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My car decided sometime between yesterday evening and this morning that it was not going to start anymore. It will crank, but refuses to kick over. It's a '99 with about 57k miles. Plenty of fuel in the tank. I don't think it's a battery issue because the car turns over quickly, as it normally does. EFI fuse is in tact.
I tried opening the fuel door and removing the filler cap and having my dad turn the key to 'ON', in the hopes that I could hear the fuel pump pressurizing the system (a short whirring noise). After hearing nothing, I was thinking the fuel pump took a crap because when I turn my other car (a Subaru) to 'ON', the fuel pump is very audible. However, I tried the same thing on my mom's '07 Camry (which starts perfectly) and again, I heard no fuel pump activity.
Question is - am I right in thinking it's the fuel pump? Is there a way to test this? Please help - I cannot afford to pay for the extra gas that I spend by not driving the Camry!
check for spark? while that spark plug is out.. try to start the car.. and see if you can smell gas in that cylinder.. might have to crank it a few times... and also check the timiing belt..
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It might be something within your injectors. Check your EFI relay in your fusebox.
Does this just pop out or what? I tried to remove it but it didn't want to budge...I also didn't want to break it, so I just left it as is. Once I get it out, what do I look for?
The 99 still uses a rubber timing belt. It's rare that they would break at only 57,000 miles, so I doublt that is your issue, although stranger things have happened. If the timing belt did break, you will hear the engine cranking over a bit faster than normal. Another way to check for a broken timing belt is to remove the oil cap and look down the oil cap hole, while someone tries to start the car. If the timing belt is still intact, you should see the cam(s) rotating.
One easy way to check for a bad fuel pump is to remove the big tube leading to the throttle body. Then spray some O2 safe carb cleaner in to the throttle body and then reassemble the tube. Try to start the car. If the car nows sputters a bit (attempts to start) where you got nothing before, it is a fuel or fuel pump issue. The car is trying to fire on the bit of carb cleaner that you sprayed in there.
One easy way to check for a bad fuel pump is to remove the big tube leading to the throttle body. Then spray some O2 safe carb cleaner in to the throttle body and then reassemble the tube. Try to start the car. If the car nows sputters a bit (attempts to start) where you got nothing before, it is a fuel or fuel pump issue. The car is trying to fire on the bit of carb cleaner that you sprayed in there.
Mike
UPDATE: I don't know if this sheds any more light on the issue but today I removed the fuel filter, finding it relatively clean. With the filter still out of the car, I had my dad crank it while I watched the hardline into the fuel filter, and a literal gusher of fuel spewed forth. Granted I couldn't measure the pressure (no gauge), I assume it had good pressure to shoot out the fuel with such gusto. Does this rule out the fuel pump as a possible cause?
Regarding the timing belt, the car bad been suffering from a pretty nasty belt squeal, but it was typically upon cold start and only when I turned the steering wheel; thus, I assumed it was the power steering belt. Could it have in fact been the timing belt?
Third and finally (sorry to be so long-winded), I pulled the EFI relay out, but there didn't really seem like there was anything to inspect, just some plugs. They weren't scorched or anything, so I assume they are fine as well?
Thanks a bunch for the help, I really appreciate it!
UPDATE: I don't know if this sheds any more light on the issue but today I removed the fuel filter, finding it relatively clean. With the filter still out of the car, I had my dad crank it while I watched the hardline into the fuel filter, and a literal gusher of fuel spewed forth. Granted I couldn't measure the pressure (no gauge), I assume it had good pressure to shoot out the fuel with such gusto. Does this rule out the fuel pump as a possible cause?
Regarding the timing belt, the car bad been suffering from a pretty nasty belt squeal, but it was typically upon cold start and only when I turned the steering wheel; thus, I assumed it was the power steering belt. Could it have in fact been the timing belt?
Third and finally (sorry to be so long-winded), I pulled the EFI relay out, but there didn't really seem like there was anything to inspect, just some plugs. They weren't scorched or anything, so I assume they are fine as well?
Thanks a bunch for the help, I really appreciate it!
1. You have probably ruled out the fuel pump, but I would still try the procedure of spraying some carb cleaner in to the throttle body. This only takes a 10MM wrench to loosen the clamp, some spray carb cleaner and about 5 minutes.
2. The screeching you are describing almost certainly sounds like a loose power steering belt.
3. You could try putting your hand over the EFI relay while someone attempts to start the car. Do you feel a click? You will on most relays as they activate. Another thing to do would be to switch the EFI relay with another identical relay from some non-essential item in the car. Match up the numbers on the relay to see if the car contains another identical relay. You might even take a look at the EFI relay in your mom's 07 Camry to see if they are identical. If they are, try that one.
Also, did you ever check for spark. You seem to be assuming this is a fuel related issue. If you haven't checked yet, pull one of the spark plugs and then put it back in it's spark plug wire. Now rest the metal hex of the plug on something like the cam cover gasket to ground it. Now have someone try to start the car while you observe the plug for spark.
Good luck.
