Hey guys, I am a lurker on here. As the title states I have a bit of an issue. The car is auto. It will start fine when cold, it will drive fine for a day. But then all of a sudden it just wont start randomly. What is happenning when I turn the key is it kind of sounds like the timing belt snapped, but when I put my foot on the gas it starts making a different sound and its like its just about to start but just doesnt catch, take my foot of the gas goes back to the sound where is sounds like a broken timing belt.

If I leave it for a couple hours, it starts right up like nothing happenned. (not sure if its a temperature thing)

Things I've changed recently to solve the issue (not in order):
- Distributor
- Starter
- spark plugs
- fuel pump

I have a feeling its a bad ground or a temp sensor or something.

Do you guys know a link for the actual Toyota manual for this car?

Thanks guys. Let me know what you think.

It'll turn over endlessly but not catch?

Do our cars have knock sensors? I know a bad knock sensor will send a faulty signal and the engine will fire incorrectly. Same as bad cam or crank sensor.

Its def something electronic over heating

>

Exactly. But a couple hours later it starts up like nothing happenned. Its tough to diagnose it since it wont happen all the time. When I do trouble shoot I basically have to only drive to places where I can get a quick ride and/or leave it there for a bit till I can start it up again.

Real pain in the ass.

Knock sensor hmmmm, I will check. I remember I had a VW and it did something similar but would stall once it hit a certain temp and I wouldnt be able to start it back up until maybe 10 min later after it cooled a bit. Ended up being a speed sensor on the tranny, do we have something like that?

This post has been edited by 6gfreak: Jan 23, 2012 - 1:32 PM

Sounds like www hat happened to my 91 celica when he igniter module was going out

It's difficult to diagnose something like this over the Internet. I say check spark and fuel. Do you have a security system that could be cutting fuel? Timing could have skipped a tooth but I'm overlooking that right now. Did anything you replaced affect the issue at all? Check your IAT to make sure it's plugged in and working. No check engine light, I assume?

I realize it is pretty tough to diagnose on here. I’m really hoping that someone would be able to say “OH! I had the exact thing happen to me, Its the ____________________”

- Yes Spark
- No security system
- Not timing belt cause after it sits, its perfect.
- No exactly the same symptoms after I changed each part
- I guess thats something I can grab a couple of from the wreakers and trouble shoot (IAT) but it is plugged in
- No check engine light.

So for anyone that end up having the same problem.

It ended up being the fuel pump relay.