1992 Lexus ES 300 Won't Start

MRSA

MEMBER
1992 LEXUS ES 300
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
33,000 MILES

Hi,

A while back I bought a '92 ES300 with 32k miles (yes, 32,000) from a little old lady who drove it to the store once a week. After a 1200 mile trip the car died on me, slowly, 2 miles from my house. It took about 3 miles to die, slowly losing power and then finally just shutting down. Since then it hasn't started. Here's what I know and have done:

# The ECU is throwing a code for ignition coil / ignitor / distributor
# I've replaced the ignition coil and ignitor to no avail
# The engine is getting fuel (according to mechanic, and I can hear the fuel pump) and spark (according to me)
# Everything else seems fine, the starter appears in good order, no broken or cracked hoses, fuses are all good*

*except the main relay is missing, which is totally weird because it didn't just disappear while I was driving the car. Must have been rewired somehow / at some point?

I ran out of things I could try and took it to a mechanic. He says he can't figure out what's wrong with it and he thinks it must be an ECU problem - since replacing the items the code references didn't help I guess. His suggestion is to have the dealer check it out (great).

Anyone have any ideas on what I could try or what it might be? I'm really stumped at this point.

Thanks!

1 Reply

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,549 POSTS

Start with basics, check fuel pressure with mechanical gauge, just because the pump is running, does not mean it is getting proper pressure.

Pressure should be above 45psi, ign. "ON" engine not running and should hold that pressure for several minutes.

Check spark with spark tester, look for blue snapping spark, anything else is considered no spark.

I doubt the little old lady had anything to do with rewiring.
Go to junkyard and get a used relay.

Check convertor to see if clogged or partially clogged, this is usually done with a backpressure gauge, although most Toyota convertors are bolted in and can be removed and visually inspected.