1999 Camry stalled, won't restart

My 1999 Camry LE 4-cylinder is normally very dependable, but this morning (cold, 25 degrees) it started, and I drove 100 yards to the first stop light, then it stalled and won't restart. Starter cranks, engine turns, but there is no sign of ignition at all. I pushed it into a parking lot, waited an hour, but it still won't restart. It has adequate gas & oil.

Any ideas before I call a tow truck?

Reply to
PoxEclipse
Loading thread data ...

My Camry's a lot older (1986), but something similar happened to me 2 years ago. It turned out the distributor had failed; or more specifically, if I recall correctly, the actual ignition coil was part of the distributor mechanism, and when that ignition coil failed, the car wouldn't start.

I own a Haynes manual on the Camry, and before having it towed to a shop, I had used the manual, and tried and failed to diagnose the problem on my own. As I recall, I did most of the electrical checks that I could do with my multimeter. There was a (I presume) a set of terminals on the distributor that was covered by a plastic piece with "Do Not Remove" printed on it. If I'd ignored that message, and had removed the cover and tested the electrical characteristics across those terminals myself, I probably would have pinpointed the problem on my own.

Reply to
M. Hamill

There are some things you can do,..the old adage an engine needs "fuel and ignition" to run is useful,..but that was in the carby days when fuel could be checked by operating the throttle and checking for fuel mist (in carby)

Remove one of the spark-plug leads and place a long screw-driver up where the plug normally is situated. Hold the handle (make sure the screwdriver is large enough to have a nice thick well-insulated handle to stop shocks) so the metal shaft is 1/4-1/2" away from the engine cam-cover. Get a helper to crank the car,..you should see a healthy blue spark.

If its OK, a fuel test is needed. This requires a spanner to loosen one of the fuel-pump lines and maybe beyond you. plus it can be hazardous.

It's times like this that we are reminded of the old days of simple engine fuel systems.

Check the engine for any electrical connectors which are not secure or disconnected. Also check things like the air intake hose clips are secure,..and the airfilter housing is secure.

I'd also do a check of all the fuses, associated with the engine: ignition, ECU etc.

Jason

Reply to
Jason James

Check Timing belt first. then look around for other items if that's intact and in place.

Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply

MUADIB®

formatting link

one small step for man,..... One giant leap for attorneys.

Reply to
MUADIB®

I second the check timing belt --- unless you have definite proof it was replaced in the last 50k miles!

Reply to
Wolfgang

Proof or no proof........First thing to check.........fuses second(actually I do fuses first, but it's not normal to lose a fuse real abruptly like that...............mayhaps there's more to the story, like "I was Lighting my cigarrette and all of a sudden, the car just died"...........If so, please check fuses also.

Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply

MUADIB®

formatting link

one small step for man,..... One giant leap for attorneys.

Reply to
MUADIB®

Timing belt was replaced at 55,000 miles, about 15,000 miles ago.

Reply to
PoxEclipse

Cranks but won't start? Sure sounds like a timing belt to me. Loosen the cover at the 'front' of the engine enough to see the belt and have someone crank the engine. If the belt ain't turning, that's what it'd be...

Reply to
Hachiroku

Last time that happened here it was one of the main 30A fuses that blew. Since it supplied power to all the engine control systems, the engine still cranked, radio played, blower worked, lights and wipers worked, etc. Swapping the fuse worked -for a time. Garage found a chafed wire inside the transmission -$600 later!? Good luck...

Reply to
SchuyMan

Last time that happened here it was one of the main 30A fuses that blew. Since it supplied power to all the engine control systems, the engine still cranked, radio played, blower worked, lights and wipers worked, etc. Swapping the fuse worked -for a time. Garage found a chafed wire inside the transmission -$600 later!? Good luck...

Reply to
SchuyMan

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.