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Author Topic: Camry broke down  (Read 6390 times)

Northwoods

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Camry broke down
« on: November 14, 2014, 04:17:06 AM »
'97 Camry 4cyl, 184k total miles.  Was driving home from class about to reach the I-5 on ramp when idiot lights came on.  Immediatly pulled into a shopping area parking lot with a stalled engine.  There's electrical power, and the starter cranks, but engine won't run, even a little.  Timing belt is maybe 5k miles overdue for a change.  Plenty of gas, oil, etc in the car.  S-belt recently changed and has good tension.  In general car ran great, until it died (I.e. no loss of power or otherwise rough operation).  Only other issue was engine had been running cool lately.  I figure thermostat was failing open.

Other than maybe the timing belt breaking, sudden death of alternator or fuel pump I'm not sure as to cause.  I'll borrow or buy an OBD-2 reader.  Need to figure out how to get the car running again ASAP.
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lupinus

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2014, 05:30:45 AM »
I'm going to take fuel pump or ignition system.

Did it just flat cut out or did you get a chugga chugga die?
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Camry broke down
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2014, 06:16:29 AM »
Crank it with hand over tail pipe see if you get pressure and smell gas


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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2014, 07:23:37 AM »
Quote from: lupinus on November 14, 2014, 05:30:45 AM
I'm going to take fuel pump or ignition system.

Did it just flat cut out or did you get a chugga chugga die?

Is there just a single coil on that engine? If so you could have lost the coil to distributor wire.

Also shucking the alternator will kill a vehicle of that vintage but it should start up. 
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lupinus

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Re:
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2014, 08:07:18 AM »
Also turn the key to the position it's in while the car is running. You should be able to hear the fuel pump if it's not dead.
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Quote from: MicroBalrog on March 20, 2015, 03:39:21 AM
That is all. *expletive deleted*ck you all, eat *expletive deleted*it, and die in a fire. I have considered writing here a long parting section dedicated to each poster, but I have decided, at length, against it. *expletive deleted*ck you all and Hail Satan.

dogmush

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2014, 08:38:47 AM »
Check gas and spark that's always a good start.  Also see what that code is.

For fuel there should be a shrader valve on the fuel rail.  You want about 45 PSI for driving, but anything over about 18 would let the car idle.  so if you turn the switch to "run" and push the valve center and fuel sprays out, you are GTG.

Spark I still check with a screwdriver between the spark plug wire and a ground.

That car should have 2 ea twin coil packs, so it's unlikely that they both went out.   Honestly it sounds like a timing belt.
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2014, 10:04:34 AM »
Quote from: lupinus on November 14, 2014, 05:30:45 AM
I'm going to take fuel pump or ignition system.

Did it just flat cut out or did you get a chugga chugga die?

Just flat cut out.
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2014, 10:06:23 AM »
I'll run with the other suggestions prob tomorrow.  Got to go to work now, then write a midterm paper tonight.
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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2014, 10:45:18 AM »
I thought that Toyotas never broke down  ???     =D

Anyway, it sounds a bit like my old Chevy pickup a few weeks ago.  Died coming back from town just like I had turned off the switch.  The ignition module in the distributor died.
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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2014, 12:13:24 PM »
Ignition or fuel pump most likely. If you pull a spark plug out to check for spark also see if you blow gas out the plug hole.
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Nick1911

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2014, 12:20:53 PM »
When you crank it, does it sound normal?
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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2014, 01:17:14 PM »
Damn, sorry to hear that.  =(
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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2014, 05:26:41 PM »
Just be thankful it wasn't a Subaru....
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Phyphor

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2014, 07:38:46 PM »
Yeah, I'd definitely have a look at the ignition coil/system...
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2014, 01:13:41 AM »
Quote from: Nick1911 on November 14, 2014, 12:20:53 PM
When you crank it, does it sound normal?

Typically you don't get to hear the starter for more than a fraction of a second.  So hard to say.  Doesn't sound totally normal, but then again, totally normal is to hear the engine firing almost immediately.

A friend is coming over Saturday afternoon with an OBD-2 reader.  In the morning I'll run the other checks mentioned up thread.  I'll post with anything of consequence that comes up.
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #15 on: November 15, 2014, 01:28:12 PM »
Timing belt is broken.

Now to figure out tools and such to fix it.  At least it's a non-interference engine.
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Brad Johnson

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #16 on: November 15, 2014, 02:27:42 PM »
Is it an interference engine? If so, bad juju. If it's non-interference you're good to go.

Brad
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #17 on: November 15, 2014, 02:33:58 PM »
Quote from: Brad Johnson on November 15, 2014, 02:27:42 PM
Is it an interference engine? If so, bad juju. If it's non-interference you're good to go.

Brad

Quote from: sumpnz on November 15, 2014, 01:28:12 PM
Timing belt is broken.

Now to figure out tools and such to fix it.  At least it's a non-interference engine.
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Brad Johnson

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #18 on: November 15, 2014, 02:36:41 PM »
Doh!  :facepalm:

Brad
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lupinus

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Re:
« Reply #19 on: November 15, 2014, 02:48:31 PM »
That'll do it
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Quote from: MicroBalrog on March 20, 2015, 03:39:21 AM
That is all. *expletive deleted*ck you all, eat *expletive deleted*it, and die in a fire. I have considered writing here a long parting section dedicated to each poster, but I have decided, at length, against it. *expletive deleted*ck you all and Hail Satan.

Phyphor

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #20 on: November 15, 2014, 04:05:31 PM »
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #21 on: November 15, 2014, 08:53:09 PM »
Well, got the parts (except for some gaskets/seals that will be available Monday) and tools to do the timing belt. Got the coolant drained, alternator and spark plugs out, trackrod for the engine off, right wheel and the cover in the wheel well off. Then ran out of daylight. Hopefully I can make a lot more progress tomorrow.

Now to start studying for my statistics exam on Tuesday.
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Nick1911

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #22 on: November 15, 2014, 09:55:02 PM »
Is this the first time tackling a timing belt?
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Northwoods

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #23 on: November 15, 2014, 11:09:27 PM »
Quote from: Nick1911 on November 15, 2014, 09:55:02 PM
Is this the first time tackling a timing belt?

Second.  First time was ca. 2005.  And I had a friend helping me that time.  Having to go it solo this round.
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Nick1911

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Re: Camry broke down
« Reply #24 on: November 15, 2014, 11:26:58 PM »
Quote from: sumpnz on November 15, 2014, 11:09:27 PM
Second.  First time was ca. 2005.  And I had a friend helping me that time.  Having to go it solo this round.

Good on you for giving it a go.  We're here for you, let us know how it goes.
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