It sounds like it's a distributor failure. The coil inside heats up and ceases to function. Check out this thread: https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/list-of-confirmed-distributor-at-fault-issues.1239322/

About the VSS, that might also be a speedometer issue.

 

Thanks for the input..... unfortunately, ( or fortunately) the distributer has already been repalced. Looks almost new. In fact whomever owned the car before, was trying to maintain it, and had taken it to a fairly competent mechanic, as it has had several parts replaced, new radiator, alternator, belts, distrlibutor, etc. Was running fine. I came back (was off island) for a few weeks, and let someone use it, So it was out of gas, I put some gas in it, and started it up, let it idle for maybe 20 min. and was fine, Then the car died, and ever since, It starts right up, but dies within 3-4 minutes of running/warming up. I know it is something pretty simple, but just can't figure it out. These cars for the year, just don't seem that complicated?

Yes, as for the speedo, have seen a few writeups, on them. I did take the speedo out, and swap it, ( still didn't work) also replaced the VSS sensor, and then and aftermarket plug, ( which I spliced in) and it still isn't working. Funny thing is that I wasn't getting a VSS code originally , just showed up after I noticed that it was stalling, even though I had a non working speedometer and was aware of it. I am not really too concerned about the speedometer "working" as I live on Maui, and well,....... you just seem to go one speed on th\is island nowadays. 35-45, occassionally you get to 55 and get all giddy, then back to the ususal. We have lots of tourists, and still 80% 2 lane roads.

 

Yeah that's part of the problem. Read the linked thread, most of the distributor failures are aftermarket distributors. Even new out of the box they do not work right.

Could be something else but this is extremely common at this age.

 

OK thanks, will read the thread completely and see if I can test it, and get some feedback, thanks

 

Ordered a new dist. coil, and will install that and see if it makes any diff. Thanks

 

OK, well, starting to get ticked, as the car has been sitting for a while. Installed the new coil, and again, car starts instantly. It idles fine....for about 4 min. Then the engine dies. If you start it back up, the engine light is flickering on and off, and the engine is running rough. You can keep it running by pumping the gas, but as soon as you let off. Car dies, Let it sit for 45 min. and it will do the same thing.
I guess I can jump (the wires) again and look for a code, but last time it did not produce any? Been a few months now, of working on this car, intermittently, and still haven't figured out whats going on. BUT, its not a bad coil, as swapped it, and the Distributor looks brand new.

OK, after doing a bit more reading. I am sure I have it figured out. It has to be the "Crankcase Position Sensor" as it totally makes sense. I have had the same problem with my 6.0 diesel. Engine runs fine, shuts off , after it cools it starts again. Does this for a while, then , eventually might not start at all. W/O going into all the details. Dirt and Oil get on the end of the sensor over time. As the engine is warming up, the distance off the end of the sensor (magnet) gets just far enough off the crank, millimeters? with the oil and dirt, shuts the car down. Exactly the problem w/ my diesel . So ordered one, and will have it in a few days. Can't sense the position of the crank, shuts off the spark, engine dies.
Someone should do a sticky on this, as I must have read 20 threads where everyone is complaining about the same symptoms. This has to be it.

 

Was that it because I'm the same issues.. before it dies the CEL will flicker on them off a couple quick times then die. .. sometimes if I downshift(I have Manuel)I can stop it from dieing but really i think im just pip atarting the damn thing. I too replaced the vss and the distributor. Although it did have a crack so that was helpful but not the problem.

 

Sorry Jamie, if this is late, I have NOT changed it yet, It is still sitting on the passenger seat, and I have been distracted. BUT, had the same issue on 2 other vehicles, (symptoms), and the cam sensor fixed the problem. What happens is that dirt and grease build up on the end of the sensor, (magnet) and it can't read the number 1 cylinder off of the flywheel. So the engine starts and runs.... and after a couple minutes, the engine warms up, and just that little bit of expansion, knocks out the distance (with the dirt and grease) for the sensor to get a signal. and then the computer shuts it down.
Just had the same problem on my F450 diesel, bad cam sensor, and the same problem. Engine would start, be fine, and as it warmed up, would just die, wait a couple minutes starts back up, dies again. New cam sensor, runs good.

 

Thank you for responding... It just did it to me and I'm stuck at the store... Is there a way to clean the cam shaft and if so where the heck is this thing?

 

So it just did it to me and I'm stuck at the store... Is there a way to clean the cam shaft and if so where the heck is this thing?

 

No shortcuts to solving the problem. the sensor is a magnet on the end of a 6" extension, which is located underneath the flywheel. You can look it up on Utube, toyota cam sensor 1.6. You might get the car to start again once it cools down, but it will keep happening. Eventually, it will not start at all. If you aren't going to buy and OEM sensor, makes sure it is of good quality, as I have heard the cheap sensors can contribute to inconsistencies, and or I am sure you could find a used OEM sensor at a junk yard for cheap. Just one of those things. Once you know what the problem is , ( cam sensor) you can pick up a lot of cars for cheap, as I must have seen about 10 cars, (toyota camry's, corolla's, etc. where they describe the same systems, and just want to get rid of the car. Took me a long time to figure out, as it doesn't always throw a code that lets you figure it out, (unless you have one of those 5K diagnostic tools) and even then , these are older cars, and don't have the newer OBD diagnostics.

 

Its as sensor, it is reading TDC off of the flywheel at the bottom of the engine, not.... the cam, and no, you can't use simple green to whip it into shape.

 

Do you have an update? Was it the crank position sensor?