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96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start


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marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Aug 21, 2006, 8:31 AM

Post #1 of 14 (11817 views)
96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

hey kids i need some heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp here. i own a 1996 toyota corolla and for the past week and 1/2 ive not had any luck getting it to start up, it cranks over but its losing the spark somewhere. i removed the alternator and starter, got them tested and they tested fine. checked the fuses and they all seem to be fine. the ignition distributor and ignition wires are also good. had a mechanic work on it, he checked the timeing (was fine), the replaced the fuel pump, re-checked the fuses and relays, checked the ignition sensor but he too couldnt get it to start. he also noted that after a while of cranking it over there is a large sent of gass but when he went to check the sparkplugs they were dry. any ideas sugestions heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp please. thanks.


carjunky
Enthusiast

Aug 24, 2006, 6:14 AM

Post #2 of 14 (11805 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

is this car electronic fuel injection? Maybe there is some type of injector problem. Also has the fuel filter been changed?


marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Aug 24, 2006, 8:29 AM

Post #3 of 14 (11802 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

yes it is of electronic fule injectors and i did change the fule filter.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 24, 2006, 8:50 AM

Post #4 of 14 (11802 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

Just how did this mechanic check the timing with a car that doesn't run? You can get close with just a cranking engine but perfect is when it's running.

You smell the gas but have dry plugs. Next test is to try some starting fluid and reassemble air cleaner as a good spark arrestor and see if it even sputters. If so we have to chase down a fuel delivery problem, T



marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Aug 28, 2006, 6:09 AM

Post #5 of 14 (11793 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

i already tried putting some fule in the air cleaner, but i still got no spark, i had one the come out and diagnos it and it turns out that the diagnostic check for some reason dose not pick up the on board computer (ECM). so i went out to the wrecking yard and found one with the same serial i instaled it and the damn car still wont start. i need to have him come in and check if the computer i got was bad or if it is something else.

he checked the timing by lining up 2 little dots inside of the engine. i dont kow the technical term for them but their on the spindles that are turned by one of the belts. very easy to get to. i was checking the manual an i did notice that to check the timing i have to turn the fly wheel and have it line up a little grove with the number 0. but i have never done that before.

i got a second and third opinion one guy told me that it is a problem in my electrical system that maybe one of my cables was lose somewhere and one another guy also tells me that its my timing. i already checked all the cabels that lead our form the battery and found nothing out of order everything seems to check out.

even though i hate not being able to start the damn car and taking the bus to work, im kind of having fun doing all this checking. im really learning a lot. i think. but i still need more suggetions because the damn car wont start.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 28, 2006, 7:54 AM

Post #6 of 14 (11792 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

Test for spark even if timing is way off you should still get spark. They make tester for that or the old just put a screwdriver in a plug wire and hold close to ground and look for the spark.

My Warning Here: You can get a shock doing this and it shouldn't hurt you but if you are wearing rubber shoes and use thick dry gloves you won't get the shock from a plug wire. There are tools that do the test without that primal way which works but with caution, T



marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Aug 28, 2006, 8:51 AM

Post #7 of 14 (11789 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

tried that again, still nothing, you think it could be somthing else? battery is good i got it tested yesturday.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 28, 2006, 10:31 AM

Post #8 of 14 (11788 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

If the battery can crank the engine that's not the issue right now. Did you find spark from a plug wire while cranking? Does it spark on and off as it should.

There are many reasons for lack of spark and I think it's down to that, T



marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Aug 28, 2006, 10:57 AM

Post #9 of 14 (11787 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

no. i get no spark at all


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 28, 2006, 2:03 PM

Post #10 of 14 (11785 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

Some easy tests are to just remove distributor car and see if the rotor even turns while cranking engine. From their I would check that the coil has current 12V and if not why?

From there I hope someone will jump in with ideas as I'm running out but want to see you all fixed up, T



marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Aug 29, 2006, 7:54 AM

Post #11 of 14 (11780 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

i really appreciate your help and your concern Tom. I really need the car and cant afford a new one.
i triple checked the roter as i had my wife crank the engin and it is turning. i justs purchased the coil im going to take it back to the AZ and tell them it dont work get another one. see what happens. ill keep you posted


marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Sep 5, 2006, 8:12 AM

Post #12 of 14 (11760 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

here is an update on my situation.

this labor day weekend i had another mechanic come in and look at the old clunker. he made sure the timing was right he actually went down and rotated the pully to line up the groove on it with the tdc mark. he also cheked to make sure that the distributor cabels were connected properly between the distributor and spark plugs. we cranked it a couple of times and it almost started but still there was some spark missing to make it actually crank over and stay running. so we also replaced the ignitor control thinking that that would be it. we double checked that the distributtor was working properly by ckecking the gap inside the distributor that makes the spark and acording to the owners guide it also is passing.

so at this point we think its not the battery, the starter, the alternator, the fule pump, the ignition coil, the ignition control, the onboard compueter, or the distributor. Crazy any other suggestion anyoneUnimpressed


steve01832
Veteran
steve01832 profile image

Sep 24, 2006, 1:17 AM

Post #13 of 14 (11712 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

If you truly have fuel pressure, injector pulse and NO spark only! Connect a non powered test light brom Battery - post to negative side of ignition coil. Crank engine. If test light flashes steady, replace ignition coil. If test light stays on solid, replace ignitor. If test light stays off, check power at coil + terminal. Confirm fuel pressure, injector pulse, compression, and crank vacuum first. When I say crank vacuum it's this. Tee a vacuum guage into the PCV line. Crank engine. You should have at least 1.5 inches vacuum. If you have no vacuum, suspect a compression (mechanical) problem or a restricted exhaust. A severely restricted exhaust will prevent an engine from starting. If everything checks out fine unplug TPS sensor. A TPS stuck open in "clear flood" mode will prevent engine starting. See if engine fires.


(This post was edited by steve01832 on Sep 24, 2006, 1:55 AM)


marlux
Novice
marlux profile image

Sep 25, 2006, 6:54 AM

Post #14 of 14 (11698 views)
Re: 96 Corolla: no matter what, darn car wont start Sign In

 i finally got it started. here is the low down, after changing everything i mentioned above. i finally one of my friends came over and did another diagnostic check. everything check out fine but there was no RPM reading so my friend told me to change the crank sensor. i finally changed the crank sensor and wala Smile it started up. thanks for all your help guys.

im so happy, happy, happy






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