95 Tercel turns but won't start! Help please. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

angelarenee · 04-27-2010, 09:41 PM

My 95 toyota tercel dx won't start. The temperature gauge sensor says that it is overheating, but it's not. The fan comes on after I turn off the car. My car has a slight oil leak, but it has oil and no water leaks. My dad thinks it's electrical because my battery is working, it's just it's not turning all the way over. Any suggestions on what it could be and how to go about fixing it?

silverhawk · 04-27-2010, 09:55 PM

what do you mean the battery is working? Do you know the voltage coming off of it? Did you try jump starting it? Maybe dad doesn't want you to go anywhere tonight

angelarenee · 04-27-2010, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverhawk

what do you mean the battery is working? Do you know the voltage coming off of it? Did you try jump starting it? Maybe dad doesn't want you to go anywhere tonight

The battery isn't dead. People might assume that could be the problem, but it's not. The lights radio and headlights go on. We tried jump starting it, but it wouldn't work. My dad thinks it might be electrical. Because the temperature gauge keeps going up even when I turn off the car and then the fan goes on and it's not even overheating.

THA REAPER · 04-28-2010, 01:46 AM

check to see if your ecu is still working that happend to me once i could not
figure out the problem i checked the ecu and it was fried that may be or may
not be your problem just offering frendly ad vice

***Tercel GTS*** · 04-28-2010, 02:39 AM

Is the starter turning the engine?

angelarenee · 04-28-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THA REAPER

check to see if your ecu is still working that happend to me once i could not
figure out the problem i checked the ecu and it was fried that may be or may
not be your problem just offering frendly ad vice

Ok thank you. I will do that. I'm pretty sure it's electrical because the temperature gauge is all wacked out and going up when it's not even overheating and the fan goes on like it's overheating when it's not. So yeah. thanks though(:

angelarenee · 04-28-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tercel GTS

Is the starter turning the engine?

Yeah it's turning over, but not firing.

bkftl · 04-28-2010, 09:09 PM

BEFORE U SPENDS any money, go buy a 10-15$ electric tester. It will allow u to check ur battery, ECU and I think that temperature sensor. Fan turning on is normal, and if it does i think ur ECU is fine, its just the temp sensor. Check it.

Does anyone agree with my hypothesis?

>>>If u take car to a mechanic or borrow a hand held tester, it will show what the problem is by giving a code. Thats usualy free... I think autozone and stores like that usualy have one, i heard they can let u borrow it for a few min.

I have a 1996 Tercel guide i will be able to tell u ERROR code = What the problem is. But i need code

Last I checked those code readers are around 65$... I personaly just pray my car workds every day... If u can afford it its great. Make sure its compatable with a toyota tercel though.

>Pull out sparkplugs, they might be FLOODED. Especialy if u keep on adding OIL...

Then maybe Replace temp sensor? Its only reason it would show overheat i think. Are ur sparkplugs controlled by ECU or that distributor spinning thing? Might be distributer... It could be that or maybe wires from sparkplugs are bad ? It might be simply a fuse gone bad...

Could also be timing belt, maybe ur timing is off? Check that too

I cant think of anything else...

***96paseo*** · 04-28-2010, 11:22 PM

If it turns over, the battery and starter are likely not an issue. You first priority is to determine whether or not you have fuel and spark. A bad ECU is unlikely. Save that idea for later on in the troubleshooting process. You can check for fuel pressure by loosening the banjo on top of the fuel filter. Put a towel or rag around it. Turn the key to "ON" for a second then turn it off. If gas sprayed onto the rag, your pump is working. To check for spark, remove a spark plug from either cylinder 1 or 2. Re-attach to the plug wire and hold it against the motor lift hook or valve cover. Have someone crank the engine and watch for spark. Is your check engine light on? How many miles on it? A bad temp sending unit could cause your gauge to go crazy like that. Try removing the connector and see if it goes back down to the bottom. Is the temp gauge and fan doing this when the car is cold or right after you've driven it?

***Tercel GTS*** · 04-29-2010, 04:25 PM

First thing is check all the fuses both under hood and under instrument panel. After that see if it has spark by pulling a plug wire, attach a spare plug and ground the threaded area, then have someone spin the engine while you watch for spark. Get back with us after those 2 tests.

angelarenee · 04-30-2010, 11:55 PM

Yeah thanks for all the suggestions. We're going to check the spark plugs to see if their the problem and I will get back to you guys to let you know what happened.
What's weird is when this first happened, it would not start at all. Then after my dad arrived home, it started and I drove around the neighborhood and it was fine. Then I turned it off and started washing it, turned it back on to pick up my friend and it would not start and hasn't started since.