[tybeejoe]

I have a 91 camry cyl 5 spd 83,000, year old plugs, wires, cap and rotor I started my car to defrost the windows and went back in the house. I came back out and it quit running. I tried starting it again and it would try to start but just wouldnt keep running. The gas pedal does nothing to it once it starts to run. Throttle position sensor maybe? Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Let's review.

It started, ran, and quit.

It will start again, and then quit again.

I would begin by pulling codes.

Have you ever changed the fuel filter?

Actully it wants to start sometimes, but sometimes it just cranks and cranks with no hint of starting. And not sure on filter ive only owned it a year. I just parked it last night and didnt have any problems with it since ive owned it. Not sure how to pull codes, but ill try that next. Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

try reconnecting the plug going into your AFM, it could have come lose and if there's no connection the engine will start but it won't accelerate and it won't keep running for long, which is what you're describing.

it's the one near your air filter.

Tried that too but no luck, Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Thanks guys, Ill try that tomorrow. Theres alot of snow where its parked so its not going to be fun to work on.

 

[tybeejoe]

Yikes, I just realized your data block says "Denver."

Watch out for those avalanches!

LOL, Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Put Jumper (paper clip) between B+ and Fp terminals inside the diag. box. Try to start the car after that.If it starts and keeps running, check the items suggested above. If the car does not start, make sure that power is coming to the fuel pump.

Just went outside to try it and it still wouldnt start or run. I will try to check for power tomorrow. Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Codes:

http://oregonstate.edu/~tongt/camry/

Click on the link for the car (top link)

Scroll down to "EFI"

Scroll to page 23 of the pdf file.

In the same online manual, there is a process for checking fuel pressure. I always check fuel volume as well, looking for a minimum of one pint of fuel pumped in a maximum of 30 seconds.

Do you have a consistent, strong spark? Also I for got to mention that I think I need a new starter because sometimes I can hear the relay clicking but the starter doesnt turn over. So I have to push in the clutch a couple times before it turns over. This only happened a couple times in the last 2 months, but today its happening every time I try to start it. Could this be a relay issue or just another problem, is there more then 1 circuit runing through the relay?

Read some of the posts here on the site in the general camry discussion and the Gen 1&2 forums concerning starting and running.

Ok , I got 2 codes a 12 and a 43. Also when I tried to start it in the last 2 months I could hear the relay click under the dash but no starter action, this only happened about 2 time though. I just thought I needed a starter. But today every time I try to start it it did it so I had to push in the clutch a couple times to get it to turnover. Could both these problems be a relay problem? Is there more then 1 circuit in the starter relay? Also I tried to search for similar posts but it came back with alot of irrelavant posts. Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Pages 26 and 27 will help you narrow it down.

Thanks, saw that but wanted to post my findings just in case anyone had more input.

 

[tybeejoe]

Went out this morning and tried to start it just to see and it fired right up, so moved it into the garage so I could work on it where its warm. So it will probably be tougher to troubleshoot if it working.

 

[tybeejoe]

There is no more challenging failure than an intermittent failure.

Sometimes, throublshooting the problem means installing an exhaust hose on the tailpipe (carbon monoxide kills) and warming the engine until the problem returns. Sometimes, it's a test drive.

There is some anecdotal evidence about coil failures on the Gen 2 camry, but you can't count on that right now. Just run the diags from the manuals and see what results you get after you re-create the failure.

Thats the truth, thanks for your input. Maybe ill just replace the starter and coil anyways. Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Thanks, itsbeen snowy out for the last couple weeks. And since Ive been having problems with the starter anyways I figured id replace it.

 

[tybeejoe]

Most people use the expression "wants to start" to indicate that there are brief periods during cranking when the crank speed increases as the engine fires a cylinder partially and inefficiently, as opposed to an unchanging sound of even cranking with no sense of producing any power in the cylinders.

Does that help?

It's like referring to airplanes and ships as "she," a typical anthropomorphizing of an inanimate object.

Thanks timebuilder, thats exactly what I meant. Though I did have a good laugh with that post. I didnt mess with it last night but I tried to start it and of course it started no problem. Ill mess with it this weekend. Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Update

Ok its been running great for almost 2 weeks. Then I go out to start it today and the exact same problem. It runs then I go back out and its not. Now last time it had a little above E and the back end of the car is about a foot higher then the front, same situation here. Could this be a fuel pump since the fuel in the tank was low both times and the fuel pump cant pump the little bit of fuel? Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Thanks Time you have been quick to reply with this post. Now do you yhink the pump is going out and needs to be replaced soon if thats the problem? Thanks again!

 

[tybeejoe]

Im pritty sure that its the original pump and my mileage is closer to 93000, isnt it around fuel pump failure time? And I just bought a 5 gal gas can to fill it up. Its parked outside and the back end is surrounded by snow so the easest things to try now ill do first untill I can get it in the garage. I really dont want to pull the tank either. Thanks!!!

 

[tybeejoe]

When I got home tonight I tried to the car and it would just crank. I put 5 gal of gas in the tank tried to start it and it fired up. So how much of a pain is it to change the fuel pump? And how much longer can I plan on running like this? Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Not a foot actually about 6 in, it was on a packed snow part of drive way. I suppose I cant run my propane heater in the garage while doing this. :sosad: I guess ill have to heat it up to 90 before I start.:whatwhat: How long does it take to change out the fuel pump? Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

Thanks all for the info. I would love to wait till summer, but kinda worried that it will break down far from home. And as long as this is my problem, I might as well fix it while I have a chance. Thanks

 

[tybeejoe]

LOL, Thanks. What about putting an in line electric fuel pump around the filter so I dont have to pull the tank?:whatwhat:

 

[tybeejoe]

Thats to bad!:disappoin I bought the pump already and really dont want to do it! Ill let you guys know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks

If you put in an inline pump, and you have the hose problem mentioned above, you won't get a good draw inh the tank, and you may also not get a good draw through the old pump.

Sorry. :sosad: