ef9

So Friday night after work my car (92 5spd, 175k miles) would not start. It had ran great all day but when I went outside to leave, it starteed the first time but barely ran for a couple seconds, would not respond to the throttle and died. Since then it will turn over but not fire. I towed it home the next day and checked a couple things. After reading on here about some people having problems with the fuel filter and pump I took the fuel pressure regulator off and tried to crank it to make sure it was getting fuel. Fuel is fine.

I recently replaced the coil and ignitor, I put my still working originals back on and still the same result. Turns over but will not fire. I pulled the two plugs I could get to without much hassle and they were fine other than the excess gas from trying to start it.

There was a really bad rain storm that the car sat through on Friday so I thought maybe somehow magically water could have been sucked into the engine on the intial start attempt so I've let it set until today hoping it would dry out (3 days). Stll nothing.

I'm at a loss as to what it could be. I'm thinking something ignition related but I'm not sure what. I've searched the forums to no avail so I'm hoping someone has a suggestion.


Thanks in advance.

RjRacing

You could have hydro-locked it from going through a big puddle. The car will run afterward but will not start the next time you get it in, it happend to my girlfreinds car last month.

Scooter99

iTrader: (1)

Have you ever replaced your timing belt?

ef9

It didn't go through any puddles. It rained in the morning at work, I drove on lunch while it was sunny again, it was parked during the storm that evening, and it had stopped raining when I got off work.

The timing belt was changed a few years ago but not by me. Would a seized water pump keep the engine from running?

Scooter99

iTrader: (1)

Does it sound like it has compression, or does it sound wierd when cranking?

vredniykot

your timing belt will be gone within 5-10 minutes if the pump seized (the pulley part)

edit: i dont think we've ever heard of this happening on these engines, have we?

ef9

It's got a very open exhaust so I can hear the compression through the exhaust. Sometimes while cranking it and pumping the gas it seems to try harder to start. Like its on the verge but just can't do it.

The last time the car ran was about 6 hours before it wouldn't start. I sat with the car idling and the AC on for about 10 mins and all was well up until then.

vredniykot

it may crank faster because a: there is no compression meaning valves are open/closed at wrong time b: your ignition (spark ) is cut off by ECU beacause of some sensor signal/trouble

99% you have a trouble code
use these instructions to find out what the problem is, pinpoint your problem first
http://www.troublecodes.net/Lexus/ - thanks abboushi

ef9

Wow, thanks for the link. I'll try that tomorrow if I get time. Thanks!

vredniykot

i'll put $1 on the crank position sensor

lol

ef9

Ok so I jumped the ecu tonight and all that I got was a constant flash from the CEL. A flash every .5 seconds with no pauses for as long as I cared to sit there. I pulled the EFI fuse, sat for 5 mins, and tried again and got the same thing.

What now?

vredniykot

hmm, are you 100% positive you connected correct terminals?

ef9

Positive. I just went and re-did it. Turned the key to "ON" and jumped E1 and TE1 with a paperclip at the port under the dash. The CEL just flashes with no pause.

vredniykot

it's definitely some sort of a code
i just went and jumped mines and CEL just came on and stayed on, no flashing

does your CEL stay on when you turn the ignition to on?

ef9

Yep. When I turn the ignition on the CEL stays on. When I jump it the CEL just starts flashing every .5 seconds like its supposed to but there is no pause.