Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power

1) model year 1987
2) model Toyota
3) engine 4 cyl manual transmission
4) current odometer reading 165000
5) maintenance history including what was done and where regualr oil
changes, but nothing has been done recently
6) how long the engine was running when it stopped; 5 minutes
7) whether the engine has been making any unusual noises lately No
unusual noises
when you crank the engine, does it turn over faster than normal? It
cranks at a normal speed.
Thx for your help.
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

"carcrazy42" wrote in message

> 1) model year 1987
> 2) model Toyota
> 3) engine 4 cyl manual transmission
> 4) current odometer reading 165000
> 5) maintenance history including what was done and where regualr oil
> changes, but nothing has been done recently
> 6) how long the engine was running when it stopped; 5 minutes
> 7) whether the engine has been making any unusual noises lately No
> unusual noises
> when you crank the engine, does it turn over faster than normal? It
> cranks at a normal speed.
> Thx for your help.
>

OK, we're getting a little closer, although you did not answer some of the
questions.

Your answer to 2) model is Toyota. Toyota is the automaker, not the model.
What kind of Toyota is it? For example, is it a Tercel, Corolla, Camry,
etc.

Your answer to 3) engine - 4 cylinder - is that a gasoline or a diesel
engine? It the engine carbureted or fuel injected?

Your answer to 4) current odometer reading is 165,000 - is that miles or
kilometers?

Your answer to 5) maintenance history including what was done and where - I
was asking about the complete maintenance history and where it was
performed.

I have a few more questions

If the engine has a timing belt, when was the last time it was replaced?

Assuming it is a gasoline engine, are you getting spark?
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

> 1) model year 1987
> 2) model Toyota Corolla
> 3) engine 4 cyl manual transmission
> 4) current odometer reading 165000 miles
> 5) maintenance history including what was done and where regualr oil
> changes, but nothing has been done recently
> 6) how long the engine was running when it stopped; 5 minutes
> 7) whether the engine has been making any unusual noises lately No
> unusual noises
> when you crank the engine, does it turn over faster than normal? It
> cranks at a normal speed.
> Thx for your help.
>

OK, we're getting a little closer, although you did not answer some of
the

questions.

Your answer to 2) model is Toyota. Toyota is the automaker, not the
model.
What kind of Toyota is it? For example, is it a Tercel, Corolla, Camry,
etc.

Your answer to 3) engine - 4 cylinder - is that a gasoline or a diesel
engine? It the engine carbureted or fuel injected? gas, carbureted

Your answer to 4) current odometer reading is 165,000 - is that miles or
kilometers? 165000 miles

Your answer to 5) maintenance history including what was done and where -
I
was asking about the complete maintenance history and where it was
performed. I don't have any maintenance history.

I have a few more questions

If the engine has a timing belt, when was the last time it was replaced?
The timing belt has not been replaced.

Assuming it is a gasoline engine, are you getting spark? -- Getting a
spark?
Additional info: I took the distributor cap off and tried to start the
car. The mechanism in the distributor cap did not move while the car was
being started.
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

"carcrazy42" wrote in message

>> 1) model year 1987
>> 2) model Toyota Corolla
>> 3) engine 4 cyl manual transmission
>> 4) current odometer reading 165000 miles
>> 5) maintenance history including what was done and where regualr oil
>> changes, but nothing has been done recently
>> 6) how long the engine was running when it stopped; 5 minutes
>> 7) whether the engine has been making any unusual noises lately No
>> unusual noises
>> when you crank the engine, does it turn over faster than normal? It
>> cranks at a normal speed.
>> Thx for your help.
>>
>
> OK, we're getting a little closer, although you did not answer some of
> the
>
> questions.
>
> Your answer to 2) model is Toyota. Toyota is the automaker, not the
> model.
> What kind of Toyota is it? For example, is it a Tercel, Corolla, Camry,
> etc.
>
> Your answer to 3) engine - 4 cylinder - is that a gasoline or a diesel
> engine? It the engine carbureted or fuel injected? gas, carbureted
>
> Your answer to 4) current odometer reading is 165,000 - is that miles or
> kilometers? 165000 miles
>
> Your answer to 5) maintenance history including what was done and where -
> I
> was asking about the complete maintenance history and where it was
> performed. I don't have any maintenance history.
>
> I have a few more questions
>
> If the engine has a timing belt, when was the last time it was replaced?
> The timing belt has not been replaced.
>
> Assuming it is a gasoline engine, are you getting spark? -- Getting a
> spark?
> Additional info: I took the distributor cap off and tried to start the
> car. The mechanism in the distributor cap did not move while the car was
> being started.
>

If the distributor shaft is not turning, then the most likely reason is that
the timing belt is broken. The engine will not run with a broken timing
belt. Since the timing belt has not been replaced, then a broken timing
belt is the most likely reason that the engine will not run. Timing belts
should be changed every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.

