Not Turning over after Ignition Coil change

[Charleston]

I'm truly at a loss here and need help.

My 1999 SR5 was having misfires in 2 and 3, or so the computer was returning... I took it to AutoZone and was recommended to change the spark plugs. I replaced them NGK BKR5EKB-11 plugs, with the same misfire still occurring.

I called up a friend who knows a lot about 4runners and he said it might have been bad "power packs" (ignition coils). I bought 3 new Denso 673-1201 Ignition Coils on Amazon, and just installed them today. After installing them, my engine won't even turn over. I get the attempt to turn over, but nothing more.

I changed back to the old ignition coils, and its more of the same. Car still not turning over.

What I thought was going to be a quick 90 minute Spark plug Job has turned into more headache and frustration than I could have imagined. I've spent $230+ to turn a misfiring car into a broken one.

Any help would be appreciated

SOLUTION: Crossed plug wires. I assumed I had the diagram memorized and I didnt. Im still getting some minor misfire but the car fires.

Tl;dr check your wiring.

 

[nevada]

clicking?

charge the battery.

 

[TRDteen]

Maybe dead battery? Start there, and slowly make a checklist to pinpoint your problem. What happens when you turn the key?

 

[Charleston]

Sorry it's not a clicking, it's more like the engine is trying to turn over with a "RRRRRR RRRR RRRRR" than a click like a dead battery.

 

[TRDteen]

Sorry it's not a clicking, it's more like the engine is trying to turn over with a "RRRRRR RRRR RRRRR" than a click like a dead battery.

Is the CEL light on? Do you have a scan tool? Is the engine cranking, then fails to start?

 

[Charleston]

Is the CEL light on? Do you have a scan tool? Is the engine cranking, then fails to start?

CEL light is on, no scan tool. Yes, it cranks but won't turn over. I don't think it is spark plug related, because it turned over after changing the spark plugs, but I just had the same misfire, actually it seemed worse after the change.

 

[TRDteen]

CEL light is on, no scan tool. Yes, it cranks but won't turn over. I don't think it is spark plug related, because it turned over after changing the spark plugs, but I just had the same misfire, actually it seemed worse after the change.

Well, first things first. 1999's are notorious for having poor gas gauge readings. I would start there and make sure you have fuel in the tank. This has happened to me twice, where the gauge reads that I have 1/4 tank of gas, but I'm really out.

If you have fuel, consider these fixes:
-Starter is failing
-TB needs to be cleaned
-Battery is getting old and needs to be replaced.

After a quick google search I came up with this. Somewhere to start:
"A quick test, when the engine does not crank, is to try to blow the horn, while holding the key in the crank position. If the horn blows normally, it shows the battery and cables are usually okay. This means either the starter has failed or something is keeping current from reaching it. When the horn does not blow, or sounds weak, look at the volt meter in the dash. A good battery will register well above 12 volts. Less than twelve volts present, shows a discharged battery. No voltage reading means either the battery is dead or the cables are not making contact."

 

[Charleston]

Well, first things first. 1999's are notorious for having poor gas gauge readings. I would start there and make sure you have fuel in the tank. This has happened to me twice, where the gauge reads that I have 1/4 tank of gas, but I'm really out.

If you have fuel, consider these fixes:
-Starter is failing
-TB needs to be cleaned
-Battery is getting old and needs to be replaced.

After a quick google search I came up with this. Somewhere to start:
"A quick test, when the engine does not crank, is to try to blow the horn, while holding the key in the crank position. If the horn blows normally, it shows the battery and cables are usually okay. This means either the starter has failed or something is keeping current from reaching it. When the horn does not blow, or sounds weak, look at the volt meter in the dash. A good battery will register well above 12 volts. Less than twelve volts present, shows a discharged battery. No voltage reading means either the battery is dead or the cables are not making contact."

Thanks for the research. I know absolutely that I have gas. Over 3/4 of a tank guaranteed by mileage as well. Driven about 80 miles since I filled up which puts me at least 14 gallons.

I will try the horn and report back, but at this point im ready to have it towed to a dealer and just pay to have it fixed.

What are the chances that all these problems decided to converge at once? Misfire in cylinders then starter failed within a week after 6 months of owning it without a single issue?

 

[TRDteen]

Thanks for the research. I know absolutely that I have gas. Over 3/4 of a tank guaranteed by mileage as well. Driven about 80 miles since I filled up which puts me at least 14 gallons.

I will try the horn and report back, but at this point im ready to have it towed to a dealer and just pay to have it fixed.

What are the chances that all these problems decided to converge at once? Misfire in cylinders then starter failed within a week after 6 months of owning it without a single issue?

