Newbie needs help, no spark - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Geoman69 · 09-08-2004, 03:49 PM

I have a 93 Prizm aka Corolla with 180k that I have never had trouble with until recently. It died while driving and no longer starts. It turns over but does not fire. I first thought it was the fuel pump, but after changing that out with no luck I realized there was no spark. So far I've tried a new ignitor and even a completely different dizzy with no luck. I've heard it could be the ECM, but am skeptical. Do they usually go out? I'd appreciate any ideas or tests as I need to get this thing back on the road asap. Thanks...

Geoman69 · 09-08-2004, 03:59 PM

By the way, it is a 1.8l.

reym · 09-09-2004, 03:08 AM

is it carbed or fuel injected?

Geoman69 · 09-09-2004, 01:15 PM

Fuel injected.

Pineapple · 09-09-2004, 01:19 PM

1.8 is 7A-FE.
Try coil if its external.

MississaugaGTS · 09-09-2004, 01:24 PM

Check Your timing belt! I had the same problem....roll over with no spark. I tried a new ECU and ignitor with no luck. Then I checked the cap & rotor and with the cap removed I had a buddy hit the starter but the rotor didn't move. That's when I checked the timing belt!

toyotaspeed90 · 09-09-2004, 01:36 PM

coil is internal on the 7afe..... if he got an entire new dizzy...... which has the coil and the ignitor internally..... along with the magnetic pickups.... then he either has a wire severed to the ecu from the ignitor, a bad ecu, or even possibly a bad cap (if the carbon button for the coil came out, then it won't work)

Geoman69 · 09-09-2004, 01:50 PM

Thanks for all of the suggestions. The dizzy that I got was actually a used one that I was told was completely functional. I didn't even think to check whether the rotor was spinning, so I'll do that. Is the carbon button the one in the center of the cap?

toyotaspeed90 · 09-09-2004, 04:46 PM

yes, it's the black button in the center of the cap..... but there should be a lead over on the coil side as well

Geoman69 · 09-09-2004, 06:36 PM

Button and lead seem to be intact, and the rotor does in fact spin. So is it likely the ECM, or is there anything else I should check? I just want to be sure before shelling out so much money! Thanks guys...

Geoman69 · 09-11-2004, 09:34 PM

Went to a million junkyards today looking for and ECU and came back empty handed! Talk about hard to find. Any recommendations?

Geoman69 · 09-16-2004, 01:04 AM

Just wanted to bump this one last time in the off chance that anyone had any final suggestions. Thanks...