1996 Toyota Estima (Previa) Supercharged Mid-engine

Maintenance/Repairs
1

Any advice much appreciated here!

Bought this van without vetting it as I normally would–had to have a RHD vehicle for USPS work. Trusted the seller: Big mistake!

Context: Van ran fine for a few days then in the SC summer heat it would start dying due to EGR issue, per advice from shop mechanic (no longer available).

I removed the EGR, cleaned the flow channels, verified up-down action of the valve itself. Verified that the vacuum activator area was holding pressure.

Let the dang car sit for over a year PRIOR to refitting the EGR. Now it still won’t run. Replaced the fuel filter.

Motor will fire now IF I resort to starter fluid, but it will not run past that point. Nothing. Checked fuel pressure/flow at base of fuel filter (per manual instructions). Registered nothing.

So I assume this is a fuel supply/pressure issue and not an ignition issue. But overall, I dunno!

Far as I know the fuel pump was ok when it went down before. But fuel is not getting to the motor now. Makes me wonder if maybe it was NOT the EGR in the first place but maybe the fuel pump or something else all along. (EGR maybe not the issue or not the full issue?)

Question: Before I attack the big shadetree job of dropping the tank and checking and maybe replacing the fuel pump, what OTHER checks might I try to diagnosis this non-start, no run issue?

I don’t have a code reader. Maybe I should get one for this van but I don’t know how GOOD of a code reader I’d need to get a reliable pinpoint issue to pursue.

Recommendations for moving forward in this diagnosis/repair much appreciated! I’m going insane here!

Van has only about 88,000 miles on it. Is clean inside. Maybe some issue arises from letting it sit. (I have not removed old gas and replaced with fresh–I can do that and would have to in order to replace fuel pump. But fuel tank is FULL of old gas. Dangerous job removing it in shadetree fashion. I don’t think ANY gas is getting to tge injectors anyway, good or bad!

Thanks much!

2

Looks like the fuel tank pays 2.4 hours labor, but the fuel pump only pays 2 hours labor, meaning you might not have to drop the tank to get to the fuel pump… might have an access door somewhere, a lot of JDM vehicles do… Do some more research and buy a Haynes type service manual for it, should be good enough for what you need…

Only so many reasons why you don’t have fuel pressure…

Tip, if working by yourself, get a cheap back up alarm and use it in place of a test light to check for power to the fuel pump, you might not be able to see the test light, but you dang sure will be able to hear that back up alarm…

3

Why did you buy a 30yr old car for work/daily use? Since it’s sat for 1 yr, what other rhd car are you using now?

2 Likes
4

Great. Thank you, Sir.

I do have a manual, but as a newbie, even with that I could not tell exactly what to try next.

I did access the EGR from below AND ABOVE via the access port that gets me to the engine.

However, the top part of the fuel pump is not accessible from up top. I think I have no option but to drop the tank.

I do have a voltage meter to check power, once I can get to the top area of the filter.

I’m betting it’s the fuel filter anyway. I just HATE fooling with dropping the tank. And naturally it’s full!

OK, thanks again!

1 Like
5

Find the fuel pump relay. Get your voltmeter to check for voltage at the relay to feed the pump (big wires) and to trigger the relay (little wires). The trigger might have 12 volts indicating a ground switched relay. Have a friend turn the ignition crank the starter, with the relay out. Check for 12 volts from the supply and also from the relay trigger (if it was not showing 12v already) or check for ground if it is a ground switched relay. If all it right at the relay, swap the relay and see if the pump runs.

NOW you can drop the tank and check the power wire to the pump for resistance from the relay and then check for resistance to ground. If all that checks out, you need a new fuel pump.

Oh, and fuel pumps NEVER fail when the tank is empty… only when full! Murphy’s Law

2 Likes
6

Before I did anything, I would get as close to the tank as I could and listen while a helper turned the key to RUN but not START. Can you hear the pump running? It should run for 2 to 5 seconds or so then stop.

If it doesn’t run, your Previa may have an inertia switch in the front passenger footwell behind the kick panel. Check to be sure it hasn’t been triggered.

2 Likes
7

While under the vehicle listening for the fuel pump to run, try smacking the bottom of the tank as close to the fuel pump as possible, if it starts running after smacking it, then probably need a new one…

BTW: If you do end up requiring a new fuel pump, DON’T go to Auto Zone or buy the house (cheapo) brand from an auto parts store…

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8

I’d look for mouse chewed wire. Sitting for 1 year?

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9

@Busta , you marked this topic as solved, care to elaborate on it a little more?? Or was that an Oops??? lol

10

Hi. Thanks for your reply! That was a mistake somewhere…didn’t know I did that!

Car not solved. Just could not get back to it till now. Fingers crossed for today’s efforts!

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11

Yessir! I hear ya’. That’s a good question re: why I bought that particular vehicle.

Basically, it’s a “you had to be there” kind of a thing.

As for RHD vehicle(s): I don’t have need of one at present. Gave up the USPS job.

If I can get this thing back on the road, I’ll either drive it myself or sell it. Only 80K miles on it. Very clean inside.

12

Copy. I think I’ve learned my lesson there!

Dropping and draining full gas tanks to check or replace fuel pump–not fun!

1 Like
13

OK, great. Good leads. Thanks.

I do have a multi-meter to use to check voltage at the relay and relay trigger–hopefully I can locate where those are! I do have a manual to guide my search and tests.

More later on it. Thanks!