After replacing the water pump the car does not start?

Tiny
WLDKRZYKD
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 TOYOTA AVALON
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 265,000 MILES
So, I just replaced my water pump myself (I got to mention that first because I'm not a mechanic. Just really like cars and didn't have the money to take it to a shop) and put it all back together only to find out it wouldn't start. At first I thought it had to be a timing issue, seeing how I just had the timing belt off. But I don't know for sure. Especially since I don't even hear the fuel pump prime when I turn the ignition to on. The water pump is holding water, which is good. But it would be even better if the dang car started. Any ideas? I have already checked the fuel pump relay fuse, and it was good. But the fuel pump doesn't seem to be getting power. I really hope I don't have to go fishing out the fuel pump from the tank. It worked just fine before I started the water pump replacement. There is just under 1/4 tank of gas in the car. Do I need more than that?
Thursday, November 28th, 2024 AT 7:27 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Can you upload a short video of the engine cranking over from under the hood? That way I can tell if the timing belt was installed correctly. If the timing belt is not right, there will be no airflow through the MAF sensor which will keep the fuel pump from turning on. Please go over this video to see what ai am talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLJbuAZ4CE&t

Let us know what you find.
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Friday, November 29th, 2024 AT 12:13 PM
Tiny
WLDKRZYKD
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Thank you for your response. Here is a short video of it trying to start.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2024 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video. The engine seems okay, I would recheck the engine wiring harness grounds because it sounds like one of them was left off. If the grounds are all good let's see if the engine will run a starting fluid. Also, did you check for spark as in the video?
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Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 AT 9:52 AM
Tiny
WLDKRZYKD
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I checked grounds and they looked good, but I will double check. Maybe I missed something. I am getting spark. I tested that. I thought the problem was with the fuel pump, but it seems to me that it would be unlikely something else, unrelated to the maintenance done, would fail. It has got to be in the timing or a missed wire or something. I think I have been looking at this car for too long.
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Friday, December 6th, 2024 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
WLDKRZYKD
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Oh, and I tried starter fluid, and it wouldn't start with it either. :(
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Friday, December 6th, 2024 AT 2:29 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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So it has spark and starting fluid would not help? Let's do a compression test to make sure the engine is okay, it sounds okay, but you never know.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please let me know what the reading is.
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Saturday, December 7th, 2024 AT 12:20 PM

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