Here's a wierd one.

1994 Geo Prizm (essenitally a Corolla) 1.6liter 5 speed

Monday, fuel pump dies. It just stops running, electricall is all good, motor turns with starter....but engine does not run.

I tow it to mechanic. They verify no fuel pressure.

Change pump, verify pressure.

No running.

No codes.

So they check electrical, all is good. Cylinders have compression.

FUEL + Compression + Electric = Running

WHAT GIVES? What are we missing.

The car is odd in that it doesn't have a MAF....at least that we can see.

We're scratching our heads here.....

 

So there is spark? Or the electrical is good?

I totally agree with that FUEL + Compression + spark = SOMETHING

so we know compression is good, we know air is getting into the cylinder.

We know there is fuel getting to the cylinder? smell gas when you try to start it?

Spark/plugs are good? They spark when help out of the block but touching it?

I am sure you know/have tried most of those but just checking…

Have you tried spraying starter fluid on the TB? Try it and if something happens.

 

Yes, there is spark at the plug on each cylinder.

The plugs have been checked for continuity, the cap as well. 3 distrubutor/coil units tried as well.

It smells of gas and you can actually light the fumes at the tail pipe.

If I recall, my mechanic mentioned trying the starter fluid trick with no outcome.

Wierd, huh?

 

Uh, yeah.

Got me stumped as well. When you have all of the above something should happen.

Have you tried taking the battery off for an hour yet? Reset the computer, that is the only other thing i can think of right now.

 

Not a bad idea.... I'll pass it on.

 

maybe stupid questions but are you sure theres no blown fuses, every engine ground is good, and you sure that the clutch is pushed in because i once did that for like 5min

 

Your missing air, you need air, fuel, and spark to make it run. I have acutally seen an air filter so plugged that a car didn't run before but I seriously doubt someone on here would forget to check that.

 

Sounds like it might be severely flooded. Are the plugs wet after cranking for a while? if so put fresh plugs in and hold it to the floor when cranking, it should fire up then.

 

the only other thing i can figure besides that last post is the timing somehow got WAY f'd up. if its not sparking at the right time i assume NOTHING would happen....

dunno how you'd screw up your timing bad enough to be totally on the wrong cylinders but hey...its a guess.

another thing would be replacing your sparkplug wires incorrectly. i dont care if you looked at them and they were correct i say go out there and double check they're ALL on the right numbers.

just two switched on a 6 cylinder will make it run like complete POO (speaking from experiance)...so i'd be willing to bet it would do wonders on a 4-banger. lol....

uhh...what else. there is nothing else. shoot....lol.

 

this happened on our old cirrus. we parked it, next morning it craked and nothing happened.

5 different professional mechanics looked over every inch of the car to no avail.
we finally got ahold of chrysler and they looked at it themselves.
it turns out the computer went bed, just stopped working overnight.
they said they had NEVER seen anything like it.

 

how can you not have an explosion when you have a spark, fuel, air, and even compression?

it would be like throwing a match in a puddle of gas and nothing happens...how could that be?

 

Throw a match into a puddle of gas the match will go out... tos a match into gas fumes and you get the explosion

I would also second taking the upper cover off and check the timing marks to make sure the timing belt didn't jump off time

 

oh. i've never tried it i guess i just assumed. hehe...oops.

not even a flame?

 

Don't feel bad most people don't try this... I am not one of those people...

If you were to through a match into gas right after poring it out it would indeed make a big fire but it is the fumes burning not the gas. If you pour gas out and let it stand say overnight and then through a match in it it will not do anything. But if you did that inside and lit a match whatever you are in would go BOOM. The fumes are VERY explosive.

 

Well, it went to the electrician. SOunds like the wiring harness near the computer or in the computer (Not clear......damn spanish language!). SO it was an electrical/computer thing. I'll try to find out specifically what it was.

 

cool thank's for the head's up. sometimes you dont think about that stuff, and its important to.