HELP!! My engine cranks but will not start.

Question

The engine on my 91 toyota tercel will crank but will not start. I find this so very coincidental because this happened the DAY AFTER i took it in to Goodyear to have an oil change. I drove home fine but haven't been able to start it for 4 days now. I tried a new battery, took my alternator in and had it checked, it's fine. Changed the fuses. I don't believe it is the starter. Please help me.

Answer 1

First the engine cranks. This tells you that the battery and alt. should be ok. Need to check for spark to the spark plugs and fuel to the carburetor or throtle body or injectors. Remove a spark plug wire from a spark plug and stick a paper clip inside of it  hold aprox 1/8 in. from a good grownd on the engine and have someone crank the engine. There should be a spark jump the gap. If there is the ignition part should be ok. If no spark, need to test 12 volts to the ign. coil and to the distributor. Also need to test the dist. cap, rotor, pick up coil and module in the distributor.  If the ignition is ok then you have fuel problems. First have the fuel presure tested at the carb., throtle body or injectgor fuel rail. If no presure check the fuel filter for being cloged. Then test for 12 volts at the fuel pump. If there is 12 volts at the fuel pump likley the pump is defective. Hope this info helps. Good luck

Answer 2

I hope that it is not the timing belt!!  Same thing happened to my wife's car.  I checked everything.  Then I started replacing the camshaft sensor, coil pack, blah blah, nothing worked.  When I took the timing cover off to replace the crankshaft sensor, there layed a broken timing belt.  If one of these breaks, chances are your valves are now warped (if you tried starting it afterwards) and you have to have head work done and valves replaced.  You'll spend at least $1000 to repair.  You may get lucky and your car has the type of engine where the valves won't hit the pistons when your belt breaks.

Answer 3

If, after checking some of the previous suggestions you still have the issue then you're either going to have to take it to a garage or find a friend who can diagnose the problem.  For the DIY option, you have to find out if you're getting spark and fuel.  One quick question, have you ever had the timing belt replaced?  If that broke then the engine will not stay in time and will not start.  You say you changed the fuses, how about the relays?  Do you have an ignition relay or a fuel pump relay?  Just to run down some of the more common causes; fuel pump or regulator, ignition coil, ignition module, timing belt, distributor cap and rotor (spark plugs and wires), MAP sensor, Crank position sensor(not sure if a 91 had one) fuel filter, ECM (the car's computer).  If you haven't done a tune up on it or replaced the fuel filter then you may want to do those before spending money on a diagnosis.  Determining whether or not you have spark and fuel can tell you which causes to spend money and time investigating.  Good luck

Answer 4

check your spark plugs..and what he said about the fuel pump..

Answer 5

Could be your timing belt has slipped or broken. They mainly fail when the engine is shut off, due to the back-and-forth rocking of the crankshaft and camshaft as they come to a stop. Pop off the distributor cap, and have someone watch to see if the rotor inside turns around while you turn the engine over. If the rotor doesn't turn, the belt is broken or has no teeth in that section.  Good luck!

Answer 6

look in your owners manual for the "fuel pump reset switch" follow the instructions for resetting it.

Answer 7

I would check oil level because you took somewhere doesnt always justify they did a proper job your car may be equipped with a sensor that will not allow engine to start if too low on oil