94 Camry 4 Cyl Turns over NO START - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Microman · 03-30-2010, 10:04 PM

Daughter just had her car towed home. She said that it started to miss a little at a stop at idle, Then when she was going up a small incline, and getting over it, it stopped and she was able to get to the side of the road safely.

Now at home, it turns over easily, but does not try to start.

Will crack the book, and have searched the forum. Not sure if it is electrical or fuel. Maybe fuse. Just changed the oil, and Air Filter last month for a smog check.

Thanks, for any ideas, will crack the book now.

hill8570 · 03-30-2010, 11:35 PM

If you have a spare spark plug, pop off one of the plug wires, connect it to the plug, and ground the side of the plug to the engine head / block (not the valve cover). Crank it -- spark should be big and blue. If you don't have a spare plug, pop one of your out and do same test. If no spark, pop off the distributor cap and check that the rotor spins when you crank. If no spin, broken timing belt. If the rotor spins but you're not getting spark, then troubleshooting gets a bit more involved...come on back and we'll start working down the possibilities.

If you have a big blue spark, then pull off the big intake hose to the throttle body and give it a squirt of starter fluid. If that tries to catch, then it's probably time to test the fuel pump.

That's at least a start...

ItsMeJon · 03-31-2010, 12:54 AM

I actually have a simular problem in my cousins car. I believe its a 97 four cylinder. I replaced spark plugs since old ones were burnt crispy. It cranks but not firing when i step on the gas it makes a bloop bloop noise but nothing happens. Oh and i checked the distributor wires with a screw driver it dose spark.

KiDGiB · 03-31-2010, 02:47 AM

If you turn the key to the on position and listen carefully, you should beable to hear your fuel pump. Its probly time for a new fuel filter.

Judge2 · 03-31-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill8570

If you have a spare spark plug, pop off one of the plug wires, connect it to the plug, and ground the side of the plug to the engine head / block (not the valve cover). Crank it -- spark should be big and blue. If you don't have a spare plug, pop one of your out and do same test. If no spark, pop off the distributor cap and check that the rotor spins when you crank. If no spin, broken timing belt. If the rotor spins but you're not getting spark, then troubleshooting gets a bit more involved...come on back and we'll start working down the possibilities.

If you have a big blue spark, then pull off the big intake hose to the throttle body and give it a squirt of starter fluid. If that tries to catch, then it's probably time to test the fuel pump.

That's at least a start...

+1. To make checking the spark easier harbor freight has an inline visual checker for about $10 or under.

rdimpulser6 · 03-31-2010, 10:14 AM

My car did the same thing yesterday, missed a little then stopped in the middle of traffic. Cranks easy, but dies not start. Gonna work on it today, Could be a coincidence or they starting to die at the same time. Any help is appreciated.

Microman · 03-31-2010, 10:51 AM

Took one spark plug wire off, and attached my TESTING DEVICE to it, and then attached to ground. When wife turned over the car it would spark every time it cam to that cylinder turn.

Then I took the hose off the Throttle Body and squirted a little bit of starter fluid in the opening, as wife turned it over. IT actually tried to fire some. So I am thinking it may be FUEL related. , since it didnt try to fire at all without the starter fluid., (Although I did open the big valve to make sure some of Starter Fluid got past the throttle body opening.

I can see the fuel filter below the duct hose between the air filter and throttle body. I suppose that would be a choice to change it.

I don't hear an electric fuel pump from the trunk area, so that may be the problem, if there is one in this car. Not sure if there is a SOCK on the fuel pump in the tank, that might be clogged. (Had that happen to a buick we had), and it sorta gave the same symptoms..... ALmost empty tank of gas, sucking gas from bottom of tank, clogging the Fuel pump sock in the tank.

I was looking in the Oil Filler hole to see if I could see anything moving, but did not. But if I cam getting intermittent spark, can I assume that the ROTOR is turning inside the Distributor cap, and that the timing belt is still intact?

Car is on EMPTY for gas, but comes off the bottom of gauge just a little, but daughter insists that it always goes X number of miles...............Dont want to put too much in, if someone has to drop the gas tank.

So whats next?

Fuel Filter Replace?

Put my head in the trunk while the wife turns key on, and see if I can hear a noise of the fuel pump?

Thanks.

#2! · 03-31-2010, 11:25 AM

Put some gas in just for kicks.

You won't see anything in the oil filler hole.

