Have air, fuel but no spark...sigh HELP! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

latinflex01 · 07-14-2011, 09:39 PM

Hey all! New here.

I have a 1992 Toyota Camry Le 4 cylinder (5fse engine) and it died on me. Engine turns but doesn't ignite. I've changed the fuel filter and with that tested the fuel pump and i got gas coming into the chambers but no spark. All spark plugs aren't charging. So i changed the ignition coil and distributor cap and still nothing. Tested current is definitely reaching the ignition coil but still nothing passes through to the spark plug wires.

I'm reasoning the only thing left is the ignitor? (ignition module--200 bucks at autozone). I found a used one on a junkyard and getting it in the mail for just 20 bucks so you can't beat that...so playing the waiting game. Just hoping that really will resolve the issues. We all depend on our vehicles don't we?

Well, i wanted to see what the thoughts on the forums were about this problem? Any ideas? or is it for sure the ignitor?

Thanks so much for your time.

-pepe

hill8570 · 07-14-2011, 10:14 PM

Have you checked that the distributor rotor is spinning when you crank the engine? A broken timing belt is a common way for an engine to stop getting spark.

latinflex01 · 07-14-2011, 11:36 PM

I'd do that by just popping off the distributor cap and seeing if the rotor spins? Man that opens up a big can of worms...sigh.

latinflex01 · 07-14-2011, 11:38 PM

If the timing belt broke usually it's super bad news for the engine but i read somewhere on here that it's not the case on this car?

latinflex01 · 07-15-2011, 12:38 AM

Non interference engine so phew! I understand that now. Okay, tomorrow i'll definitely check that out and see and update.

thank you

latinflex01 · 07-16-2011, 02:36 PM

okay, rotor spins but not fast. What does that say? possibly the teeth off the timing belt are gone and it didn't break? still needs to be done obviously but how does that affect timing?

Mike Gerber · 07-17-2011, 10:27 AM

"Tested current is definitely reaching the ignition coil but still nothing passes through to the spark plug wires."

Since you changed out just the distributor cap, I would inspect that rotor carefully. Remove it from the distributor and check it all over, including the underside, for evidence of cracks. On a much older car, I once had a rotor crack underneath where it sits on the shaft of the distributor. It would short itself to the distributor shaft. Took me quite a while to figure that one out.

Mike

latinflex01 · 07-17-2011, 11:42 AM

Would you guys recommend replacing the distributor itself eventhough i already rebuilt it basically (except the rotor which i'm about to now---only a 4 dollar part...what do i care right?).

I just looked at it...it's not cracked but definitely has a scorch mark down in the wedge towards the bottom (around the plastic...not metal?)

tacosteelersman · 07-17-2011, 12:42 PM

My Tacoma did the same thing. You have a condensor (thats right an old fashioned lawnmower type condensor) in the distributor. Its a cheap part and odds are it will do the trick.Good luck

latinflex01 · 07-17-2011, 01:35 PM

Man, i just changed the rotor and it fired right up. Thank you so much. I basically gave my car a tune up it badly needed but the final piece...the rotor did the trick.

Thank you so much everyone for your input and experience. Gained my independence back

Definitely think i need to do the timing belt anyways so i'll get on that one next weekend.

Thanks again all for your time, thoughts and experience!