I'm out of ideas. What could be the problem?

[viktord1]

I have a 1991 4 cylinder 5 speed camry. It's been in the family for almost 8 years but I've owned it for the past 4. So one day right around the end of September I was really low on gas. I didn't have money to fill it up so I drove back to my house. It made it, I went home and all was well.

The next day I went to start it and it wouldn't budge. I let it crank for a while and it didn't start. Naturally I thought I was out of gas. I walked to the gas station, got 4 gallons, walked back and filled it up. It started for 2 seconds and died again. I was like . After that I tried starting a few more times but it just cranked and didn't fire.

Before than I think around June it started to bog down on acceleration at around 2000-2500rpm so I took it to my mechanic. He did his 200 point check or whatever. He said my distributor was going bad but other than that all was well. It cost $800 to fix it so I passed since the thing still ran.

So anyways it has now been sitting for a few months in the driveway. I have no idea what's wrong with it. People have been telling be to put more gas and try starting it. Well the tank is half full now and it wouldn't start still. And I strongly doubt it's the distributor causing this because it did start for a little bit, and as far as I know if your distributor is crap it won't start at all.

I'm kinda pissed about all of this because it ran like a dream, especially after I put $600 into it to replace shocks all around and a control arm. But now it's just sitting outside my house and I see it begging me to fix it. But I don't know what the hell to do.

What could be wrong with it? Any ideas? Please help me put my baby back on the road!!! I have some nice paintjob plans for it this summer and a set of 17" 150spoke lowrider rims waiting for it if all goes well

[DFBonnett]

Try spraying some starting fluid into the intake. If it tries to start you have a fuel problem. If it doesn't you likely have an ignition problem. If it does appear to be fuel, remove the gas cap and holdyour ear next to the filler neck while someone else turns the key to ON. You should hear the fuel pump spin up then stop. If you hear nothing the fuel pump or associated circuit is likely the culprit. Are you getting spark? Pull a plug wire and hold it near a good ground while someone cranks it over. You should be getting a nice fat blue spark.

[viktord1]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I forgot to mention in the previous post that if I let it sit for a few days and then try to start it, it starts for 2 seconds and dies again, which leads me to believe that in fact it is getting spark. I also thought I could have a fuel problem but kinda thought that wasn't the issue for some reason (I think I can hear the fuel pump from inside the car BTW). But now that you mentioned it I will definitely pop the gas cap off and listen more carefully.

I was thinking about spraying starting fluid that I use to start my bike, but that has carburetors. Is it okay to do this on a fuel injected car?

Cheers

Vik

[toyomoho]

The engine compartment may have a small plastic box labled "Diagnostic." If so open the lid and connect the FP and B+ terminals to bypass the fuel pump circuits. The pump should then run when ever the ign switch is on.

It could be the circuit opening relay for the pump is turning off. The relay needs a signal from the distributor indicating the engine is running to continue to operate the pump.

Also check the MAP sensor.

[viktord1]

So basically connect FP to B+ in the diagnostics port? Sounds simple enough. I'll give it a shot as soon as my battery is charged.

[toyomoho]

Yes, use a section of electrical wire. Pump should then work with ign key on.

[Tom 2000]

Gen2s have a problematic ignition system. Mine was no exception and that was the only real problem that car had.

Typically the coil inside the distributor goes bad after 10+ years. It will usually get very hard to start on rainy days. After the car warms up, it's usually fine.

I would check the coil.

I paid about $80 for the coil from the Toyota dealer about 12 years ago. You need to remove the distributor to remove and replace the coil. It ran fine after that.