99 4runner wont start, please help

[4runnerlife]

hello guys,
i am new to the forum and i truly hope you experts can help me understand how to fix this issue... my car is 99 4runner v6 3.4, stopped while i was driving it, and just wont start since.
it does make a noise of the starter turning and trying to turn it on,
i have checked the fuel pump and it is making a noise like its working, the relay that send power to it make the clicking sound that it should (from what i read here in the forum), there is fuel in the system, ive checked the efi fuse and its ok, so i have no idea what to check up next?
maybe to see if there is any spark from the spark plug cable?!
another person suggest that one bad spark plug can cause it, could it be?
and how about the fuel filter located under the car, can it cause something so dramatic as to not start the car?
please help, i don't want to take the car apart, i rather eliminate one issue at a time and move on to the next possible option.
i thank you very very much for help.

 

[Baja Runner]

See if you can pull a code. How much charge does the battery have? Possibly something electrical..

 

[STRRAYNGE]

Timing Belt???

 

[3rd gen king]

I believe it is a weak battery?

 

[4runnerlife]

do you think it can be a timing belt? wouldn't then the water pump should brake all water out? and i always thgout that once the timing belt is broken the engine get stuck, is that right?
i will try to connect it to a code reader.. does this thing show if timing belt is broken or not?
thanks

 

[4runnerlife]

its not the battery, ive connected it with jumper cables to another car to make sure, and the starter sounds quick and good.
thanks

 

[STRRAYNGE]

do you think it can be a timing belt? wouldn't then the water pump should brake all water out? and i always thgout that once the timing belt is broken the engine get stuck, is that right?
i will try to connect it to a code reader.. does this thing show if timing belt is broken or not?
thanks

No, unless the water pump goes, and then in turn, causes the timing belt to break or come off, you wont lose your water. And yes, even if the belt breaks, the engine will still turn over, but it will sound funny while its turning, since none of the valves are opening or closing. Luckily these engines are not valve benders. Im not saying this is your issue, but if you have fuel, spark, a good battery that is turning the engine over as it should, I would simply see if your belt is broke.

 

[4runnerlife]

thanks for that, i didn't check for spark yet, i should take one wire out the plug and put like a screw driver next to it to see if it shoots sparks right?!
after i see if i have a spark or not ill go to the timing belt, do you know whats the easiest way to take a look at it?
thanks,
oh and one last thing do you think it can be the fuel filter under the car? or those things dont go bad?

 

[STRRAYNGE]

thanks for that, i didn't check for spark yet, i should take one wire out the plug and put like a screw driver next to it to see if it shoots sparks right?!
after i see if i have a spark or not ill go to the timing belt, do you know whats the easiest way to take a look at it?
thanks,
oh and one last thing do you think it can be the fuel filter under the car? or those things dont go bad?

.
Sure, the screwdriver trick is always how I used to do it. And yes, it could be the fuel filter. But for it to just quit running all at once like that, steers me away from the filter. Unless you ran your tank dry and it sucked up alot of trash off the bottom of the tank or something? I dont know all of the circumstances, but ive had several belts break on me in the past with various vehicles, and it sounds like what happened to you. I was driving down the highway and it just died completely. Broken belt. Replaced the belt, about 3k miles later, water pump shaft broke, and cocked sideways and split the timing belt in half. Stuck on the highway again. Both of these times were in a different vehicle, not my runner, but same type of ordeal you are explaining. I hope its something more simple for you, but im just putting in my .02 on this. Im not sure the best way to check the T-belt on these engines?