Pull out the air box and the fuel filter is easy to get to. Take off the gas cap before you unbolt the fuel lines.

You can't hear the fuel pump unless the car is running.

If your daughter is constantly running the car until the fuel gauge bottoms out then there is a good chance the pump needs to be replaced. Having fuel in the tank helps dissipate heat from the pump.

Judge2 · 03-31-2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Microman

Took one spark plug wire off, and attached my TESTING DEVICE to it, and then attached to ground. When wife turned over the car it would spark every time it cam to that cylinder turn.

Then I took the hose off the Throttle Body and squirted a little bit of starter fluid in the opening, as wife turned it over. IT actually tried to fire some. So I am thinking it may be FUEL related. , since it didnt try to fire at all without the starter fluid., (Although I did open the big valve to make sure some of Starter Fluid got past the throttle body opening.

I can see the fuel filter below the duct hose between the air filter and throttle body. I suppose that would be a choice to change it.

I don't hear an electric fuel pump from the trunk area, so that may be the problem, if there is one in this car. Not sure if there is a SOCK on the fuel pump in the tank, that might be clogged. (Had that happen to a buick we had), and it sorta gave the same symptoms..... ALmost empty tank of gas, sucking gas from bottom of tank, clogging the Fuel pump sock in the tank.

I was looking in the Oil Filler hole to see if I could see anything moving, but did not. But if I cam getting intermittent spark, can I assume that the ROTOR is turning inside the Distributor cap, and that the timing belt is still intact?

Car is on EMPTY for gas, but comes off the bottom of gauge just a little, but daughter insists that it always goes X number of miles...............Dont want to put too much in, if someone has to drop the gas tank.

So whats next?

Fuel Filter Replace?

Put my head in the trunk while the wife turns key on, and see if I can hear a noise of the fuel pump?

Thanks.

Its an important step to know that you have a good spark, eliminates lots of possibilities. Keep looking at the fuel issues. Personally, I go with adding a gallon of gas first before in depth fuel pump checking. Also, before doing big involved work for the fuel pump do test that the timing belt is good. Keep asking here too.

(I once bought a car for a hundred dollars as a parts car when the owner told me they could not figure out the problem. I put a gallon of gas in it and it started right away. Kept the car about four years.)

The7 · 03-31-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Microman

Not sure if there is a SOCK on the fuel pump in the tank, that might be clogged. (Had that happen to a buick we had), and it sorta gave the same symptoms..... ALmost empty tank of gas, sucking gas from bottom of tank, clogging the Fuel pump sock in the tank.

Car is on EMPTY for gas, but comes off the bottom of gauge just a little, but daughter insists that it always goes X number of miles...............Dont want to put too much in, if someone has to drop the gas tank.

I think that your daughter Camry has the same clogging problem as your previous Buick.

hill8570 · 03-31-2010, 01:46 PM

Sounds like your timing belt is fine and you're got spark. Since it's trying to fire up with starting fluid troubleshooting the fuel system is next...

You can test for pump operation by jumping terminals B+ and FP on the DLC1 connector with a bent paperclip. DLC1 is in the engine compartment, passenger side, up near the firewall. The underside of the cap for the DLC has the locations of the various terminals. Best place to listen for the pump is in the middle of the rear seat. It's also trivial to access the pump from there by lifting the rear seat firmly along it's front edge -- it's just held on by a couple of clips -- no bolts.

The online FSM at www.camrystuff.com, Generation 3, 5S-FE engine section, starting about page 176 has a ton of good troubleshooting information for the fuel system.

Microman · 03-31-2010, 04:27 PM

Put some fresh gas (2.5 gals) in tank after getting back from L.A. Zoo, and still no go. Put a little gas in throttle body, and it fires a very little, but nothing to make me feel it is going to run. Will go for a filter next.

carsrus · 03-31-2010, 04:33 PM

Pop out the rear bottom section of the seat by yanking on it. Check the fuel pump for noise and if no noise check connector for power.

Sounds like a dead fuel pump. you could also take out a plug and see if you get a strong gas smell after a couple cranks.

abew330 · 03-31-2010, 07:02 PM

you check all fuses???? and relays?????

mouayingvang24 · 12-18-2010, 04:23 PM

lol my wife camry is acting the same and still trying to find out what's wrong with it. When ever you try to fire up it back fire once or twice, but no not from the exhaust but from the throttle body as i listen and decided to take the intake hose off and video it after i just changed spark plug. I really need help?!.

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