SPONSORED LINKS

1986 Toyota Corolla Turns over but still won't start!

Tiny
PEPFATKIKI88
  • MEMBER
  • 1986 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
My car has a new starter, new spark-plugs, spark plug wires, a fully charged battery, and plenty of gas.
It turns over, and the rotor in the distributor spins when you crank the car. I've been told by AutoZone that this pretty much guarantees that the timing belt is fine. I do indeed get a spark through the spark plug wires (checked with a screwdriver). I can smell gas on the spark plugs after attempting to start the car.
This situation occured suddenly. I drove it home at 5:00 PM and when I went to start the car again at 7:00 PM it would not fire.
I think (but maybe it's my imagination) that I smell gas when I am cranking on it, fluttering the gas pedal, trying to start the car. What could it be?
SPONSORED LINKS
Sunday, April 11th, 2010 AT 12:19 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the fuel pressure if its within specs and for injection pulses.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, April 12th, 2010 AT 5:08 AM
Tiny
PEPFATKIKI88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Still new to this forum - I see no option of how to reply to an answer I was given! But the person (Razmataz) said to "check my injection pressure". I have a carberator, so would this apply in my case?
Let it be noted I do not know much about cars beyond the very basics.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, April 12th, 2010 AT 5:24 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Carbuerator no problem you still need to rule out the fuel pump and filter if you check the fuel pressure-further even though the the rotor is spinning the timing belt could have slipped a tooth or so throwing off the valve timing to create a no start condition.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, April 12th, 2010 AT 5:30 AM
Tiny
PEPFATKIKI88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Yes, one of my buds told me that even though the rotor spins, the belt could have slipped.
So, how do I check this?

Also, another bud said that I should hear the fuel pump engage as I turn the key. I will try this later today when I get home.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 9:11 AM
Tiny
PEPFATKIKI88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I followed the test procedures in the Haynes Manual, and the fuel pump is working. Also there is fuel pooling up in the carberator when I try to crank the car.

So, fuel is getting to the cylinders (I would assume).
Is there a way to check the timing without taking much of the car apart? Some type of quick check?
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Put the engine no.1 piston on its compression stroke/TDC and look at the timing marks on the crank pulley if its line up 0/TDC and rotor pointing to no.1 cap tower.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 8:13 PM
Tiny
PEPFATKIKI88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
"Put the engine no.1 piston on its compression stroke/TDC and look at the timing marks on the crank pulley if its line up 0/TDC and rotor pointing to no.1 cap tower. "

I'm not a mechanic (or good with cars). How exactly is this done? I get the basic theory of what I have to do. But don't know how to go about it. Also, I only have basic tools. Is there a detailed set of instructions for this procedure available?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, April 15th, 2010 AT 5:20 AM
Tiny
PEPFATKIKI88
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Not "by the book" but since the distributor rotor and the cylinder positioning are related, I turned the engine over for a quick second or two until the rotor was at the #1 cylinder postion. Then I put a stick down each spark plug opening until I found out which piston was in the compression mode (closet to the top). Thus, timing is okay.

During the testing period after putting the plugs in, the car started and ran for about 10 seconds, then stalled. This is normal if the car hadn't been driven in a while. But I couldn't get it to start again, unless I was jumping the battety off my other car.

My conclusion? Something in the electrical system, since the car did indeed run (and sound normal) for a short period of time.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, April 19th, 2010 AT 6:30 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Not Running Content

How to fix an engine that wont start
VIDEO
How to fix an engine that wont start
Instructional repair video
Engine Not Starting
GUIDE
Engine Not Starting
Over the past 20 years at 2CarPros we have identified the top problems that are easily fixed. This guide can save you a trip to the repair garage or calling a tow truck and...
VIEW MORE

Sponsored links