Mike
Last edited by Mike Gerber; 01-26-2008 at 02:04 PM.
assume it had good pressure to shoot out the fuel with such gusto. Does this rule out the fuel pump as a possible cause?
I dont like scolding people but tell us the year, engine and mileage first before posting your issue.....!!!
Yeah what mike said, if it shoots out the filter side with the same force too, (dirty filter?) the pump is good.
Even so fuel could still be the issue (sensors or IAC). Buy some starting fluid and see if it will run on that for a few seconds.
If IT RUNS ON STARTING FLUID: It is fuel related. You have a problem with dirty filter, Idle Air Control broken or stuck open, one or more valves too tight, timing belt worn and loose and has jumped time, broken distributor shaft (if used), MAF sensor dirty or broken, cold start injector inoperative (if used)others.
IT DOES NOT RUN WITH STARTING FLUID: It is probably not fuel related. Ignition or sensor related problem. IAC, skipped timing belt, broken distributor shaft, distributor cap and rotor worn out (if used), all injectors worn out (not likely), all spark plugs flooded, wet, and/or worn out, broken, loose or unhooked coil wire. Worn out ignition switch. (among other possible issues)
1. You have probably ruled out the fuel pump, but I would still try the procedure of spraying some carb cleaner in to the throttle body. This only takes a 10MM wrench to loosen the clamp, some spray carb cleaner and about 5 minutes.
2. The screeching you are describing almost certainly sounds like a loose power steering belt.
3. You could try putting your hand over the EFI relay while someone attempts to start the car. Do you feel a click? You will on most relays as they activate. Another thing to do would be to switch the EFI relay with another identical relay from some non-essential item in the car. Match up the numbers on the relay to see if the car contains another identical relay. You might even take a look at the EFI relay in your mom's 07 Camry to see if they are identical. If they are, try that one.
Also, did you ever check for spark. You seem to be assuming this is a fuel related issue. If you haven't checked yet, pull one of the spark plugs and then put it back in it's spark plug wire. Now rest the metal hex of the plug on something like the cam cover gasket to ground it. Now have someone try to start the car while you observe the plug for spark.
I dont like scolding people but tell us the year, engine and mileage first before posting your issue.....!!!
Yeah what mike said, if it shoots out the filter side with the same force too, (dirty filter?) the pump is good.
Even so fuel could still be the issue (sensors or IAC). Buy some starting fluid and see if it will run on that for a few seconds.
If IT RUNS ON STARTING FLUID: It is fuel related. You have a problem with dirty filter, Idle Air Control broken or stuck open, one or more valves too tight, timing belt worn and loose and has jumped time, broken distributor shaft (if used), MAF sensor dirty or broken, cold start injector inoperative (if used)others.
IT DOES NOT RUN WITH STARTING FLUID: It is probably not fuel related. Ignition or sensor related problem. IAC, skipped timing belt, broken distributor shaft, distributor cap and rotor worn out (if used), all injectors worn out (not likely), all spark plugs flooded, wet, and/or worn out, broken, loose or unhooked coil wire. Worn out ignition switch. (among other possible issues)
I mentioned year and mileage in the initial post, I'll be sure to include motor next time. But wow, that is a lot of potential issues...I hope I don't have to go through all of them before finding my problem.
Question - is using this Starting Fluid similar in theory to Mike Gerber's carb cleaner in the throttle body suggestion? In other words, do both of these things (starting fluid, carb cleaner) test for the same problem? Thanks
Question - is using this Starting Fluid similar in theory to Mike Gerber's carb cleaner in the throttle body suggestion? In other words, do both of these things (starting fluid, carb cleaner) test for the same problem? Thanks
I always recommend carb cleaner because it is less volatile than starting fluid. In the old days of carburated engines, the engine could backfire when attmepting to start it, shooting flames up and out of the carburator. It would be a bit scarey when that happened. In addition, people are more likely to have some carb cleaner around than they are starting fluid. Either will work.
You have probably ruled out the fuel pump, but I would still try the procedure of spraying some carb cleaner in to the throttle body. This only takes a 10MM wrench to loosen the clamp, some spray carb cleaner and about 5 minutes.
Mike Gerber, you are the man. After trying this, it sputtered quite a bit but managed to start. I let it idle (which it did perfectly) for about 10 minutes, until it reached normal operating temp. then cut it off. I let it cool for about 20 minutes, and then tried to start it again, just to find the original issue: cranking but no starting. I'm on my way to Advance to pick up a new fuel filter and try to borrow a fuel pressure gauge. Any more suggestions on my dilemma now that there's some new clues to consider?
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After trying this, it sputtered quite a bit but managed to start. I let it idle (which it did perfectly) for about 10 minutes, until it reached normal operating temp. then cut it off. I let it cool for about 20 minutes, and then tried to start it again, just to find the original issue: cranking but no starting. I'm on my way to Advance to pick up a new fuel filter and try to borrow a fuel pressure gauge. Any more suggestions on my dilemma now that there's some new clues to consider?
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