ST204 error code 12... what next?

[willwal98]

Hey guys,

My little sister has an ST204 that's been causing me some headaches. A few weeks ago she went home for lunch (about a 10 minute drive) and the car would not start when she tried to go back to work (about 30 mins rest, turned over just fine). The problem was intermittent but I got a code 12 which seemed to be ignition problems. I changed the distributor cap and rotor button and it ran fine for a couple of weeks.

Yesterday she went to work, didn't go home for lunch but the car wouldn't start to go home after work. Rechecked the codes and it's still giving a 12 and the car has no spark. I have since tried a working set of leads, plugs and the ignitor and it's still the same.

I am leaning towards a distributor problem but i'm keen to get some opinions from you guys before I rip it out... any ideas?

[Vios-GT_07]

common fault is the distributor.. but if it's anything like a 5S camry, it's the crank angle sensor that's stuffed as well.. if you're really unlucky, they're both stuffed.

[willwal98]

Are the distributors repairable or throw away? I'm assuming the CAS is in the distributor on these, right?

[willwal98]

OK, took the distributor to the auto elec for testing. He said the coil was bad, swapped that. The car started great, went for a little drive, all good. After about 20 mins the car would not start again and gave the error 12 once more.

So I think I have done all I can, next step is to get it back to the auto elec so he can do some more testing.

[willwal98]

I took the car into the auto elec today and he said the ignitor is faulty. So now the search begins for a good one.

Don't spose anyone watching this thread has one?