors.

camrygt4
I'm in Woodinville. I would greatly appreciate any help. If you can take a look at the Camry, I'll pay for your gas and buy you Starbucks coffee. Heck, I'll even car trailer the car over to Bellevue and still buy the coffee! You can hit me at stoth47@yahoo.com or my cel is 206.310.5791. Name is Steve.

BTW guys, the input is much appreciated.

[Doctor J]

Perform leak-down test on the cylinders. collapsed lifters or spun lobes on cam can prevent car from starting {on that engine the cam has press on lobes; I read the article regarding that matter}.
also try to start it with Fp shorted to B+ in diganostic box.

[stoth47]

Dr J
I'll have the leak down test done and try the jumper the the terminals in the test connector. I'll post how it goes. Thanks

[stoth47]

The '86 camry is up and running - it was a bad ignition coil, I was called earlier today by the second shop that has been working on the car. Drove it around running some errands on the way home and it started flawlessly.

The first shop had diagnosed the original distributor coil as bad and had put in an A1 Cardone rebuilt unit from CSK (Checker/Schucks/Kragen/O'Reilly).

The second shop diagnosed the spark as weak, so I arranged for an exchange with CSK for another distributor and dropped it off yesterday. When the shop installed the second distributor and made sure the timing was correct, the engine started right up. I don't know where A1 Cardone sources their parts, but my guess is it's off shore. So much for QC of off shore sourced parts.

I guess the moral here is if you get replacement electrical parts that you think may have been sourced off shore, don't assume they are good.

Thanks for the great input guys!

BTW: I now have a good spare ECU and MAS for a 1986 Camry 2SELC engine. If anybody needs one, hit me off line.

[camrygt4]

I thought it sounded like ignition.

[stoth47]

CamryGT4
Thanks for the phone call and advice the other day. I'm still going to give you a call about a possible future swap to a 3SFE - the current 2SFE has 160k on it and the piston pins are slapping. Since I put a rebuilt head on the 2SFE a little over a year ago, it sounds like a diesel when it starts cold until it starts to warm up. Still runs OK after it warms up, but I figure it's just a matter of time until I'll have to tear into it

Regards,
-Steve