96 Camry Won't Start

[theangel]

Hi guys,
I have a 96 Camry, 2.2 eng. and it has not started since the car ran out of gas. It cranks, but won't turn over. The timing belt was done about 20 months ago. The gas filter, and pump I don,t know when. Hope I can get something to try on the Camry.

[Stillrunning]

Did you put gas in it after it ran out?

[bigbird]

might have a fouled fuel pump. or bad relay.

[Mike Gerber]

First of all, "cranking" and "turning over" mean the same thing; the act of the starter motor spinning over the engine until the engine begins to fire and run on it's own. That said, I think we know what you mean. The engine turns over but will not run on it's own.

You have to determine if the engine is getting spark and/or fuel. To check for spark pull one of the plugs and place it back in the spark plug wire. Now lay the plug on a metal portion of the engine so it is grounded and have someone crank over the engine while you look at that plug for a nice blue spark. Don't lean of the engine during this test. If you are not getting spark then you have to work backwards and determine what portion of the ignition system is at fault.

If you are getting spark, we have to assume that you are not getting fuel. I always just have someone try to start the engine with the gas cap removed while I listen by the cap for the hum of the fuel pump. If you can not hear the hum you have to check further. The easiest way people can do this is to remove the back seat to access the plate that covers the wiring to the fuel pump. You will see a plate with 4 screws. Remove them. Now get a 12 volt test light or a DVM and have someone crank over the engine while you try to determine if power is reaching the pump, using one of these two tools. If there is power and the pump doesn't work you have a bad fuel pump. It could have overheated and died when you ran the car dry of fuel, especially if there are a lot of miles on the engine. If there is no power, then your problem is obviously electrical in nature, somewhere further forward. My best guess if this is the case would be a defective fuel pump relay. Locate the fuel pump relay under the hood and replace it with the same relay from another non-essential part of the car. If the car now starts, you know you need a new relay and you can drive the car to get one. The car can also have a plugged fuel filter, but this is pretty rare for a Toyota. I would look elsewhere first.

Try these tests and report back here.

Good luck.

Mike

[theangel]

Yes, I did add gas.

A friend of mine will be testing the car based on what Mike said. Thanks, I appreciate your help.

[marc780]

you might have burnt out the fuel pump by running it dry - as it depends on the gas it pumps for cooling. Remove the fuel line at the fuel filter to see if any gas comes out, or just listen for the hum by the tank with the ignition on. If gas comes out the fuel line steadily, it might be some other problem, but i think your fuel pump is probably kaput.

[beer-2k]

Ok. I don't mean to be stealing this tread or anything but I am in some trouble also with starting my camry also. (http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t206924.html
What do you guys think??? I am fustruated man. I need this car up by Monday morning because my wife has class that morning; and for the rest of the week.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by beer-2k

I need this car up by Monday morning because my wife has class that morning; and for the rest of the week.

By Mike Gerber:

It could also be something more serious, like a completely seized engine from running it with "no oil shown on the dipstick."

I'd remove the plugs and see if you can easily turn the engine over with a wrench on the crankshaft puley bolt - turn it clockwise. Eliminate this first.

[ibaezpardo]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

First of all, "cranking" and "turning over" mean the same thing; the act of the starter motor spinning over the engine until the engine begins to fire and run on it's own. That said, I think we know what you mean. The engine turns over but will not run on it's own.

You have to determine if the engine is getting spark and/or fuel. To check for spark pull one of the plugs and place it back in the spark plug wire. Now lay the plug on a metal portion of the engine so it is grounded and have someone crank over the engine while you look at that plug for a nice blue spark. Don't lean of the engine during this test. If you are not getting spark then you have to work backwards and determine what portion of the ignition system is at fault.

If you are getting spark, we have to assume that you are not getting fuel. I always just have someone try to start the engine with the gas cap removed while I listen by the cap for the hum of the fuel pump. If you can not hear the hum you have to check further. The easiest way people can do this is to remove the back seat to access the plate that covers the wiring to the fuel pump. You will see a plate with 4 screws. Remove them. Now get a 12 volt test light or a DVM and have someone crank over the engine while you try to determine if power is reaching the pump, using one of these two tools. If there is power and the pump doesn't work you have a bad fuel pump. It could have overheated and died when you ran the car dry of fuel, especially if there are a lot of miles on the engine. If there is no power, then your problem is obviously electrical in nature, somewhere further forward. My best guess if this is the case would be a defective fuel pump relay. Locate the fuel pump relay under the hood and replace it with the same relay from another non-essential part of the car. If the car now starts, you know you need a new relay and you can drive the car to get one. The car can also have a plugged fuel filter, but this is pretty rare for a Toyota. I would look elsewhere first.

Try these tests and report back here.

Good luck.

Mike

Ok, I have no power on the fuel pmp. Where is the relay nder the hood? There are two relays boxes, big one and a little one. How looks the relay or how is marked on the box's cover???

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by ibaezpardo

Ok, I have no power on the fuel pmp. Where is the relay nder the hood? There are two relays boxes, big one and a little one. How looks the relay or how is marked on the box's cover???

In the future when you want a question answered, it's best to include your car's year and which engine you have.

As far as answering your question, I recommend you go over to the Toyota Camry forum on AutomotiveForums.com and download the factory service manual for your generation Camry. They are still available there, stickied at the top of the forum. There will be a wiring diagram in there which will have the information you need. You could also try calling your local dealer and ask there. If you get a nice person to talk to, they will probably tell you.

Good luck.

Mike

[ibaezpardo]

In the future when you want a question answered, it's best to include your car's year and which engine you have


Did you noticed threat's title? Anyway, thank you very much. I already downloaded the manual. Thank's again.

[Kep]

Originally Posted by ibaezpardo

Did you noticed threat's title? Anyway, thank you very much. I already downloaded the manual. Thank's again.

So, we're reduced to making "threats" now, huh?

In the EFI chapter p FI-70 (in the hard copy) Toyota mentions:

If there is no pressure, check the following parts:
• Fusible links
• Fuses (EFI 15A, IGN 7.5A)
• EFI main relay
• Fuel pump
ECU
• Wiring connections

The Body Electrical Chapter shows the Fuse & Relay Block locations on pp BE-11 and BE-12. The Ign fuse is in the driver kick panel box and the EFI fuse and EFI relay are in the engine compartment box . If you need to, look inside the box covers for a diagram.

However, since you ran the tank dry I am much more suspicious of a bad pump like Marc780. Are you sure you tested the current correctly?

Kep

[Vagisimo]

if it is obd1 you can connect FP and B+ to check the fuel pump

[ibaezpardo]

I solved the problem. Thank's to everybody. It was the relay in the passenger side. Now is working.

[Kep]

Excellent call Mike! Good fix ibaezpardo.

Kep