94 4AFE check engine code 12 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

vanilla · 07-26-2010, 10:14 PM

I bought this car this weekend for my daughter and it runs great, but has a check engine light.

The only stored code is 12. I cleared the codes (verified before restarting), and the code comes back (about 2 seconds after restarting). Here's what I've found about '12':

Quote:

RPM SIGNAL-NO SIGNAL TO ECU FROM DISTRIBUTOR ("Ne" OR "G")
AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN CRANKED
--DISTRIBUTOR/CIRCUIT
--STARTERSIGNAL CIRCUIT
--IGNITER/IGNITER CIRCUIT
--ECU

The exhaust manifold is cracked - I've ordered a new one, but I can't see that causing the code.

The cap/rotor were recently replaced (previous owner), and he says he'd never seen the check engine light before (it wasn't on during the test drive). I don't see any loose connectors or questionable wiring from the distributor, but don't know what to test yet as I don't have a book for this car.

Where should I start? I've got a Chilton's manual on the way. I'm no mechanic, but I have never had a problem with a car that I couldn't fix... eventualy

speedy25 · 07-27-2010, 11:44 AM

Check for a loose/broken wire especially since the previous owner replaced the cap rotor. It could also be a bad distributor.

-SP

vanilla · 07-27-2010, 06:30 PM

I didn't see any damaged wires or connectors, so I took off the cap, rotor, and a plastic cover to find a furry coil. I'm guessing it's the pickup coil but it appears to be integral to the distributor (not sold separately) time for a new distributor - thanks speedy!:

speedy25 · 07-27-2010, 06:56 PM

So which coil did the rotor suck up?

-SP

vanilla · 07-27-2010, 08:13 PM

I think that's the pickup coil - that's the only thing I could imagine being in there. The picture of the replacement distributor doesn't appear to have any exposed coils (the new distributor will be here tomorrow).

vanilla · 07-27-2010, 08:23 PM

I found what I think are parts of the old rotor inside - I'm guessing the previous owner broke the old rotor while trying to get it off & the plastic bits flew around inside until this happened.

Bitter · 07-27-2010, 08:33 PM

strangely, this is not the first set of photos like that I've seen here.

Bitter · 07-27-2010, 08:35 PM

you may want to do something with that upper radiator hose, its almost kinked and should not be like that. cut some off the end going to the radiator to shorten it a little.

Rip The E Brake · 07-28-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

you may want to do something with that upper radiator hose, its almost kinked and should not be like that. cut some off the end going to the radiator to shorten it a little.

Agreed.

vanilla · 07-29-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

you may want to do something with that upper radiator hose, its almost kinked and should not be like that. cut some off the end going to the radiator to shorten it a little.

Done. The radiator was actually out of it's mounts and leaning slightly towards the engine. After securing the radiator, the hose is good.

The check engine light went away with the new dist installed.