Ignition Problems

[QPerdue123]

Hello I just bought a used Toyota Corolla year 2002. I really need some help because I am stumped. While getting a tune up the guy replaced the spark plugs and a coil pack. After putting the coil packs back on he tried to start the car and bring it around for me to get. The car wouldn't start. Believing that they messed up my car I had it towed to a different shop where I have been working on it with a mechanic. His diagnostic generated a P1300 which is an ignitor circuit malfunction. We have replaced both the ignitor and the ECM and the car was cranking up fine until he started putting stuff back together on the inside of the car such as wires etc. I really need some help because this is so stressful to not know what's going on. My only other thought is that I have a short circuit somewhere. I really don't know where to start looking and any suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks.

P.S. The car cranked up fine everyday until i went for that tune up. Could the people that did the tune up possibly messed up a wire that goes to the coil packs?

[fishexpo101]

Since the car was working prior to bringing it to the shop - likely something happened during the "tune-up" that is causing the issue.

What that could be would depend on what was exactly touched on the car. If they only touched the ignition - then you are looking at four connections to the coil on plug units and the wiring running from the main harness to the coil on plug units.

Visually inspect all the wires and see if there is a short. Kind of weird that a coil on plug unit needed to be replaced the first time around, unless you were having driveability issues. Replacing another coil on plug unit and the ECM - sounds like they are tossing stuff at the car in hopes of fixing it.

Start from the basics - fuel and fire. Check fuel, make sure fuel is getting to the injectors, injectors are spraying fuel when needed, induction system free of any obstructions. Check fire/ignition, make sure you are generating a spark on the coil on plug units (do this with the EFI fuse pulled, so you don't load the cylinders with fuel). Verify timing, verify that cam position sensor is OK, verify MAF sensor and all vacuum lines are good to go.

No sense for you to pull your hair out - should be pretty confident that the first shop screwed up. Have them tow it to a Toyota dealership - have them pay for the diagnostics and all parts/labor. In fact, having you lay your hands on the car could be grounds for you losing this case in court, should that time come.

[QPerdue123]

After having it towed to a new shop, The checked all the basics and have come to the conclusion that there may be a short somewhere. I have not touched this car at all since the day of the tune-up. I haven't been in it at all. Now I just remembered that the old shop i went to for the tune up did not check the spark plugs to see if they were set correctly before putting them in my car. I went and bought the spark plugs myself from an auto parts store in order to save money from having the shop supply them for me. Could them putting the spark plugs on my car without them being set caused all of this trouble?