3SFE Randomly dies and then won't restart after head gasket replacement

[Ms55]

Hi all
We have a 3SFE Camry here that recently had the head gasket replaced. Started and was running fine, then while held at around 2000rpm it spluttered and stalled. Wouldn't restart. (Made sure there was plenty of fuel)
We had spark and fuel, so assumed timing was out. Sure enough, pulled off timing cover and found that the timing belt had jumped 2 teeth. So timing belt has now been replaced by someone who knows what they're doing (Not me, lol) timing checked and its all correct, however car will still not start. Fuses appear to be fine too.
Any ideas? Cause getting kinda frustrated with this thing in my garage still!!

[CELICASUPRA7M]

compression test it? might have bent valves when belt slipped. easy thing to check first.

[river]

Hi,

But the engine actually ran for a bit, so I'd assume the valves are okay? And she'd at least try to start even with a bent valve or three.

It's not even trying to start? No firing even for a brief moment?

seeyuzz
river

[pandaah]

3sfe engines should be non interference engines, though i would do a compression test nevertheless as its valuable diagnostic information..

why did the timing belt slip though?.. is the woodruff key in the crankshaft properly? etc.. a compression test will tell you if the valve timing is truely correct

[2jzhilux]

They are definately a non interference motor so nothing would have bent.
Did you line up the cams correctly and remove the lock bolt from the scissor gear?
Have seen this left in and cause the timing to jump on startup.

[Ms55]

Engine was running very well, so would assume that the cams are lined up with each other.
Engine isn't attempting to fire at all.. but sounds normal when cranking (not cranking too fast/smoothly to indicate loss of compression)
Gonna check for error codes and compression test next if i can find a compression tester lol...

[Ms55]

Update: No error codes. So compression test next.

[Cuts]

Update time.

Compression test has been done (i wasnt there for this, 130 on all cylinders i was told)

I went round today and had another look at it and here is the results.

All fuses and relays seem to be fine.
No cracks in the dizzy cap or leads.
Timing rechecked and its spot on.
All plugs and earths are connected.

Then we come to the fuel, when i first pulled a plug i suspected it was flooded because they were seemingly too wet.

Pulled off the fuel return line (just before it goes into the metal pipe that goes under the car back to the tank) and cranked the motor, no fuel came out.
So undid the banjo bolt that bolts the return line to the bottom of the fpr and crank the motor, fuel comes out.
I get my trusty sidekick to see if they could blow through the return line, they did and some fuel gets blown out, so no blockage.
Connect the banjo end and crank the motor again, no fuel comes out.
Took out the rail and disassemble the reg from the rail and the return line etc looking for funny business, none is found.
Put it all back together and crank again with no love.
Once again pull off the return line where it goes to the metal pipe, no fuel comes out.
Pull the return line off the reg end again and crank, fuel comes out. But it doesnt seem to come out untill the engine has stopped turning over. So you crank the motor no fuel comes out, stop cranking and a squirt of fuel comes out. This doesnt seem correct so I'm thinking the fpr is fooked.

Thoughts?

[CLG]

Fuel pressure - faulty pump?

Got spark?

[Cuts]

Yeah there is spark. And the plugs fire fine out of the cylinders, under compression however...who knows.

[pandaah]

fuel only drops off after no spark due to ecu cutting injector pulse..

connect a fuel pressure gauge, crank, see what you get, there may not be enough pressure from the pump (possibly faulty) or due to a blocked fuel filter to pass fuel through the regulator

[CELICASUPRA7M]

If you bridge Fp and B+ in diag box the pump should run continuously, may be that the pumps not getting power all the time, eg ign on and crank position.

Could be Circuit opening relay prob. check fuel pressure first like pandaah sugests

[Cuts]

Tried Fp and B+ and i couldnt hear shit captian.
Keeping in mind how it stopped, went from running to just stopped, no splutter, no slowly drop just stop.
Also remember when pulling the plugs they were quite.

But ill see about checking the pressure.

[pandaah]

sounds to me like youve got a faulty fuel pump matey.. keen to see how you go with this or with fuel pressure readings so we can help narrow it down

[Cuts]

I was thinking about the fuel pressure issue last night. I can borrow the reg off my car and head to enzed or similar place for a fitting to go from banjo to hose tail and use the cold start injector line.