2000 no fuel or spark after sudden stop, mechanics can't figure it out - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ChrisInVT · 12-29-2011, 04:16 PM

Alright, so my friend is having this strange issue with his car. It's a 2000 Chevy Prizm so it's basically a rebadged Corolla. He was driving through town when someone walked out in front of him, when he slammed on the brakes the car died and wouldn't start up again. He pushed it over to the side of the road, let it sit for a few minutes, and it started and went on it's merry way. A few days later it died after he hit a bump, same issue - started after sitting for a while. A few days after that, he shut it off in a parking lot, came back out to leave, and nothing.

Had it towed to a mechanic that had it for two weeks and couldn't figure it out. He then had it towed to another mechanic that's had it for three weeks, and they too have given up on it. I told him to have it towed to my shop and I'll check it out for him. I'm unsure what the mechanics have done for troubleshooting, but both have said the same thing. There's no fuel or spark. The fuel pump isn't getting any power at all.

Do these cars have an inertia switch, because that's what it really sounds like to me. I'm going to go over the whole car and check the usual, relays, fuses, grounds, sensors, battery, etc. I'm going to have him pick up a repair manual so I can at least have a wiring schematic because I haven't been able to find anything online.

Anyone have a similar problem before? I've had this EXACT issue with my '89 Toyota HiLux box truck, and it ended up being my girlfriend kicked the side panel JUST right and the computer got unplugged!

pdq · 12-29-2011, 08:04 PM

I'm not aware of an inertia switch.

Is it cranking over but won't start? I'd check continuity on all the fuses.

Also, my car has a security alarm that when alarmed will cut off power to the fuel pump until it is disarmed. They installed some wiring on the left kick panel under the dash.

leakyseals · 12-29-2011, 08:09 PM

Only one I have experienced was an immobilizer issue. Turned over, no spark, no fuel. Somehow the ignition switch was damaged so the key wasn't recognized.

ChrisInVT · 12-30-2011, 07:36 AM

No inertia switch? That might put a damper on things. There's no alarm of any type installed in the car, it's completely bone stock old-lady owned.

It's just too much of a coincidence that it's getting no fuel or spark after a hard stop.

leakyseals · 12-30-2011, 07:55 AM

What can move slamming on breaks, running over potholes, etc. Seen a lot of sloppy battery installs moving around, wreck the ground connections. Follow the harness with a voltmeter. Sounds like a driver that could run over something.

leakyseals · 12-30-2011, 07:58 AM

Surprised the ECU is not complaining. No codes?

ChrisInVT · 12-30-2011, 08:00 AM

Haven't gotten the car yet to put it on a scan tool. I'm sure by now the prevoous two mechanics cleared any or disconnected the battery.

1jzdreamer · 01-03-2012, 05:05 PM

Weirdest thing I have come across was a loose main harness that caused intermittent issues.

ChrisInVT · 01-04-2012, 07:31 AM

Yeah, I have to grasp at all the straws I can before it ends up using valuable shop space

ChrisInVT · 05-28-2012, 11:17 AM

Alright, so it took forever but I have the car at my place. I didn't mess with it too much, but I plugged it onto my OBD-II scanner and I keep getting a link error. Since there's no spark, fuel, and the computer isn't communicating I'm thinking it's either unplugged, the wiring is corroded, or it's just plain bad.

Where does the ECU hide in this car?

***zythr*** · 05-28-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisInVT

Alright, so it took forever but I have the car at my place. I didn't mess with it too much, but I plugged it onto my OBD-II scanner and I keep getting a link error. Since there's no spark, fuel, and the computer isn't communicating I'm thinking it's either unplugged, the wiring is corroded, or it's just plain bad.

Where does the ECU hide in this car?

Either the driver's side area, under the front seats or more likely, around the glovebox area (probably behind it)

ChrisInVT · 05-28-2012, 05:38 PM

Well I found it, was mounted in the center console under the radio. Had to remove the lower dash panels, center console, radio & HVAC just to get there (God I love Toyota).

Unfortunately it was plugged in and re-seating the connection did nothing. Checked all the other connections and none of them were loose or unplugged. Just for kicks I unplugged the computer and checked with the scanner and it failed with the same link error. Tried two scanners and they both have a link error with the ECU plugged in or unplugged. Only difference is the cooling fans kick on when the ECU is unplugged.

Checked every fuse in the car and not a single one was blown. I'm seriously thinking the ECU might be bad but I have no way to be sure without buying one to swap out. Same issue my truck had when my girlfriend unplugged the ECU, crank itself to death but no spark, no fuel and no codes.

landphil · 05-28-2012, 08:04 PM

Did you check all the engine and body ground connections, especially around the battery? And even the main power supply to the power distrubution block? I'd be suspect of a shifting battery that finished off a poor connection. And when you checked fuses, did you find the fuse block behind the little storage drawer to the left of the steering column?

ChrisInVT · 05-29-2012, 12:53 AM

I didn't see anything that jumped out at me, but then again I don't know where all the grounds are and all the wiring runs are located. Yeah, that's the first fuse panel I checked. Didn't even know it was there until I removed the lower dash panel to get to the ECM.