3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I took my 96 4cyl Camry to the shop due to working nightshift for now and nothing has helped. So far the mechanic has thrown a crankshaft sensor,distributor, coil, igniter, ecm, open circuit relay, main relay,and alot of hours at it and still no spark from coil. It did spark once today when I turned the key backwards to the off position if that makes any sense to anybody. Oh yea the tach is not jumping. Does anybody have any ideas as to where to start chasing wires or common problems with this car. Like I said, it is the 2200 4cyl with the oddball 1996 external coil and igniter on the fenderwell instaed of built in the distributor. Please help My wife has to have this car for 100 mile round trip to college 5 days a week.
I have seen the pick-up coil in the distributor go bad many times. Now a reman distributor does not have this as you have to swap it over. So now you are swapping over a bad part. I hope it is the pick-up to end your misfortune.
No codes have been thrown. But come to think of it, I don't remember ever seeing a CEL in the dash. ( maybe the bulb is blown). He first said igniter wasn't breaking coil for spark. New igniter = $503 so I salvage yarded two with coils just in case and neither made a difference so he suggested distributor which is = to $450 so I salvaged again since he was guessing. The one I salvaged had a 4 prong plug which most do but only this 96 Cam and 97 Rav4 run atwo wire plug. No refund just exchange so I traded for ECM just to try and no difference was made. Found a distrib this morning and to no avail it didn't change anything either. Changed relays just for giggles and headscratching purposes and still no spark. I have no idea what is common for these. He is no suggesting ign switch since it sparked on the turning to off position but he is guessing again. This is what we deal with here in Smalltown Arkansas. Nearest dealer is 85 miles away.
Mechanics ALLDATA doesn't really give definitive troubleshooting for ths two wire distributor but do for the 4 wire version. What ohm readings would tell good from bad?
Is the distributor actually turning? A broken timing belt will cause it not to start. Has he check to make sure the distributor is in time with the engine statically?
233,619 miles. Timing belt is about a month old. All is in time and turning. What would a failed ignition switch seem like in these cars. Just wondering since the coil fired while turning back to the off position instead of the start position.
Have you check for 12V at the + terminals of the coil and igniter? If there is no voltage there, just use a jumper to put 12V there and then see if it will start. If it starts, then there is something wrong with the ignition switch.
Well, if you have 12V there, then either the distributor signal is not getting to the igniter or the distributor is not generating the needed signal. I would suggest double checking everything again. If you still have the old dist, just hook it up to the car, don't have to install it on the engine, turn the key on and spin the shaft, see if you have spark from the coil.
I still have all the old parts plus some to spare now so I will try that in the morning when I get off work. That does make good sense though.Does this car have a cam sensor or does the distributor serve this purpose on this particular model. This is the only Camry with this type of distributor and the 1997 RAV4 has the same set-up.
When you turn the key on (before the motor starts) the dash board lights power on in Test mode. Does your CEL light up? If it does not check EFI fuse and relay. 96 seems a little young to be a problem but it's an easy check.
Kep
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Often, it's the loose screw between the steering wheel and the driver's seat that needs to be fixed first!
Lights do come on but not the CEL. I think I need to check the bulb because I drive this car a least once a week when the wife is not at college and I don't recall ever seeing a CEL. But on that note the mechanic that quit on it said there was no codes.
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My wife has to have this car for 100 mile round trip to college 5 days a week.
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