92 camry stalled and won't restart - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nikko215 · 03-19-2011, 09:09 PM

Hoping you can direct me on what to check re our otherwise super-reliable 92 camry 4cyl 2.2. Some background -it has a finicky idle - when hot, idle can run super low from time to time, sometimes almost to stalling, but usually I drive the car and I've learned to work around it (give it a little gas when car is stopped to avoid stalling, etc. We've tried replacing the IAC valve with another one from wreckers and didn't help the problem much. Also cleaned the throttle body regularly and still doesn't help that much) Today our son drove it to a friend's house just down the street. He's not that experienced driving the car when the idle is acting up. Put the car in park, and it was still running, and went to ring the doorbell. When he got back to the car it had stopped running. He tried to restart and it turns over real good, but didn't ignite. We got there about
a minute later and tried to start. We could smell gas so we assumed - maybe? - the car stalled and then when we tried to restart, the engine flooded? Because there was a definite gas smell. Son kept swearing he didn't flood the engine. Pushed the car back to our house, let it sit for a while. Tried to start again. Engine turns over real good, but doesn't start. Waited a while longer and tried again, same thing. What would you suggest we check first - spark plug wires? distributor coil? I've been reading a lot of other posts about similar problems this but would appreciate some fresh advice. Thanks

96ToyoCam164K · 03-19-2011, 11:16 PM

Last time that happened to me, it was my timing belt that was broken...

I'd start the car, kept trying to start it and it flooded the engine. Nothing serious, but that's just what happens. I'd look at the timing belt....

Stillrunning · 03-20-2011, 05:06 AM

You can easily tell if the TB is broken by removing the distributor cap and look to see if the rotor turns while cranking the engine. If no turn then the TB is broken. Other than that first check would be to see if the engine is getting spark. Remove sparkplug and with ignition wire attached ground the threaded part of the plug on the engine block and have someone turn the engine over. Be careful as some fuel may come out the plug hole. Look for a bright blue spark, not a weak yellow/white one. To help start a flooded engine hold the gas pedal to the floor.

Hobo · 03-20-2011, 06:40 AM

Same thing happened to me last a week ago & again last night.
The first time I thought it was a bad plug wired. Did a complete tune-up and it started right up.
Last night I was trying to clean the IAC valve. I sprayed cleaner into the valve and went for a drive. Still had a rough idle so I floored it hoping to clear out a left over cleaner. It tried to stall but I was able to keep it running.
Floored it again and it stalled.

Tried to start it and it woudn't start. I sprayed throttle body cleaner into the throttle body and it sputtered like it wanted to start but didn't.
I called my brother and he said it sounds like the car isn't getting fuel, bad fuel pump or clogged fuel filter.

I banged on the fuel filter and it started for a second and died.
I've put over 100,000 miles on the car in the last 8 years and have never changed the fuel filter. I'm going to change it today or tomorrow and I'll post back with results.

nikko215 · 03-20-2011, 07:47 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to check the distributor cap this morning. Hope it's not the timing belt, I've been good about changing it, I've changed it twice since I've owned the car. Hobo - like you, I'd neglected to change the fuel filter in a long time but just had it changed several weeks ago and at that time, had them flush the throttle body. Also had them clean and flush the fuel injectors and power steering system (made a difference in the smoothness of the turning/steering - it was like a new car). I'll check the other things you guys suggested today and will post my results.

nikko215 · 03-20-2011, 06:53 PM

All I have to say is, this forum ROCKS, and everyone who shares info here ROCKS. To all those fantastic, knowledgeable and just-plain-caring individuals for their info, I can't thank you enough.
Regarding my previous thread about my 92 camry stalling and not starting, after reading your responses and other postings, I did the following, as suggested by a number of people and postings:
change distributor cap and rotor, change spark plug wires (plugs were good),
and finally, changed the ignition coil. The ignition coil is what fixed it, but everything else I changed was a great tune-up. I would never have thought about the ignition coil, but it pays to search around in this forum and you always seem to find someone others with the exact same problem. Saved me a fortune as the mechanics around here charge close to $100 per hour labor (yes, almost the same as the dealer), and it would have cost us hundreds to diagnose, on top of the parts. As it is I spent $20 for dist. cap, $3 for rotor, $55 for plugs and $62 for the coil, plus our lovely "HST" which gives you a final kick in the ass. But it was well worth it.
thanks again to all

One last question: Even though we marked the spots for the timing, after changing the coil it seemed the timing was a smidgen off. We are having difficulty setting the correct timing because the line on the flywheel that you use to set the timing is not visible! (due to advanced age of car maybe?, maybe it is worn or obscured by dirt?). Can anyone suggest a way to get around this?

4Cyl'erThriller · 03-20-2011, 07:33 PM

Use a dab of whiteout
They also make little soft white marker pens that work great too.
Edit: Try the whiteout in the squarish bottle it has the pointy foam tip instead of the bristles. It'll help you make the mark more accurately.

Hobo · 03-20-2011, 09:59 PM

OK, I got mine started today. I think I flooded mine by spraying too much throttle body cleaner into the IAC valve.

I was gone all day and when I got home I tried to start it. It started sputtering like it was trying to start so I just kept trying. Finally stared and blew out A LOT of smoke out the exhaust. I think it was from all that Throttle Body Cleaner.

Still has the sputtering idle after it warms up.
I'm afraid to drive the car anywhere so I called a mobile mechanic that I've used in the past. Waiting to hear back from him.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 03-20-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikko215

One last question: Even though we marked the spots for the timing, after changing the coil it seemed the timing was a smidgen off. We are having difficulty setting the correct timing because the line on the flywheel that you use to set the timing is not visible! (due to advanced age of car maybe?, maybe it is worn or obscured by dirt?). Can anyone suggest a way to get around this?

a good way to time the Crank pulley good is when you think its almost TDC, place a long straw or screw driver (If your careful) inside the cylinder. Turn the pulley just a hair more and you should see the driver or straw move up. Once it gets to the top of the cylinder you know your Top Dead Center. If you go to far, keep turning it and retry.

Glad you found the problem !

nikko215 · 03-21-2011, 08:33 AM

Aaaah! Car wouldn't start this morning! It wanted to, was turning over, but just wouldn't. Don't understand this at all, as it was starting well and running well yesterday. Ah well, I've had enough of trying to figure this one out... just had it towed to my mechanic. I'll post whatever the fix is....