Need help w/ engine stalling,plz.

[dna59]

Couple months ago my car('92 Camry) just shut down while driving. I checked it and it was getting spark, but it would not start and it had a strong turnover, nothing weak. Towed it to the Toyota dealer, they said it was a dirty connection somewhere. Got the car back and a week later it did the same thing, took it back and they said when they went to move the vehicle it started right up, so they just took off the throttle body and cleaned it. When I got the car back i changed plugs, wires, rotor and cap. Now yesterday is the first time i took the car on the highway since i got it. The car suddenly just shut down again. So i started it back put it in drive and it shut down. So i said maybe it was the a/c so i took it off and started it again and it went. Now coming back (a/c off) it shut down w/ me again. Wouldn't start a couple times then started back again, shut down again then after a min started. Again it has a strong turn over nothing weak. then it shut down again so i turn off everything electrical (cd player, lights) and even the OD. That was the last time it shut down, don't know if anything i did had any effect on it not shutting down. Also I noticed the whole way when i was on the road the eninge temp gauge kept going back and forth b/w readin totally cold and quarter way up the gauge. When i stopped for a while at my freinds hous then it went up to normal. Don't know if this is usual, plus it was raining and a bit cool out. PLease help me guys if you can, cuz I'm trying to sell the car and don't wanna slel anybody w/ something liek that. Thanks

[hooRAH]

Sounds electrical to me, especially since its raining out. Because you said that the temp gauge was fluctuating, I would recommend you look for ground faults (especially at the coolant temp sensor and where the coolant temp sensor wires pass through the firewall). After that, I would check your ground cable for corrosion at both ends.

Past that, its gonna be a one-by-one troubleshooting session. Good luck!

[dna59]

^^Haha i know, it's gonna be fun finding what it is. I really don't wanna spend money to take it back to the dealer to have them tell me it's nothing.

[marc780]

You say there is strong spark but still it dies on you? Do you think this is a electrical problem or fuel?
Maybe its the ignition switch, it is probably worn out, it is a 92 after all.

[dna59]

Well I just took it to the Toyota dealer. I was on my way to pick up some stuck and it died not too far from my house, which is not too far from the dealer. So I just got fed up and lost patience w/ it and just dropped it off there. PLus they know more about the car than I do, since it was serviced there for years, and changed a distributer on it.

[dna59]

Well as of 5 today the dealer couldn't find anything wreong apart from my damaged intake hose i have taped up. I highly doubt it is that since that has been that way b4 i even got the car and the car doesn't stutter when it shuts down, it just shuts off all of a sudden no warning. They said give them until 2morrow, but I guess i'll take it to my freind that works at an electrical auto parts store and have him check the distributer coil and condenser. I asked the dealer if they checked the distributer, but I think all they did was probably see if it sparks and that's it. Any takes anyone?

[dna59]

ne one?

[dna59]

Turned out to be the ignition coil and rotor.

[WhiteRabbit]

cool, glad you found the problem

so it doesnt stall now?

[dna59]

^^No it doesn't. I called one of my freinds at the dealer and told him to tell his so called mechanics that the problem was that simple. The car has been there twice and they couldn't find anything. Took it to my freind at the electical auto parts store, we took of the cap and saw that there was a crack in the ignition coil, and that the rotor was in need of a change also.

[hooRAH]

I dont understand. In your first post, you said you replaced the rotor. Later, you say the rotor needed to be replaced.

[dna59]

^^Um maybe i made a mistake, we all do.

[Ken4]

Could be signs of a dying fuel pump.