Car ran horribly now wont start - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Fantomas · 08-02-2007, 01:57 AM

About 1k miles ago I got new rotor, cap, wires and plugs also did the VC gasket and tube gaskets. Unfortunately the plug wires came without retaining caps so my wires popped off once in a while. I figure I could keep driving the car until I can find them.

Twice now while going up a steep hill the plug wire came off and I did not notice it until I got to the top of the hill and let off the gas. The car runs horribly, so I put the wire back and it kept running as if though it was only on 3 cyl it eventually got better after an hour or so.

The 2nd time I wasn't so lucky but I could afford to sit by the side of the road since I was out of town so I kept driving it. Eventually about 20 miles later I pulled off to grab ad bite and let the car rest. When I was finished about an hour later the car wouldn't start. Next day got it towed and it still won't start.

Last time it was doing this the new cap/rotor fixed this but I think it may be more serious this time. Any idea what this could be caused by? I haven't done anything to it since it was towed and don't really feel like spending more money until I can be somewhat sure it will fix the problem (spent over $500 on the car last month alone just in parts).

Stillrunning · 08-02-2007, 07:00 AM

When your wires popped off did more than one come loose and did you make sure you reconnected in the correct position? Retrace wires for proper firing order. That's all I can think of right now without some basic troubleshooting info from you. You're going to have to do some tracing/testing.

***Your Uncle Moe*** · 08-02-2007, 09:46 AM

I too think that you might have put them in the wrong order.

Fantomas · 08-06-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gridlyne

I too think that you might have put them in the wrong order.

Only one wire popped off.

Here is the funny part, I was leaving somewhere and needed to grab something out of the camry, for shits and giggles decided to start it. Bam, started right up. After it idles perfectly I kill it because I was in a rush. I come back and it won't start again

Fantomas · 08-06-2007, 06:21 PM

Ok, barely started the car had to crank it for about 30 seconds, ran ok at first, when it warmed up it would start dying if I gave it more than 1/2 throttle but then if I back off a bit and give it more it would run up right to the redline at full throttle.

Got back after 15 minutes of driving around and tried to give it some gas at idle and it would die. Seems like it ran like this before but it fixed it self. I'm going to let it cool but chances are it won't start without some serious effort.

DFBonnett · 08-07-2007, 08:00 AM

It sounds like you have another problem coincidental and unrelated to the plug wire. First guess would be the coil. Are you getting a good spark when you are having trouble starting?

Fantomas · 08-07-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFBonnett

It sounds like you have another problem coincidental and unrelated to the plug wire. First guess would be the coil. Are you getting a good spark when you are having trouble starting?

I will check later today.

BTW, I tore apart the ignition components and cap and wires looked fine but the leads on the cap were covered by white dusts. Not sure if it has anything to do with anything. Also, the problem is progressing/evolving. I can start the car consistantly with some trouble, will idle great, stumbles between idle and 3k rpm, between 3 and 5 it's great and then won't even hit the rev limiter. Just stays at 5600 to 5800rpm.

***Your Uncle Moe*** · 08-07-2007, 10:12 AM

Did you clean that stuff off the contacts? My friend had the same problem and his wires seemed ok. But I later found out that when he checked them, they seperated and the metal contacts stuck on the plug ruining the wires. It seemed like they were fine until we changed them. Started up like nothing happened.

Venom_5 · 08-07-2007, 10:14 AM

if it ran horribly, why didnt u bring it in to a shop?

dc_98_cam · 08-07-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantomas

I will check later today.

BTW, I tore apart the ignition components and cap and wires looked fine but the leads on the cap were covered by white dusts. Not sure if it has anything to do with anything. Also, the problem is progressing/evolving. I can start the car consistantly with some trouble, will idle great, stumbles between idle and 3k rpm, between 3 and 5 it's great and then won't even hit the rev limiter. Just stays at 5600 to 5800rpm.

There shouldn't be any dust or anything else on the interior cap electrodes. If they are not clean and shiny, the secondary coil voltage will not be getting to the spark plugs like it should. Maybe you should buy a new distributor cap ... a different brand, or one of better quality materials.

Fantomas · 08-07-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom_5

if it ran horribly, why didnt u bring it in to a shop?

I've owned 5 cars and none of them have ever been to a shop (timing belt, clutch, engine replacement). I do all the work my self.

Fantomas · 08-07-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gridlyne

Did you clean that stuff off the contacts? My friend had the same problem and his wires seemed ok. But I later found out that when he checked them, they seperated and the metal contacts stuck on the plug ruining the wires. It seemed like they were fine until we changed them. Started up like nothing happened.

Cleaned them, wires are NGK with less than 1000 miles on them.

Venom_5 · 08-07-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantomas

I've owned 5 cars and none of them have ever been to a shop (timing belt, clutch, engine replacement). I do all the work my self.

theres ur first mistake

if its running "horribly" then obviously youre not takin care of it well, therefore u should take it to a shop and you wouldnt be in this position ...

Fantomas · 08-07-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom_5

theres ur first mistake

if its running "horribly" then obviously youre not takin care of it well, therefore u should take it to a shop and you wouldnt be in this position ...

So your advice is to spend $500 to fix a $100 problem? Noted, but I'll wait for somebody who knows what they're talking about to chime in.

***toyomoho*** · 08-07-2007, 06:06 PM

A bad ignition wire from the coil to the distributor cap can cause hard or no start problems.

If the car does not start again, remove the coil wire from the cap and check for spark. If spark, try a spark plug wire. If the plugs are getting spark, then the problem is elsewhere.

The link below provides access to Gen 3 service info:

http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry