Car won't start - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 06:28 AM

Of course my father was driving when it happened. Said he took a turn, drove a little bit, then all of a sudden a heavy knock/loud engine noise pursued, oil pressure light started flickering, and the car lost power. Turned into a parking lot, checked essentials. Engine is dry, no oil in the street. Now when we try to start it, it rumbles and shakes, then turns off after 3 seconds. I'm scared to try and start it, it doesn't look/sound pretty.

Where do I go from here? I assume towing is my only option.

Okay, whole story:

Car was driving fine, then all of a sudden it started making noise. It sounded like a very loud grumble. Sort of like a loud spark knock. The engine didn't shut down but it lost almost all power. RPM's dropped when it started shaking and the oil pressure light flickered. (It's been doing this for a while if I rolled the window down. I think my alternator is weak or I have a grounding issue. Rolling down window caused lower rpm, shaking, and oil pressure light) It drove just a little further until it shut down when trying to accelerate into a turn. Trying to start it again just resulted in shaking and it shut itself down in 3 seconds.

Edit: Car has oil. Dipstick goes to full. Put it up to a magnet and no fuzziness or metal fragments visible.

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 10:09 AM

I would try that but I'm scared. It shakes pretty violently when it does start for the few seconds. I don't want to cause any further damage if something is broken internally.

AlmightyCamry777 · 03-13-2010, 11:26 AM

I think it's time to take it to a shop. Unfortunatley the issue may be too major for an internet forum.
The oil light flickering plus ominous noises from bottom end of engine, can means the oil pump is possibly worn out, worn out main bearings, or heavy engine sludging.

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 12:42 PM

The engine was heavily sludged. My mechanic took apart most of it with the rear main seal and cleaned out as much as he could. Do you think that could have any major effect?

I'm working on getting it towed to the shop right now. Gonna have to use a friends AAA service. My mechanic is 30 miles away.

carsrus · 03-13-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retrospekt

The engine was heavily sludged. My mechanic took apart most of it with the rear main seal and cleaned out as much as he could. Do you think that could have any major effect?

I'm working on getting it towed to the shop right now. Gonna have to use a friends AAA service. My mechanic is 30 miles away.

It sounds to me like your oil pickup is partially clogged. The oil light flickering might be signaling it can get good enough flow from the pump.

Bad alt. wouldent prevent it from starting unless it like blewup and fired from wires along with it.

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 02:15 PM

I talked to a mechanic friend of mine. This is what he said:

My spark knock could have been caused by a leaking piston ring, not enough compression or something leading to unburned fuel. That = spark knock, which I know I had. He also said if the ring busted open completely, it could cause whatever is going right now. He told me not to crank it anymore, that I will cause more damage if it is a blown ring.

carsrus · 03-13-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retrospekt

I talked to a mechanic friend of mine. This is what he said:

My spark knock could have been caused by a leaking piston ring, not enough compression or something leading to unburned fuel. That = spark knock, which I know I had. He also said if the ring busted open completely, it could cause whatever is going right now. He told me not to crank it anymore, that I will cause more damage if it is a blown ring.

Yeah thats somewhat possible if the engines been poorly maintained. That cylinder on which it happened would probably be toast though.

Spark knock is pre detonation and can be caused by abuncha things from a carboned up engine to bad gas.

KiDGiB · 03-13-2010, 03:08 PM

It almost sounds like a thrown rod to me, possibly rod bearings went bad. Is it a loud clunking sound when you started your car?

hill8570 · 03-13-2010, 04:07 PM

I'm going to be a optimist for a bit, and assume it's not a major failure...

Any codes to pull? You can pull codes without starting the engine. If timing goes to hell (say, the crankshaft sensor going south), the engine is going to be running so poorly your oil pressure light will flicker. At least some of the timing-related failsafes will cause a fuel cut, which could be the cause of your "shutdown after 3 seconds".

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 06:02 PM

Broken crankshaft. We fired it up and this time you could hear metal parts clunking internally. It's over. Goodbye Gen 3 Camry. I loved you so.

carsrus · 03-13-2010, 06:12 PM

Wow that sucks. Ive never seen a snapped crankshaft on a toyota.

The engine might be salvagable though, I wouldent give up all hope yet.

***fenixus*** · 03-13-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retrospekt

Broken crankshaft. We fired it up and this time you could hear metal parts clunking internally. It's over. Goodbye Gen 3 Camry. I loved you so.

sorry to that hear man. is this what mechanic said after you brought the car to him (or vice versa) ?

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 06:16 PM

I'm assuming it would need a pretty extensive rebuild. If the crankshaft snapped it must have been neglected really, really bad by the previous owner. We'd find a lot more to do if we started, and the block would have to be bored, etc. It just doesn't seem worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

sorry to that hear man. is this what mechanic said after you brought the car to him (or vice versa) ?

Yeah. I fired it up, you could now hear what I assume was the crankshaft bearing knocking around in the engine as it ran. He said he was 100% certain that the crankshaft is toast, and he recommended I do not even look into rebuilding it. New engine if anything. Considering this one is so sludged, i agree with him.

***fenixus*** · 03-13-2010, 06:25 PM

yeah, engine rebuild if it was heavily sludged wouldn't make any sense unless you have a cheap way of doing it. engine swap would be cheaper absolutely.

was it giving you any sounds or nosies while running before it snapped ? i mean how the mech knew it was it before it happened ?

Retrospekt · 03-13-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixus

yeah, engine rebuild if it was heavily sludged wouldn't make any sense unless you have a cheap way of doing it. engine swap would be cheaper absolutely.

was it giving you any sounds or nosies while running before it snapped ? i mean how the mech knew it was it before it happened ?

He didn't know beforehand. He came to look at it and heard it.

The only sign of engine trouble I had was spark knock, but that's not so serious. It just decided to blow up on me today, right after making plans of cross country road trips.

Oh, and I just got my new head unit in the mail yesterday also. How ironic.