If you are going to have the timing belt replaced, you may also wish to have
the idler pulley, water pump, and accessory drive belts replaced as a
preventative measure.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

carcrazy42 wrote:

> gas, carbureted

Can you remove a spark plug and see if it sparks when you hold its body
against bare metal on the engine or frame and crank the engine? If
not, try spraying something flammable, like choke cleaner, into the air
intake while cranking the engine (leave the air filter and cover in
place, in case the engine spits). If the engine cranks exactly as
before, there's probably no spark. But if it starts or speeds up even
briefly, then you likely have no fuel getting into the engine because
of a bad fuel pump (strong gasoline smell) or fuel cut solenoid. That
solenoid (there may be two, one for each carb barrel) should click if
you disconnect its cable and apply 12V to its leads (there may be only
one lead, for 12V).

My Corolla quit running because the rubber o-ring for one of the fuel
cut solenoids disintegrated and somehow got lodged in the float valve,
something that couldn't have happened if I had used a Toyota brand carb
rebuild kit because its float falve has a filter screen to keep junk
out of it.
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

"larry moe 'n curly" wrote in message

>
> carcrazy42 wrote:
>
>> gas, carbureted
>
> Can you remove a spark plug and see if it sparks when you hold its body
> against bare metal on the engine or frame and crank the engine? If
> not, try spraying something flammable, like choke cleaner, into the air
> intake while cranking the engine (leave the air filter and cover in
> place, in case the engine spits). If the engine cranks exactly as
> before, there's probably no spark. But if it starts or speeds up even
> briefly, then you likely have no fuel getting into the engine because
> of a bad fuel pump (strong gasoline smell) or fuel cut solenoid. That
> solenoid (there may be two, one for each carb barrel) should click if
> you disconnect its cable and apply 12V to its leads (there may be only
> one lead, for 12V).
>
> My Corolla quit running because the rubber o-ring for one of the fuel
> cut solenoids disintegrated and somehow got lodged in the float valve,
> something that couldn't have happened if I had used a Toyota brand carb
> rebuild kit because its float falve has a filter screen to keep junk
> out of it.
>

The OP mentioned that the distributor rotor does not turn when cranking the
engine. Assuming that the distributor shaft or drive gear did not snap,
then the camshaft is not turning, and if the camshaft is not turning, and
the timing belt has not been changed in 160,000 miles, the first thing I
would take a look at is the timing belt.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

The car isn't worth much. The cost of having a shop work on this would just
be too much. We've asked a few people about this and it seems like
generally the answer is the timing belt. My son's going to give it a shot
at replacing the timing belt. He's not a trained mechanic but has worked
on his own cars. Any pointers would be appreciated. Thx.
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

"carcrazy42" wrote in message

> The car isn't worth much. The cost of having a shop work on this would
> just
> be too much. We've asked a few people about this and it seems like
> generally the answer is the timing belt. My son's going to give it a shot
> at replacing the timing belt. He's not a trained mechanic but has worked
> on his own cars. Any pointers would be appreciated. Thx.
>

You never mentioned what kind of Toyota it is, but your son may wish to
invest in a Chilton's manual or Haynes manual at your local auto parts store
or book store. It will help if he does not have experience with timing
belts.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

It's a corolla, I listed that in one of the prior posts. He's got the
manual. We're loosening belts and bolts per the manual. And getting ready
to loosen the engine so we can get to the time belt covers. Wish us luck!
Any tips are appreciated!
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

"carcrazy42" wrote in message

> It's a corolla, I listed that in one of the prior posts. He's got the
> manual. We're loosening belts and bolts per the manual. And getting ready
> to loosen the engine so we can get to the time belt covers. Wish us luck!
> Any tips are appreciated!
>

A Corolla is one of the easier timing belt jobs.

If you have not already purchased the parts, you may wish to get a timing
belt tensioner and replace that while you're in there. I don't remember if
the water pump is driven by the timing belt in that car and is under the
timing belt cover, but if it is, you may wish to change the water pump as
well. That way, everything that may cause problems in the general vicinity
of the timing belt will be new.

Good luck!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

Update!
We've loosening bolts and got part of the timing belt cover off just
enough to see that the timing belt is in there and in one piece. Looks a
little worn but definitely not broke.
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

"carcrazy42" wrote in message

> Update!
> We've loosening bolts and got part of the timing belt cover off just
> enough to see that the timing belt is in there and in one piece. Looks a
> little worn but definitely not broke.
>

Make sure the ignition is off, disconnect the coil from the distributor, and
using the crankshaft pulley bolt, turn the engine clock-wise. The belt
should turn the camshaft pulley and the camshaft pulley should rotate. If
it does not, the belt is bad.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power 

carcrazy42 wrote:

> Update!
> We've loosening bolts and got part of the timing belt cover off just
> enough to see that the timing belt is in there and in one piece. Looks a
> little worn but definitely not broke.
>

So the belt actually moves when you crank the engine? I've had prefectly
good looking belts with stripped teeth where it engaged the crankshaft.
 >> Stay informed about: Toyota - no start -turns over - got gas- got power