Car will not start, but cranks , no spark

Your problem could totally unrelated, but I had a chevy silverado truck that would die when running. and just like you i replaced the coil,the distributor cap & rotor and nothing. finally after troubleshooting further it turned out to be the wire harness on the ignition switch. what happens when you crank the ignition....there's a wire that sends the voltage to the coil and in turn to the distributor that delivers the spark. Hope this at least helps you troubleshoot further, Good luck!

So the same thing happened with my 95 Camry ...it actually just stopped all together one day and it would not turn on ,I mean it cranked but no spark....so I replaced the spark plugs ,the distributor cap wires and I got valves seals and gasket ...hoping this will make it work if it doesn't then maybe it's the ignition coil... we'll see...crossing my fingers....

My 94 Toyota Camry won't start and it drain the battery when I turn the switch key the light on the dashboard turn of so what should I check for anyone help me on that

Turn key on and use an impact on the harmonic balancer bolt so ecm may re-learn . Note. May take up to 50 starts to actually start.

Has anyone figured out the problem mine will spin over but no spark coil tested fine so I don't know why it's like that please email me at phillipebersole@yahoo.com for any response I'm at a loss

same thing here. Tried new distributor and still. Nothing.

Ignition coil is bad

Got it — that’s a classic intermittent “crank no spark” issue on older Toyotas like your 1991 Camry DX 4-cylinder All-Trac (3S-FE engine).
You’ve done a lot already, which narrows it down nicely. Let’s walk through the most likely causes, focusing on things specific to this engine and year.

• Cranks fine, no spark at plugs.
• Has power to coil, igniter, and distributor.
• Coil, igniter, relays, and distributor have all been replaced.
• Starts after sitting for days → runs briefly → dies again → no spark.
• All fuses OK.

Most likely cause.

• The 1990–1992 Camry ECU (EFI computer) is notorious for leaking electrolytic capacitors that damage internal circuits.
• When the ECU warms up, it can lose ignition trigger output to the ignitor — resulting in no spark.
• After sitting (cooling down), it may work again temporarily.

Test / Check:

• Pull the ECU (located behind passenger kick panel).
• Open the case and inspect for leaking or bulging capacitors or a fishy smell.
• If you see corrosion or brown residue → that’s your problem.
• Replacement or capacitor repair will fix it permanently.

Even though you replaced the distributor, make sure:

• The pickup coil (NE & G sensors) inside is generating signal pulses.
• You can backprobe the ECU connector or igniter input while cranking:
  • NE signal (engine speed) and G signal (cam position) should pulse 0–5V AC while cranking.
• If not, the ECU won’t trigger ignition.

Verify with a multimeter:

• ECU pin BATT and +B = 12V (battery voltage).
• ECU grounds E1, E2, E01 are solid (<0.1 Ω to chassis).
• Igniter ground and body ground bolts clean and tight.

Poor grounds or corroded connectors can cause intermittent spark loss.

If no injector pulse and no spark, that confirms ECU not outputting ignition/injection control → ECU failure 99% certain.

If injectors pulse but no spark, problem may still be in igniter trigger line (IGt / IGf).

Inspect the 3- or 4-pin distributor connector and harness:

• Tug test the wires — sometimes the internal wire breaks near the plug.
• If signal is intermittent, ECU will cut spark and fuel.

Step Action Expected Result 1 Check for ECU capacitor leakage If leaky → replace or repair ECU 2 Backprobe NE & G signals from distributor Should show AC voltage pulses while cranking 3 Check ECU & igniter power and grounds 12V + good ground continuity 4 Check for injector pulse (noid light) If no pulse → ECU issue 5 Inspect distributor connector wires Repair if cracked/broken

Based on your description — starts after sitting, then dies and loses spark again — this is textbook ECU capacitor failure on early ‘90s Camrys with the 3S-FE engine.

👉 Fix: Replace or rebuild the ECU.
Rebuild kits are available, or you can get a remanufactured ECU (same part number) and the problem should be gone permanently.