***I am sorry this is so long but hear me out***
So 3 weeks before xmas I bought my mom a 1990 Celica gt 2.2 (5SFE) with a blown motor for $500. To replace her 1993 Celica 1.6 (4AFE), which was on its last legs and ready for the boneyard. I figured me (Nissan guy) and my buddy (Honda guy) can have this thing ready to go for mom by xmas.
So, after doing some research, and feeling stupid, I learned how diff the motors are...and found a used/rebuilt 5sfe from a 92 camry (for $750).
So, we swapped it in.
It was done right around xmas and, guess what.....it started up. 3 times.
I never ran it for more than 3min since there was a noise that I was not super concerned about but was too tired to diagnose that night.
So, I came back the next day ready to test drive and...no start.
So we checked to hear the fuel pump running. Didn't hear it. (I now know these motors do not prime before start) So we took the fuel pump from moms car (the menace) after we scrapped it, fig. we had what we needed.
So we put in the pump....and no start. Relay is working. We got fuel.
So we checked for spark. No spark.
Checked all fuses, they are ALL fine.
So we bought a new ign coil. No spark.
So we swapped the distributor from the Camry motor (internal coil) re wired it and...no spark.
So we bought a coil for for it. No spark.
So we checked our wiring, found some broken wires near the large plug on dist....fixed it....no spark.
So we tested the Camry distributor (internal coil) and its good, and so are the wires.
So we got an igniter - OEM that was tested and good...put it in, and you guessed it.....no spark.
So here I am, damn near in Feb, and still trying to get this thing running...AGAIN.
My buddy says IGN switch, wiring, or ECM - "it can be nothing else"
I know that that is basically true, but I feel like we are overlooking something...and sort of like we are going in the wrong direction everytime we change something. It ran 3x with the original factory setup. We have no spark since we changed coil style, but we had no spark before that.
I don't think it should prevent it from starting. We are nearly defeated.
Please Yota Masters, help me out so I can get mom rolling again...
Thanks - Nismocat
Well, are you getting power, ground, pulsing ground, etc at the distributor?
Well, we are getting power at the small plug on the back of the connector (from ignitor)
Nothing at the big plug on the front.
We haven't checked for pulsating power at the coil yet.
If there is no power at the coil - is that an indication of a bad ecm?
Or, if there is power - is that an indication of a good ecm?
We know the other components are good: Ignitor, coil, dizzy, wires, plugs etc.
We don't know about ecm...we were thinking it may have jumped timing - but I don't think it could have jumped far enough to not start at all just from running 3x. Maybe I am wrong.
I will check the coil for pulsating power...and the wiring we did to make sure we have that part eliminated.
I know we are getting close to having it right...its gonna be something stupid.
Let me say this I am no toy. tech But if you car jumped time the ECM may may stop the spark to protect it's self so check crank and cam timing first IMHO
How did you check that there was no spark? You seem pretty knowledgeable so it is doubtful that you are wrong about there being no spark but what I usually do is take the spark plugs out of the engine (while still connected) and hold them about 2mm from the engine block to see if there is a spark. If there is it will spark on the engine block, which is very noticeable. Just don't do it too close to the battery lol
Let me say this I am no toy. tech But if you car jumped time the ECM may may stop the spark to protect it's self so check crank and cam timing first IMHO
Same here, I am not really into Yotas, but this should be kind of simple. I haven't checked the timing yet. I know the ecm is def controlling the spark, and it makes sense if it jumped timing why there would be no spark. I know with my Nissan if it is off timing it will still run - just like shit. The ecm will try to advance the timing to make it run better. I suppose toyota ecms could be different in that respect.
How did you check that there was no spark? You seem pretty knowledgeable so it is doubtful that you are wrong about there being no spark but what I usually do is take the spark plugs out of the engine (while still connected) and hold them about 2mm from the engine block to see if there is a spark. If there is it will spark on the engine block, which is very noticeable. Just don't do it too close to the battery lol
Oh yeah, we tested for spark by the plug on block method, we stuck a test light on the wire contact point, AND tested the connectors on the dizz, and one is not getting power so -- def no spark.
I am going to test the wire for voltage right as it comes out of the ecm. That will tell me if ecm is sending voltage and its a broken wire in the harness. I will check timing by compression test - which I am starting to think may be the problem. If timing isn't off, and there is no voltage coming from ecm into dizzy wire, then it has to be bad ecm.
Someone tell me if there is a flaw in my logic plz!
Well, now there is a new dizzy, ign and cam timing are correct, we have fuel and spark.
And it still won't start, without abusing the starter.
It makes horrific noises when trying to start.
If it actually does start, it will not idle and will stay running only above 2k.
The one thing that is still not hooked up at all is the cold start injector, but from what I understand it will not cause this problem.
But I plan on swapping plenums back over and hooking up the cold start inj and seeing if there is any change.
It started and ran great 3x for a total of a few min each time before I shut it off. That was in mid-winter in a garage that was much colder than the one it is in now. No cold start inj, in cold weather = starts fine.
Since then it has been nothing but more problems and fewer answers.
Anybody have any ideas??
Well, are you getting power, ground, pulsing ground, etc at the distributor?
Yes, there is pulse and now we have spark and fuel...but it runs like shit, barely starts and will not idle for more than a few seconds. Timing is good on cams and dist...no one knows what to with it.
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Moms xmas present still won't start
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