If you have the budget to take it to the stearlership then go ahead. I always try to do work on my car, to know it is done right. And if it isnt, I'll learn something new. If you can find a scantool, scan your truck, and see what codes come up. Then go from there. You can always take it to a automotive shop and have them scan it for you. Goodluck man. Keep us updated on what the issue is, im curious to see what it really is.

 

[Zottyzot]

I think there may be some confusion here...
It sounds to me like the engine is "turning over"(= the starter is rotating the engine internals under battery power,) but the engine is NOT "firing" (= the engine begins running via internal combustion)
I frequently hear people confuse the terms (or maybe I confuse them...)

Anyhow, I think it's highly unlikely that while you were changing your coil packs, something else, unrelated, went wrong with the truck. Double check your work, make sure everything was reconnected, etc...

If you don't find anything, I guess it's possible that you got bad coils...

 

[Zottyzot]

CEL light is on, no scan tool. Yes, it cranks but won't turn over. I don't think it is spark plug related, because it turned over after changing the spark plugs, but I just had the same misfire, actually it seemed worse after the change.

If, it's cranking (same as turning over in my eyes) it's not a starter issue.

 

[Charleston]

I think there may be some confusion here...
It sounds to me like the engine is "turning over"(= the starter is rotating the engine internals under battery power,) but the engine is NOT "firing" (= the engine begins running via internal combustion)
I frequently hear people confuse the terms (or maybe I confuse them...)

Anyhow, I think it's highly unlikely that while you were changing your coil packs, something else, unrelated, went wrong with the truck. Double check your work, make sure everything was reconnected, etc...

If you don't find anything, I guess it's possible that you got bad coils...

I think you're right. Its turning over but not firing.

If my brand new coils were bad, putting in the old ones should have fixed it, right? Im going to check the fuses tomorrow morning. Read that on another forum about car will crank but not fire

 

[Zottyzot]

Are you positive that you didn't mix up the plug wires?
That could cause the issue you're experiencing...

 

[zgensler31]

Im thinking it could be the wires, or connections. Spsrk plug wires are usually changed with plugs so it seems like that could be your problem. Are they the original ones?

Other possibility is simply your work. You changed the coil packs, which requires disconnecting a number of electrical connections. Could have missed putting one back togrther or something. I did this with my maf sensor harness and it actuallly had the same symptoms as what yiur having.

 

[Ed_C]

If my brand new coils were bad, putting in the old ones should have fixed it, right? Im going to check the fuses tomorrow morning. Read that on another forum about car will crank but not fire

If it runs with the old coils,then yes the new coils are bad. You did mention there were misfires before so it won't completely fix the problem,you're just verifying the new parts are faulty

 

[nissanh]

Are you positive that you didn't mix up the plug wires?
That could cause the issue you're experiencing...

Wire plugs!

 

[hambob]

By switching the old and new coil packs you've ruled out the coils. It has to be the wires are not installed correctly or there is another problem caused by changing the coils, possibly the wiring to the ecu or the ecu itself. Or its a completely unrelated coincidental issue(unlikely).

 

[TheDurk]

Here I go again:

1-4, 2-5, 3-6: the difference is always three. I would have posted this sooner, but I thought it wasn't cranking which has nothing to do with coils. OP is not the only one to use 'turning over' that way, but it makes no sense to me.

 

[Charleston]

Here I go again:

1-4, 2-5, 3-6: the difference is always three. I would have posted this sooner, but I thought it wasn't cranking which has nothing to do with coils. OP is not the only one to use 'turning over' that way, but it makes no sense to me.

I have verified that my wiring is hooked up right. I found that diagram a few days ago and it was a big help.

EDIT: Having it towed to the dealership now, will update the original post with the solution so other T4rers can get help in the future.

MAKE SURE YOUR WIRING IS RIGHT!!!!! I SCREWED UP AND ASSUMED IT WAS WHDN I HAD IT WRONG.

 

[Charleston]

Wanted to give an update to my problem to help others. Cylinder 3 misfire, Replaced Spark plugs, coil packs, and wires, still having the issue.

I finally drove it to a local Toyota Dealership and agreed to $62 worth of inspection, they say cylinder 3 has 0 compression and they need to take the head? off and look down in the cylinders. If I agree to that, they are charging me $1200, then if I need a new valve it's going to be $1200 on top of that, and if it's a cracked piston, it's going to be another $6-7k ontop.

Am I getting ripped off here? There is no way I'm paying more than the cost of my car to get PART of a new engine put in. I feel like it has to be more simple than this.

What the hell causes an engine with 150,000 miles on it to need $8k worth of parts and labor?