Car ran horribly now wont start

About 1k miles ago I got new rotor, cap, wires and plugs also did the VC gasket and tube gaskets. Unfortunately the plug wires came without retaining caps so my wires popped off once in a while. I figure I could keep driving the car until I can find them.

Twice now while going up a steep hill the plug wire came off and I did not notice it until I got to the top of the hill and let off the gas. The car runs horribly, so I put the wire back and it kept running as if though it was only on 3 cyl it eventually got better after an hour or so.

The 2nd time I wasn't so lucky but I could afford to sit by the side of the road since I was out of town so I kept driving it. Eventually about 20 miles later I pulled off to grab ad bite and let the car rest. When I was finished about an hour later the car wouldn't start. Next day got it towed and it still won't start.

Last time it was doing this the new cap/rotor fixed this but I think it may be more serious this time. Any idea what this could be caused by? I haven't done anything to it since it was towed and don't really feel like spending more money until I can be somewhat sure it will fix the problem (spent over $500 on the car last month alone just in parts).

When your wires popped off did more than one come loose and did you make sure you reconnected in the correct position? Retrace wires for proper firing order. That's all I can think of right now without some basic troubleshooting info from you. You're going to have to do some tracing/testing.

I too think that you might have put them in the wrong order.

I too think that you might have put them in the wrong order.

Only one wire popped off.


Here is the funny part, I was leaving somewhere and needed to grab something out of the camry, for shits and giggles decided to start it. Bam, started right up. After it idles perfectly I kill it because I was in a rush. I come back and it won't start again :(

Ok, barely started the car had to crank it for about 30 seconds, ran ok at first, when it warmed up it would start dying if I gave it more than 1/2 throttle but then if I back off a bit and give it more it would run up right to the redline at full throttle.

Got back after 15 minutes of driving around and tried to give it some gas at idle and it would die. Seems like it ran like this before but it fixed it self. I'm going to let it cool but chances are it won't start without some serious effort.

It sounds like you have another problem coincidental and unrelated to the plug wire. First guess would be the coil. Are you getting a good spark when you are having trouble starting?

It sounds like you have another problem coincidental and unrelated to the plug wire. First guess would be the coil. Are you getting a good spark when you are having trouble starting?

I will check later today.

BTW, I tore apart the ignition components and cap and wires looked fine but the leads on the cap were covered by white dusts. Not sure if it has anything to do with anything. Also, the problem is progressing/evolving. I can start the car consistantly with some trouble, will idle great, stumbles between idle and 3k rpm, between 3 and 5 it's great and then won't even hit the rev limiter. Just stays at 5600 to 5800rpm.

Did you clean that stuff off the contacts? My friend had the same problem and his wires seemed ok. But I later found out that when he checked them, they seperated and the metal contacts stuck on the plug ruining the wires. It seemed like they were fine until we changed them. Started up like nothing happened.

if it ran horribly, why didnt u bring it in to a shop?

I will check later today.

BTW, I tore apart the ignition components and cap and wires looked fine but the leads on the cap were covered by white dusts. Not sure if it has anything to do with anything. Also, the problem is progressing/evolving. I can start the car consistantly with some trouble, will idle great, stumbles between idle and 3k rpm, between 3 and 5 it's great and then won't even hit the rev limiter. Just stays at 5600 to 5800rpm.

There shouldn't be any dust or anything else on the interior cap electrodes. If they are not clean and shiny, the secondary coil voltage will not be getting to the spark plugs like it should. Maybe you should buy a new distributor cap ... a different brand, or one of better quality materials.

if it ran horribly, why didnt u bring it in to a shop?

I've owned 5 cars and none of them have ever been to a shop (timing belt, clutch, engine replacement). I do all the work my self.

Did you clean that stuff off the contacts? My friend had the same problem and his wires seemed ok. But I later found out that when he checked them, they seperated and the metal contacts stuck on the plug ruining the wires. It seemed like they were fine until we changed them. Started up like nothing happened.

Cleaned them, wires are NGK with less than 1000 miles on them.

I've owned 5 cars and none of them have ever been to a shop (timing belt, clutch, engine replacement). I do all the work my self.

theres ur first mistake

if its running "horribly" then obviously youre not takin care of it well, therefore u should take it to a shop and you wouldnt be in this position ...

theres ur first mistake

if its running "horribly" then obviously youre not takin care of it well, therefore u should take it to a shop and you wouldnt be in this position ...

So your advice is to spend $500 to fix a $100 problem? Noted, but I'll wait for somebody who knows what they're talking about to chime in.

A bad ignition wire from the coil to the distributor cap can cause hard or no start problems.

If the car does not start again, remove the coil wire from the cap and check for spark. If spark, try a spark plug wire. If the plugs are getting spark, then the problem is elsewhere.

The link below provides access to Gen 3 service info:

http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry (http://oregonstate.edu/%7Etongt/camry)

my mechanic's never charged me $500 for an issue this small ... maybe u need to find a real mechanic?

if you didnt buy OEM parts, then nobody's going to know how to solve your problem - anything along the start-up/ignition system could be at fault ... who's to know what condition they are in, or what quality they are if not straight from the dealership

I think I am chasing the same problem. have you ohm checked the ne- and ne+ terminals and the g- and g+ terminals on the distributor? I think the spark voltage backs up through the distributor and harness to the ecu when run with a plug wire off, my next step after plugs, wires, coil distributor is the ecu. My car is throwing a code 12.
Don't listen to those "take it to the shop" guys, good luck.

I think I am chasing the same problem. have you ohm checked the ne- and ne+ terminals and the g- and g+ terminals on the distributor? I think the spark voltage backs up through the distributor and harness to the ecu when run with a plug wire off, my next step after plugs, wires, coil distributor is the ecu. My car is throwing a code 12.
Don't listen to those "take it to the shop" guys, good luck.

Turned out to be my igniter coil, $44.99 later the car started on the first crank. Had to pull out the distributor. Before you start get a distributor O-ring and a cap seal (rubber gasket that goes around the distributor cap) and have some RTV available.

I'll upload some pictures as soon as I find the USB cable for my camera.

my mechanic's never charged me $500 for an issue this small ... maybe u need to find a real mechanic?

if you didnt buy OEM parts, then nobody's going to know how to solve your problem - anything along the start-up/ignition system could be at fault ... who's to know what condition they are in, or what quality they are if not straight from the dealership

I'm not sure why you're even in this thread. You can't even turn a wrench on your own car and you came here giving "advice" about my car running "horribly".

rofl, i cant turn a wrench?

i work on my car probably 5 hrs a day ... i think i can turn a wrench

youre a noob with 24 posts, i suggest you learn what youre talking about before you open your ignorant mouth ...

like i said before, i have yet to run across anything where i screw my car up and then it gets even worse magically - so i think im better off than you right about now

rofl, i cant turn a wrench?

i work on my car probably 5 hrs a day ... i think i can turn a wrench

youre a noob with 24 posts, i suggest you learn what youre talking about before you open your ignorant mouth ...

like i said before, i have yet to run across anything where i screw my car up and then it gets even worse magically - so i think im better off than you right about now

5 hours a day and yet you're driving a Camry with an intake... Trying to figure out where that last screw goes from when you replaced your airbox? My post count has nothing to do with not being able to supply any useful advice. I'm glad you've taken to insulting my failed ignition coil, but since you've just succesfully read Cat In the Hat from cover to cover for the first time, I'll repeat my self in words you can understand, the car runs great now.

for some reason i doubt a car in your hands can run "great"

ill take that as "it starts more than twice in a row now" .... good job :thumbup: