Engine died while driving, now it turns over but doesn't start?

Question

'89 toyota camry I'm in traffic on the freeway, 1st gear traffic and then I press the gas to go and it jumps like i'm out of gear so I check and put in in 2nd cause i'm driving 5 mph but it does the same thing. Truck is honking behind me, I pull over turn it off and try to start it again but it shuts right off again. I open the hood and it seemed overheated so I wait 20 mins and try to start it and nothing happens. I wait, I check fuses and for loose wires. I even checked the oil and added a little to it. I slowly push the gas and the engine turns but doesn't start.

I know that there was a small leak of engine oil and the battery is brand new and it seemed to be idling a little higher than usual.

That was the first drive of the day and only for about 10 miles. It is waiting outside a shop to get checked tomorrow but I want to hear some reasonable explanations first.

Answer 1

Don't know if it helps, but I had a similar vintage ford that died on me in traffic just like that. Turned over, but not even a hint of any kind of starting. It was something that was part of the electronic ignition as I recall. They replaced a little part very quickly and I was up and gone just that quick.

Answer 2

This problem is one that's not easily solved without looking more into what the vehicle is doing now.  For example when you turn the key on, do you hear the fuel pump turn on for a couple of seconds?  If not, it could be the fuel pump.  Are you getting spark to the plugs?  The jumping you describe could be a misfire, bad ignition coil, wire, or fouled plug. the timing could have jumped and the cylinders are firing at the wrong time.  The shop you have it should be able to scan the computer and pull some kind of code for you.  If you ever have the check engine light come on, Auto-Zone will pull codes for you for free.  Hope this helps, good luck.

Answer 3

Timing belt/chain. <That's a period!

Answer 4

The way that you described it while you were in the traffic and it started to jump and jurk,sounds like it got over heated ,When a engine gets that hot it will do that,If it got that hot you would have to wait for about3 - 4 hours for it to cool off ,before it would start up again.The only other thing that it meant be is the fuel pump went bad .