Engine problem, please HELP!!!, Engine only starts sometimes Options

[hokuten3]

i have a 5sfe engine. and sometimes the the car won't start. so im not sure what the problem is. im thinking its the computer, because it seems like the distrubutor isn't getting a spark, which would mean the computer right? what do you guys think? thanks

This post has been edited by hokuten3: Sep 8, 2010 - 8:25 PM

[cyberblader1130]

Does the engine turn over every time?

[Smaay]

your description is way too vauge. sorry i cant help you much. does it turn over every time just not start?

[hokuten3]

your description is way too vauge. sorry i cant help you much. does it turn over every time just not start?

you mean the key turning over? the key turns when i start the engine and it sounds like the engine is about to start. but it just never starts. but then sometime, when i turn it on, it starts fine, like nothing is wrong with it.

Does the engine turn over every time?

what do you mean by "does the engine turn over?"

[njccmd2002]

battery, or check the starter.

[hokuten3]

battery, or check the starter.

i know its not the battery, cause i just got a new one for it like a week ago. i'll check the starter...but i don't think its that either.

[rjbibeau]

check the ground...its prob dirty

[hokuten3]

so i changed the distrubutor today. and it starts now. but it still sounds like its sortof struggling to start on the first couple times when i started it. hopefully it doesn't die on me. thanks guys

This post has been edited by hokuten3: Sep 7, 2010 - 10:53 PM

[hokuten3]

so i changed the distrubutor today. and it starts now. but it still sounds like its sortof struggling to start on the first couple times when i started it. hopefully it doesn't die on me. thanks guys

[stephen_lee]

check spark timing

[hokuten3]

okay. so the engine won't start. and i checked to see if the engine is getting a spark or not, and there weren't any spark. so what could it be?

[stephen_lee]

coil.
if not that, ignitor.
if not that, wiring.
if not that, ECM.

[hokuten3]

coil.
if not that, ignitor.
if not that, wiring.
if not that, ECM.

when you say COIL, do you mean the ignition coil?

[mt953]

have you looked at the spark plugs any?

[hokuten3]

have you looked at the spark plugs any?

yea. i just changed new spark plugs, new spark plug wires, new coil, used ignitor, used fuel pump, rebuilt distributor. its getting spark and fuel. it cranks, but it just doesn't start. so, i have no clue of what it could be now. im absolutly out of ideas.

[stephen_lee]

yes, ignition coil

[hokuten3]

well, i changed the coil, and nothing happened. any other ideas?

[EKAn]

its getting spark and fuel.

is it getting air? is there something clogging your intake?

[95CelicaST]

If you have spark and fuel then you need to check your timing. You might have the distributor installed 180° off. You should also do a compression test.

[SupraKid]

Ok ok ok...


When you turn the key...what happens? Does the engine attempt to start or does it just not do anything?
When your starting the car do you smell gas like its running rich?
How many miles on this engine?
Is the check engine light on?
When it DID start and run, after it was warm did you still notice any problems?
Have you done anything recently before this problem started?

i would say also reset your ecu, unplug the battery completely (+ and -) and leave it for about 5 minutes. Come back and plug it in a try again. If it starts let it idle for about 5 minutes, then take it for a drive. This will reset your ecu to OEM standards as far as fuel/air mix..

[presure2]

i would say also reset your ecu, unplug the battery completely (+ and -) and leave it for about 5 minutes. Come back and plug it in a try again. If it starts let it idle for about 5 minutes, then take it for a drive. This will reset your ecu to OEM standards as far as fuel/air mix..

all you really need to do this is pull the EFI fuse in the engine bay fuse box for ~10 seconds.
that way, you dont loose your radio presets as well.
you need to check mechanical timing.

[hokuten3]

its getting spark and fuel.

is it getting air? is there something clogging your intake?

no. nothings clogging the intake

If you have spark and fuel then you need to check your timing. You might have the distributor installed 180° off. You should also do a compression test.

okay. i'll recheck the distributor timing. and my buddy just helped me doing a compression test. it was 170 for all for cylinder

[hokuten3]

Ok ok ok...


When you turn the key...what happens? Does the engine attempt to start or does it just not do anything?
When your starting the car do you smell gas like its running rich?
How many miles on this engine?
Is the check engine light on?
When it DID start and run, after it was warm did you still notice any problems?
Have you done anything recently before this problem started?

i would say also reset your ecu, unplug the battery completely (+ and -) and leave it for about 5 minutes. Come back and plug it in a try again. If it starts let it idle for about 5 minutes, then take it for a drive. This will reset your ecu to OEM standards as far as fuel/air mix..

when i turn the key, yes, it attempts to start. it sounds like it wants to start running, but it never does.
and yes, when i start the car i could smell gas like its running rich.
my engine has 138,000 on it.
no, the check engine light isn't on.
when it did start and run, after the engine was warm, there weren't any problems starting the engine again. you could shut it off, and wait like 5-10 mins or so, and it'll start like nothing's wrong with it.
no, i bought the car like this. this is why the owner sold it. cause it wouldn't start most of the times.

