Car loses spark - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-25-2011, 06:30 PM

I hope someone can help me with this I have been pulling my hair out. I have an 87 camry it loses spark if you try to rev it quick but is fine if you roll into it slow. I have already tried a dist and ignitor. AFM is fine switched it out also. I need to get this car going so any help or suggtions would be appriciated.

Mike Gerber · 07-25-2011, 09:04 PM

Have you checked the basic ignition system components for this weak or no spark condition? Plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. They are the most likely culprits for this condition. Also, did your distributor come with a new coil?

Mike

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-26-2011, 05:50 AM

It also has a hard time starting. No spark then it phases in. I installed a used known good dist and cap and wires.

white90dx · 07-26-2011, 11:13 AM

Assuming your plugs/wires/cap/rotor are in decent to good condition, this is most often caused by a bad ignition coil. I'll second the question - was the coil replaced with the distributor?

-Charlie

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-26-2011, 05:03 PM

It was a know good used dist but replaced the coil today and still the same thing.

'88 All-Trac · 07-26-2011, 05:53 PM

...Don't mean to sound like a dick, but that just ruined your chances of getting my advice.

Sounds like the issue lies more in timing, but I won't say where or what might do this.

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-26-2011, 06:20 PM

The car has over 300,000 and is rusted to death just figured i would have a little fun with it but that is a sad reason not to give some one a hand and they get derbied more than you think. And you do sound like a dick.

dem2757 · 07-26-2011, 06:41 PM

its just that most of us here are for preserving our cars...not running them into the ground

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-26-2011, 07:05 PM

This car was already run into the ground and then some by someone else. You had to disconnect the battery to keep it form going dead because the lights would stay on all the time coolant and oil leaks from hell interior trashed beyond repair front fenders floors and quarters rusted beyond repair. So in my opinion this car is not worth preserving I was just looking to have a little fun with it before it gets scrapped.

'88 All-Trac · 07-26-2011, 08:25 PM

I'm about to offer a guy $600 for a practically totalled All-Trac. I'm a bit of a... fanatic when it comes to stringing out the life of old cars. Hell, I'd offer to buy yours when you're done with it, but good ol' Caintuck is a helluva drive for me.

Timing. Vacuum advance. You hit the gas hard, it gets more gas, floods out because it isn't advancing the timing enough.

Check your cold start injector for the rough starts.

I am a dick, I just try awful hard not to act like one.

Edit: Good call, though, removing that from your post. You're likely to get a lot more helpful answers that way. We're kinda... protective of our beloved old Gen 1 and 2 Camrys here on this forum.

300k miles isn't crap for these. My DD Camry is sitting at 281k and with a bit of maintenance recently it handles better than a lot of newer commuter sedans.

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-26-2011, 08:45 PM

LIke i said the car is trashed if it was'nt for that it would be a driver but i like to have fun too and the car was free and when im done with it i will post pics

'88 All-Trac · 07-26-2011, 10:48 PM

Post pics before too. Better reps that way. >>

If there's anything salvageable afterward, pull it. There are always people who need...

white90dx · 07-27-2011, 12:06 PM

I like Camrys too, but there are plenty out there that are beyond repair (heck, I just junked one a couple months ago...).

The condition your are describing is definitely spark related, and it sounds like you are doing the right things to solve it. Can you check the coil resistances, along with verifying that it is free of cracks/damage and there is no oil in the distributor? Also, not mention of new spark plugs - get the cheap standard copper NGK or Denso's - other brands suck on these engines.

Checking the timing is easy too, just make sure the motor is warm and the diagnostic jumper is in place (T and E1 in the connector on the strut tower).

-Charlie

lovetosmashcamrys · 07-27-2011, 06:03 PM

Yeah white90dx I've tried all that. Im at my wits end. Its crazy but if you rev it slow its fine but if you smash it it loses spark it has a new coil a new ignitor checked the pickup resistance seems fine. Check for voltage drop to the coil. nothin about to put on the back burner until next year.

'88 All-Trac · 07-27-2011, 07:24 PM

Have you checked the vacuum advance yet? It sounds more like it floods out when you mash it hard- the change in vacuum upon being mashed will ordinarily advance the timing so it fires properly for the amount of fuel being dumped in each cylinder...

This is a common problem, at least, with the Suzuki G10 and subsequently the G13A, G13B, G13C (rare), and the G16 series engines.