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Engine wont run?

Tiny
CIVICEATIN6SPD
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 191,876 MILES
Ok here goes ill try to be as detailed as possible.
I have a 1990 toyota corolla gts. It has the 4age fuel injeted motor. The car sat for 4 yrs before I bought it.
when I bought it the engine wouldnt crank nothing would work. After finding out there was no spark I put in an msd ignition and coil. Now I have hot spark. Next I checked the Air flow meter, which turned out to be no good either. I have replaced this and it is working, even now that I had air and spark still the car would not run. Next I checked the fuel pressure, it wasnt great so I replaced the fuel lines, pump, filter fuel pressure regulator, cold start injector, all fuel injectors and fuel rail. Next just to be on the safe side I replaced all vacuum lines. With that being said I go to start the car she cranks and wont turn over. The weird part is if I spray starting fluid I can get the car running and if I continue spraying it continues running, but inside the car my battery light, ck engine light pretty much everything that goes on when the car is in the on position but isnt running. Also the tach isnt showing any movement. Its like the car wants to run but the pictures not comin across to the inside of the car. Ive been over almost everything in this car mechanically and I think ive come to the point where throwing new parts and guessing wont help. I need a fresh perspective someone PLEASE Help!
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Thursday, February 28th, 2008 AT 1:26 AM

29 Replies

Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Use a "noid" light on the injector connectors to make sure the injectors are firing, if not it could be a fuse or relay. If the noid shows the injectors are firing, you have spark and suffecient fuel pressure, the car should start, unless the timing is way off. You can also have someone crank the engine and feel the injectors, should be a rapid click.

When you turn the key to the on position without cranking the engine over can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank for 5 seconds?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please run down this guide and report back.

I would also pull the timing belt cover and see if the timing belt has broken teeth, that would affect timing.
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Friday, February 29th, 2008 AT 7:30 AM
Tiny
JINDRA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 197,000 MILES
My toyota over heated so I had to replace a bypass hose. To do this I had to pull the intake off to get at. Since I did this I checked the water pump then put back together. Then I had no spark when starting. I replaced the igniter and that solved my spark problem but she won't start. Any ideas.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you hear the fuel pump come On? If so check the fuel pressure if its within specs
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Short +b and Fp on diagnostic link to power fuel pump.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AIRBREATHER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 166,000 MILES
Hi, I bought old Toyota corolla 1990 with 166k miles, auto trans. The car seems fine but it has problem starting. When I put the key in and rotate it once only the oil dashboard light turns on, the rest of them dont. When I try to start the engine it spins but it doesnt start. It was running a week ago (on 3 cylinders, but thats ok). I am thinking it is either a fuse, a distributor, and. Or computer problem. Any ideas? Ahh and also, Where is the computer of the damn thing located? I may be blind but couldnt see it.
Thanks for any help in advance.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.

Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.

2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.

3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.
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+1
Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MF2
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 367,657 MILES
I own a 1990 Toyota Corolla GTS Twin Cam 16.
Engine rotates but does not start..
There is not enough voltage to the distributor cap, only 11 to 12 volts.

It produces no spark when trying to start.

Error code 14 is equivalent to: No IGF signal to the ECU 4 times in succession.''
trouble aera: Igniter Circuit, igniter, or ECU.

I changed the spark plugs and spark plug wires and the distributor cap wire..
I changed the Igniter module.
I check the timing belt.

I checked the timing between the crankshaft pulley notch and the piston TDC # 1 and
position of the distributor cap and rotor.

I checked the fuel pump.

The problem is still the same, it rotates but does not start.

Where should I look;
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,380 POSTS
I think you may have an issue with the crankshaft position sensor or the camshaft position sensor. You might try to get a scan from a repair shop that has a real top of the line scanner as some will give more detail than others and shops usually either do it for free or a nominal fee.
I am going to give you a diagnostic walk through for your situation. It will cover the position snesors anda few other things. You have already started the process of elimination and this diagnostic will help you to finish that. If it is not solved by doing so, I would put my best guess on the ECU having failed. It is unusual that it is getting juice there but not enough. It makes me think the coils could have something to do with it.

However, use the link below and consider a re-scan to get started and we can go from there.

When you turn the key to the on position without cranking the engine over can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank for 5 seconds?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
Does it try to start with either?
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Did you checked the coil's primary and secondary winding resistances

Check and test the distributor pick-coil resistances-further if the computer don't see the Ne and G input signals it will not give the ignitor the Igt signal to tell the ignitor to fire the coil therefore no Igf signal will be sent telling the computer that combustion has occurred
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PROSTREETMONTESS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 26,600 MILES
I have a 90 corolla that I have driven every where until lately. During the winter the car became harder to start. The code to replace the air temp sensor came up so I replaced that. Still no car running. It will turn over and crank but will not start. It will be on the verge of firing but will only run for a second or so. I just replaced the water pump and the alternater.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Check fuel pressure and spark. Also check the timing belt (how long has it been since it was changed?).

Fuel pressure check requires a special adapter that screws into the cold start valve port in the rail.

It may also be the ignition module is bad in the distributor.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:50 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEPIERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
1990 Toyota corolla cranks but wont start when engine is warm. Starts when engine is cool.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Next time it refuses to start don't wait for it to make up its mind-Hot or Cold -Do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if okay-check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEPIERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Its getting spark. No fuel!
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEPIERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Its getting spark. No fuel.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANLESABRE
  • MEMBER
  • 230 POSTS
How did you determine there is no fuel? Are fuses good?
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GASPER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 102,000 MILES
Dear Sir,
i own a 1990 toyota corolla 4 door with 102,000 miles and recently i started having this problem.
car cranks but would not start, so i viewed this youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=064Ilsz8Fzg
and the mechanic changed the distrib. cap system and spark plugs.
and the car ran fine for 2 days and again the same problem so showed another mechanic he could not figure out the problem.
then another mechanic saw it he too could not see the problem.
Now i told the orginal mechanic and he changed the Distributor cap system to a new one saying the old one was faulty,
but again the same problem cranks but wont start so he said he may have to tow it to the shop from my workplace.
And then after a day i tried it started but i did not want to take a chance i just drove it to the mechanic shop and asked hime to take a good
look at what the problem is.... beacuse it keeps on happening randomly, (the mechanic now says it could the the ignation)i have no idea whats going on.
Because when he did the spark tests the sparks were not coming.
so now the car starts sometimes whenever it feels like. but when it starts he runs ok but after shutting the engine i really dont know whether it will start or not.
AM TIRED AND SCARED TO TAKE THE CAR FOR A DRIVE AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN.

PLEASE HELP WITH YOUR PRO ADVICE.

what could be the real problem area.

thank you in anticipation of your answer to the problem.

best wishes
gasper

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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DAN_K
  • MECHANIC
  • 213 POSTS
The only way to accurately diagnose this problem is to leave it with the mechanic so he can troubleshoot it when it is not starting. He needs to be able to duplicate the "no-start" condition. A reputable and knowledgeable mechanic will test each component of the ignition system and replace the faulty one. Without more information, I'm sorry to say that I cannot provide further advice. It could be the pick-up coil/sensor in the distributor, it could be the ignition module itself, or number of other things. Find a reputable, preferrably ASE Certified mechanic, to inspect it.
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BOLTSY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 23,000 MILES
When it is a hot day and I run the car and then stop it will not start again straight away.I lift the bonnet for about 10 minutes and this seems to cool it down enough to start it up. Can up help?
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Monday, August 10th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)

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