90 Corolla dies and wont start! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Santiagojimbee · 11-16-2004, 05:25 PM

Help! I have read through all posts concerning starting problems. Lots of good info, however...I have a 90 corolla with a 4fe. While driving the car it shuddered and quit. Dist cap had some corrosion. Replaced the cap, rotor, wires and plugs. Starter and coil were replaced about 9mos ago. Good spark to all plugs. Checked the timing belt and it's in good shape. Marks align at TDC for #1. When attempting to start the motor turns over at the normal speed, but won't start. After attempting to sstart you can hear the fuel pump rebuilding the pressure in the fuel line.

I'm out of ideas! Any help would be greatly appreciated. I attempted to download codes to no avail. The battery ahd died so I think all had been lost if there were any. There was some recent exhaust work done, a muffler was replaced, but I think that is insignificant.

Thanks for any input. I'm off now to clean the IAC valve.

CCTF · 11-16-2004, 06:16 PM

We have an 89 that wouldn't start without a tow. Was getting spark and fuel. Turned out that although it was getting spark it wasn't hot enough. Suggest new coil.

Santiagojimbee · 11-16-2004, 07:25 PM

I just replaced the coil. It was built into the starter when I replaced it 9mos ago. Also, I have removed the throttle body and I can't find the IAC. I have a manual and thought I knew where it was. There is one on the 4A FE isn't there? The throttle body is in good shape and the TPS reacts accocrdingly to the Ohm meter.

I bought a fuel pressure guage, but there is no port on the fuel rail. How would I check the fuel pressure?

Thanks.

J

TekPhobia · 11-16-2004, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Santiagojimbee
I just replaced the coil. It was built into the starter when I replaced it 9mos ago. Also, I have removed the throttle body and I can't find the IAC. I have a manual and thought I knew where it was. There is one on the 4A FE isn't there? The throttle body is in good shape and the TPS reacts accocrdingly to the Ohm meter.

I bought a fuel pressure guage, but there is no port on the fuel rail. How would I check the fuel pressure?

Thanks.

J

Well, you got spark...so that's 1 part of the triangle. Do you have fuel? You can tell by smelling the plugs.

An interesting thing you can try, though slightly dangerous, is to rest the plugs (still attached to the wires) over the holes. Then, crank the engine. You should get some nice fire plumes if everything is kosher.

I think you're going down the wrong track by digging into the TB and IAC. FYI, the IAC is on the passenger's side of the intake manifold plenum. A little blue fella with a vac hose.

-Tim

Santiagojimbee · 11-16-2004, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the quick responses. Yes the plugs smell like fuel. So I guess I shouldn't pull the fuel filter then? I do see the little blue fella, but it strangely looks nothing like the diagram in the manual.

If that's the case, then where should I turn next? I'm close to donating the car as is! I hate to since we just spent a few hundred bucks on plugs wires, starter, etc..

Thanks,

Jim

cobrajet25 · 11-16-2004, 10:45 PM

You had an ignition coil built into the starter? It really sounds like this thing has jumped time or something...I'd make absolutely sure you don't have a broken timing belt or something. It is possible that you have had the t-belt tensioner slip or fail or something...this would allow the timing belt to maintain some tension while you are hand-cranking it (maybe enough to make you think all is well), but not enough for the engine to run. Normally when you have a problem like that appear suddenly, it is timing belt related. If you are getting a spark and getting fuel to the cylinders, it is probably either ignition or valve timing. Just because you hear the fule pump doesn't mean the pump is building adequate pressure. Good luck Regards, Aaron

Santiagojimbee · 11-17-2004, 06:42 AM

Yeah, the coil is built into the same unit as the starter. It's the craziest thing I have ever seen. Then thay mounted it on the back of the block between the engine and the firewall! I was going to rebuild, but the rebuild kit was more than the price of the one already put together form Autozone. I'll try to rig a way to check the fuel pressure.

I took the cover off of the timing belt and turned the engine over to TDC. The timing marks lined up on the gears and the timing mark aligned at the center of the guide on the flywheel. If the fuel press doesn't check, I guess I can double check the timing belt.

Thanks again for the responses.

Jim

Santiagojimbee · 11-17-2004, 07:40 PM

Well...............I checked the fuel pressure, cleaned out the throttle body and all conections and it still won't start. So tomorrow I'm off to recheck the timing. Any ideas would be helpful!

Thanks,

Jim

Santiagojimbee · 11-18-2004, 01:31 PM

I think my timing is lined up correctly. I will try to upload some pics. I have the top timing cover off. I have rotated the engine to TDC and have aligned the marks on the flywheel. The timing mark on the lower flywheel aligns with the timing mark arrow that sits over the flywheel. Is this correct? If it is I don't want to go through the trouble of changing the timing belt if it's not needed.

I can't seem to get my pics to a small enough size to upload. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jim