# Camry 93 2.2L Won't Start after idling **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [December 21, 2016, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524 "2016-12-21T05:52:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baine\_Werny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baine\_Werny](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Baine_Werny)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/1 "2016-12-21T05:52:42Z")
My 1993 Camry was running great until it died while idling to warm up during cold weather. Now it won’t start cold. Starter turns over but no ignition. What should I do? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jdmere](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jdmere/32/3002_2.png) [@jdmere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdmere)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 9:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/2 "2016-12-21T09:11:11Z")
Has the timing belt been changed? ---
**Author:** ![OldcarsRbest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/oldcarsrbest/32/4812_2.png) [@OldcarsRbest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/OldcarsRbest)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/3 "2016-12-21T14:03:43Z")
I’m going to ask a dumb question - could it have run out of gas? I’ve had a defective gas gauge before, thought the thing was barely using any fuel for two weeks til it up and died on me. ---
**Author:** ![Baine\_Werny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baine\_Werny](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Baine_Werny)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/4 "2016-12-21T16:07:36Z")
I don’t know about the timing belt. Maybe not, is there a way to tell? I’m pretty sure there is enough gas, but I will add a gallon and try it. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/5 "2016-12-21T19:13:36Z")
You say ‘it won’t start cold’. Do you mean it won’t start at all? And this happened after an unexpected stall? First guess is the timing belt. ---
**Author:** ![Baine\_Werny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baine\_Werny](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Baine_Werny)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/6 "2016-12-21T19:41:28Z")
I’ve had the car for about a year. About a week ago, it died after running (driving it) for about 5 minutes, but then started up again after sitting for 15 minutes or so. Then a couple of days ago, it was idling to warm up, then died. Now it won’t start at all. Battery seems fine, starter runs turns over fine. If the timing belt is the wide belt on the passenger side of the engine block, it looks in good shape and maybe even new. Thanks again for your help and suggestions! Any other things to consider or look at? ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/7 "2016-12-21T20:04:06Z")
sounds like this could be a fuel pump. Can you check fuel pressure? ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/8 "2016-12-22T01:08:48Z")
Is the engine spinning WAY faster than normal, when it cranks over? If yes, the timing belt probably snapped . . . the good news is you have a non-interference engine You can NOT see the timing belt without removing the plastic timing case cover(s) Do you have spark? Spark testers are only a few bucks, and available at any auto parts store Does it start and run briefly, with a shot of ether? Also cheap, at any auto parts store ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/9 "2016-12-22T01:10:46Z")
Fuel pressure is a pain to check on this car . . . no test port. You have to tee in. Not a problem for me, but probably not easy for a DIY guy, such as OP ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/10 "2016-12-22T01:17:45Z")
To check for a snapped timing belt, remove the distributor cap and then have someone crank the engine over. If the rotor in the distributor doesn’t rotate, the timing belt snapped. Tester ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/11 "2016-12-22T04:07:35Z")
I have a 1.6 L 4afe Corolla of similar vintage. On that engine I can remove the oil filler cap and peek in and see if the camshaft is turning or not during cranking. If the camshaft seems to be turning ok, the timing belt is probably ok. Other than the timing belt, cranks but no start is almost always either a fuel or spark problem. First step is to ask your shop to check for a visual spark at the spark plugs during cranking, and if spark seems ok, do a fuel pressure test. ---
**Author:** ![Baine\_Werny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baine\_Werny](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Baine_Werny)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 4:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/12 "2016-12-22T04:13:11Z")
I sprayed starter fluid down the throttle bore. It did nothing. ☹ Ok, next I’ll test spark and timing. Peaking at the camshaft sounds like a good trick.Thanks again all! ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/13 "2016-12-22T04:22:22Z")
The way I check for spark is to remove a spark plug lead, and install a spare spark plug onto it. Then I hold the spark plug against an engine ground to complete the high voltage circuit and watch while a helper cranks the engine. You should see a healthy blue-white spark jump clear across the gap. Careful you don’t touch any live contacts or any grounds yourself when doing this, b/c it is possible to get a nasty shock . Good idea to wear some thick-ish rubber globes just to be safe. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/14 "2016-12-23T02:33:43Z")
> [@GeorgeSanJose](#): > > wear some thick-ish rubber globes I think I’ve seen some of those thickish rubber globes at the beach!!! Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![Baine\_Werny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baine\_Werny](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Baine_Werny)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/15 "2016-12-28T21:32:08Z")
It was the timing belt. Broken. Had a local shop replace it and the water pump with some other recommended seals/gaskets. $614 parts and labor. Thanks for all your help. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/16 "2016-12-29T00:34:41Z")
Thanks for the update And I’m glad to hear you got the car running again! I’m assuming those “recommended seals/gaskets” were the cam and crank seals. I hope you also got the oil pump resealed, because those seals get hard as a rock, and before you know it, you’ve got a niagara falls sized leak, anytime the engine is running ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-93-2-2l-wont-start-after-idling/97524/17 "2016-12-29T01:17:51Z")
Sincere thanks for taking the time to let us know the result. It’s always good to hear a happy ending. Happy motoring.