Not starting properly

2000 TOYOTA COROLLA
320,000 MILES • 1.2L • 4 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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GILLIANELIESE
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Before my car broke down, it would sputter while driving and either not change gears quick enough and kind of jump or slow down while I was accelerating as if I was braking. Then took it to AutoZone one day it started automatically braking, the gas and brakes went out, (i recently had the brake lines replaced and they were doing fine) all the lights on the dash came on, and the steering wheel locked up to where it was getting really difficult to turn had to use all my strength and use the e-brake to slowly come to a stop. I had my neighbors tow it to my house where’s it sat for two months or so.
So far, we’ve replaced the alternator, spark plugs, fuel pump, and ECU, and I’ve taken the battery to get examined and it’s perfectly fine, in that order. The car is still doing the same exact thing where it will turn with the key and want to turn over, but when it reaches the point of running you know when you turn the key all the way and it starts so you let it go, it’ll stay on for like a single second and then it’ll falls flat on its face. I cannot figure out what is causing this to happen and I’m trying to avoid spending dollars upon dollars of money that I don’t have by taking it to a shop. so, I’ve done everything myself, but now I might have to have it towed somewhere. I’m a 20-year-old girl that pays bills and takes care of myself and this is my first car, and it’s putting me in a bad debt position trying to get this thing to run, so, if there are any tips or tricks or you know what’s up, please let me know ASAP. Thank you
Apr 6, 2022 at 6:57 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 110,240 POSTS
Hi,

What you described can be the result of a few things. First, when you had it at auto zone, did they check for diagnostic trouble codes? If so, what were they?

As far as the steering and brakes are concerned, that is simply due to the engine stalling. When that happens, you lose assistance to the power steering and power brakes. As a result, the steering becomes manual steering (hard to turn) and the brakes become extremely hard to press.

Let me know if any codes were found. Also, take a look through this link and let me know if it seems to mirror what you were experiencing prior to this point.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor

Take care,

Joe
Apr 7, 2022 at 6:30 AM
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GILLIANELIESE
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Thank you for replying!
Codes were read and it came up with cylinder misfires, and failed fuel injector which we replaced. The cylinder misfires were checked and those seemed fine as well, we didn’t scan it again after that though, because it was a friend of a friend’s scanner.
And the engine didn’t really stall at idle or in general until it broke down that time driving when it locked up. It just would kind of jump in a heartbeat type pattern then stop. I’m hoping it’s something simple like a fuse, and not like the entire transmission or something like that.
Apr 7, 2022 at 8:18 AM
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GILLIANELIESE
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Also, do you think this sounds like it could be from bad ignition coils?
Apr 7, 2022 at 8:52 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 110,240 POSTS
Hi,

Don't worry about the transmission. That doesn't sound like something it would cause.

Are there any new codes since you replaced the injectors?

Joe
Apr 7, 2022 at 1:12 PM
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