[garin]

yea... ok i helped him look at the car. he did a coil and a distributer along with new ignition wires and spark plugs. i did a dry compression test for him and got around 170 psi in all of the four of the cylinders. we also taped on the tank to check for a bad fuel filter and smelled that there was fuel coming to the engine. the car still does not run. i am think is it a timing belt issue... and for the "timing the distributer" idea, is that a necessary thing to do with a 6gc? lets here some input.

[stephen_lee]

when it doesnt start..

does it get fuel?
bridge B+ and FP in the diags box and listen for the fuel pump/fuel flow
crank it over about 15 times, pull a spark plug and see if it smells like fuel/is wet.

does it spark?

[hokuten3]

when it doesnt start..

does it get fuel?
bridge B+ and FP in the diags box and listen for the fuel pump/fuel flow
crank it over about 15 times, pull a spark plug and see if it smells like fuel/is wet.

does it spark?

yea, when the engine doesn't start, its getting fuel, spark and air compression

[stephen_lee]

its missing one of them.

[luka]

my 5s is doing almost the same thing, throwing a p1300 for ignition circuit malfunction #1. Just over 150k miles


Starts first thing in the morning when its still cold and runs fine, however, refuses to start in the PM after its hot.

replaced the distributor, timing belt, cap/rotor, plugs, wires all within a year.

Ignition coils are not avail anywhere (on island) and have to be flown in from state-side. Otherwise, I cleaned all the connectors and checked for bad wires and hoses.

plan to reset my ecu and shoot the timing today and see where that takes me.

[stephen_lee]

either wiring or coil.

[luka]

pretty certain its the coil.

Timing was was pretty spot on, and after 20 min of failed starts, it finally started and ran normally.

[hokuten3]

yeah, i thought that it would have been the coil, but i changed it with a brand new one and it wasn't either.

[luka]

would you have another ECU to test?

[DEATH]

It could still be the ignitor coil wiring. I had the wiring burn up on me a few years back on my '99 GT
check the wires by feel - do they feel crispy and hard? Is the insulation cracking or looking burnt at all?

[hokuten3]

would you have another ECU to test?

yea, i have another same year celica. but its automatic. would that work?

[stephen_lee]

it should

[DEATH]

would you have another ECU to test?

yea, i have another same year celica. but its automatic. would that work?

it should

Yes - been there, done that. You just can't swap the oposite way [obviously]. Just be sure the pins are all in the same places - there were some differences over the years.
You'll get a code cause of the lack of auto tranny but it's easily cleared and you can defeat that code with some simple wiring.

[luka]

After slaving a new coil, still have the same problem. i'll see about getting an igniter to slave in and unwrap the wires

[luka]

after poking around and trying different things, found a little oil in the distributor so cleaned it out and replaced the cap/rotor after they looked worn.

changed the spark plugs and wires.

Had to replace the battery.

car ran fine after all of that for a little while and went back to p1300 no spark a day later.


Pulled the lead from the coil and found it only sparks once when I turn the key to <on> and no spark during cranking.

The wires look ok, but are pretty stiff.

Can't find a way to ohm the igniter itself, and getting to the crank sensor just to check if its dirty is beyond what i'm willing to try next.

All of the manuals I could find are more or less pointing to the distributor or ecu.

besides replacing those, i'm out of ideas...

[stephen_lee]

id try the dizzy

[xrav22]

id try the dizzy

Replace the cold start sensor it is only $15 and causes the problems you describe. Mine was doing the exact same thing for a year before I solved it.

It is on the right next to the heater hose hookup, it is the right hand sensor next to temp gauge sensor.

[luka]

distributor didn't fix it...anyone got an extra obd2 5s auto ecu?

replaced the right temp sensor you described and it didn't fix it either

This post has been edited by luka: Jan 24, 2011 - 7:28 PM

[Crem]

If you work it out let me know I'm having the same freaking issue,I've spent the last 2 afternoons with my head in the engine bay. My SX was throwing a P1300 as well.
I replaced the dizzy and coil done the timing sounded better than it has in months pulled out to take it for a test drive and the engine died 50 m down the road so towed home twice in as many days.
Mine is an auto and just as it's going to change up it all goes to hell. It cranks every time but starts about every 10th time.
Smelt a strong fuel smell tonight so tomorrow I'll look at the fuel system.



Next day......
It has fuel and spark but still not going looks like it's off to the mechanics * swearing and stomping feet* My bet is the ECU

This post has been edited by Crem: Feb 10, 2011 - 8:10 PM