Running Strong- No Start Next Morning - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***DAMON*** · 10-12-2008, 10:19 AM

As if I dont have enough car trouble with the solara being totaled, my gen 3 took a dump on me. I havent touched the engine bay in weeks and the car was running fine, no issues at all. I got home one night last week and shut the car off, didnt notice anything strange. The next afternoon I hopped in to drive back to school and it wouldnt start.

It's turning over and everything, seem to be getting spark and I can smell fuel so it seems like the fuel pump and whatnot are working. It basically sounds like it always does when it starts up, it just doesnt actually fire.

After going through hell with the bosch spark plug wires and the infamous little boots, I got new plugs and wires installed, but same thing. The timing belt was replaced 40k miles ago and seems to be fine. Starter was replaced with the timing belt, alternator has been replaced, fuses are good, coolant and oil levels are fine, battery is pretty new. I just cant figure out what would go wrong like that overnight.

I'm at a loss so far on this one, open to any opinions or suggestions. Thanks guys.

Damon

bigbird · 10-12-2008, 11:16 AM

i cant remember if your year 5s has a distributer but if all else is fine that sounds like it may be the cause. have you actually tested the plugs to see if your getting spark?

***DAMON*** · 10-12-2008, 11:56 AM

havent checked the plugs to test for spark. I have a distributor, adam thought it could be that as well... cap and rotor have about 40k on them, but could be the distributor itself...

a94autoCamry · 10-12-2008, 01:47 PM

just a thought, are the battery terminals in tact and not rusted or loose? if you go turn the key to on, would you get power from your stereo/etc?

***Knailgun*** · 10-12-2008, 02:22 PM

distributor cap and rotor....shit happened to mine once upon a moon

uibalnme · 10-12-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knailgun

distributor cap and rotor....shit happened to mine once upon a moon

+1

It's a long shot, but what the about the coil or igniter?

Zviator · 10-12-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbird

i cant remember if your year 5s has a distributer but if all else is fine that sounds like it may be the cause. have you actually tested the plugs to see if your getting spark?

Yes it has. It costed me ~200 or so for one that's no bigger than my fist.

trdcamry00 · 10-12-2008, 04:28 PM

This also has happened to me in my gen 3 on my way back to school (how convenient). Followed the manual on how to read the dizzy with a simple meter and sure enough it was the distributor. Also I had a dust boot cover? I don't know what you call it but make sure it's on there. Mine was cracked and I had to run without it causing my distributor to fail again. It's running perfect now though. gl

JamesT1 · 10-12-2008, 09:25 PM

Happened to me a while ago too. It turned out that the wire that led from the positive terminal on the battery to the fuse box was loose at the terminal.

For me, it happened at a gas station on the way back from work. Tried jumping it with no luck. Had a tow truck come out to take it back to my place - the driver wiggled the wire before he put my car on his truck and everything came back to life

. I paid $90 for someone to wiggle a wire...

***new echo owner*** · 10-12-2008, 11:02 PM

I like to know if he had a chance to see if there is spark or not? Many things could have cause the no-start condition, but if he doesn't let us know what is going on, we can continue to speculate. Timing belt, coil, igniter, pickup coil, fuel pump, ECM, and all the other stuff that had been mentioned could have cause the no start.

N.E.O.

Albuynp Ryeno · 10-13-2008, 03:45 AM

Have you tried stepping on the gas while your cranking?

When my car didnt start it was because the fuel pressure was off. Changed the fuel pressure regulator and its all good now.

***DAMON*** · 10-13-2008, 09:28 AM

^yes, tried the gas while attempting to start and no dice.

I am now back at school in a borrowed car so I wont be able to mess with it this week. The battery terminals are fine. I have had that happen before, but the car would be totally dead when that happened to me, not almost starting, so I dont think its that.

Im debating if I should have it towed somewhere this week so my car is ready when I get home. Id like to try cap and rotor before I have it towed somewhere but Im not sure if I will have time. Thanks for the input guys.

Damon

felonyr301 · 10-14-2008, 01:41 AM

It's the cap and rotor had the same exact thing happen to me.

***DAMON*** · 10-14-2008, 09:02 AM

w00t hope so, gonna toss that on thursday and see what I get.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 10-14-2008, 06:24 PM

let us know how it goes