1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Intermittent Spark, No start on 95 Taco 2.7

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by forsparta808, Aug 11, 2022.

  1. Aug 11, 2022 at 6:58 AM
    #1
    forsparta808

    forsparta808 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2022
    Member:
    #403321
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Vehicle:
    Rusty 1st Gen 1995
    Stock
    Hello Tacoma World,
    Recently acquired a 95 Tacoma with the 2.7. Ran great first couple of weeks and then simply shut off one day after acting down on power. I have browsed these forums looking for answers but not a lot available on the 95 with the coil inside the distributor. So far I have checked:

    1. Grounded spark plug, occasionally would get a spark but very intermittent.
    2. Replaced coil, plugs, cap and rotor.. now have no spark :boom:

    3. Replaced igniter, verified wiring was intact on harness to all sensors

    4. Cleaned maf sensor, tried unplugging IAT sensor on airbox per forum suggestion

    5. Verified cams are turning, firing order correct on plug wires

    Only thing I can see left is crank sensor or pick up coil in distributor (only sold as dist. unit)

    Both parts are expensive and hard to source, before I throw more parts at her, is there any suggestions from someone familiar with this oddball first year?

    Thanks for any help, hoping to get her going soon as a winter truck in MN

    1995 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 Auto 4x4 180k miles
     
  2. Aug 11, 2022 at 12:02 PM
    #2
    forsparta808

    forsparta808 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2022
    Member:
    #403321
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Vehicle:
    Rusty 1st Gen 1995
    Stock
    I have also checked asm fuse and the engine is getting fuel, have a strong smell of gas while cranking.

    Pulled efi relay to prevent flooding and this is where I currently stand. I am unable to find a pickup coil alone but crank sensor is available.

    I have searched everywhere for specs on a pick up coil test to no avail.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2022
  3. Aug 12, 2022 at 10:15 AM
    #3
    Smokestacks

    Smokestacks Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2020
    Member:
    #333324
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    BayArea
    Vehicle:
    1996 3.4L 4x4 Tacoma extra cab MT.
    Eaton Truetac limited slip Bilstein 5100s struts set at 2” 5100s shocks Torch add a leaf B&M short throw shifter Hella h4 headlights Warn front hitch Curt rear hitch Sony DSX-GS900 Deck Custic 1000watt amp Alumpro 10” sub Lund Steel Gullwing tool box Broadway rearview mirror Weather tech window deflectors
    Have you ran a compression test?
     
  4. Aug 12, 2022 at 12:50 PM
    #4
    forsparta808

    forsparta808 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2022
    Member:
    #403321
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Vehicle:
    Rusty 1st Gen 1995
    Stock
    Have not ran a compression test as I am hunting for the spark issue. Is this test to verify the timing belt is intact?
     
  5. Aug 12, 2022 at 1:16 PM
    #5
    Smokestacks

    Smokestacks Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2020
    Member:
    #333324
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    BayArea
    Vehicle:
    1996 3.4L 4x4 Tacoma extra cab MT.
    Eaton Truetac limited slip Bilstein 5100s struts set at 2” 5100s shocks Torch add a leaf B&M short throw shifter Hella h4 headlights Warn front hitch Curt rear hitch Sony DSX-GS900 Deck Custic 1000watt amp Alumpro 10” sub Lund Steel Gullwing tool box Broadway rearview mirror Weather tech window deflectors
    No but I think you’ve stated you have gone through all the basic things to get a engine to fire other then compression. Timing is another but I think you would notice.

    Edit.
    oh I’m sorry I missed read you saying no spark for it’s working and still not firing
     
  6. Aug 12, 2022 at 1:22 PM
    #6
    forsparta808

    forsparta808 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2022
    Member:
    #403321
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Vehicle:
    Rusty 1st Gen 1995
    Stock
    No spark at the moment. Initial test would produce a spark after a few rotations of the engine but it was very random when it would occur. Fuel was still being injected into the engine until I pulled the relay.
     
  7. Aug 12, 2022 at 1:27 PM
    #7
    Smokestacks

    Smokestacks Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2020
    Member:
    #333324
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    BayArea
    Vehicle:
    1996 3.4L 4x4 Tacoma extra cab MT.
    Eaton Truetac limited slip Bilstein 5100s struts set at 2” 5100s shocks Torch add a leaf B&M short throw shifter Hella h4 headlights Warn front hitch Curt rear hitch Sony DSX-GS900 Deck Custic 1000watt amp Alumpro 10” sub Lund Steel Gullwing tool box Broadway rearview mirror Weather tech window deflectors
    So it’s worse after installing new parts?
    How are you testing for spark?
     
  8. Aug 12, 2022 at 1:42 PM
    #8
    forsparta808

    forsparta808 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2022
    Member:
    #403321
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Vehicle:
    Rusty 1st Gen 1995
    Stock
    Grounded spark plug, checked various cylinders with same result. Yes, it now has no spark. However, after a few hours of searching I finally gave in and purchased a service manual with the resistance tests. There is very little info about this one year only it seems ignition system
     
  9. Aug 12, 2022 at 2:02 PM
    #9
    alexh

    alexh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Member:
    #4706
    Messages:
    343
    Vehicle:
    1998 TRD
    I'm not familiar with 4cyl but in the manual there is resistance check for Cam and crank sensor, did you find that?

    Going from memory its not in the ignition section ,I think its in diagnostic section.

    With some older cars I had this problem and actually hooked a scope to see the pulse from sensor but I know not everyone has this laying around. If you have a analog style meter you may be able to at least see the meter needle kick.

    I just looked up operation of Hall effect sensor and you need voltage applied. Reason I say this is that on that older car (late 80's) it must have been a simple coil pickup because I remember even with distributor out of car it would kick when turned. I dont think the modern ones work like this. That one was a bear to diagnose, old distributor kicked but weak compared to new one.

    Probably just start with res check since its easier.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2022
  10. Aug 12, 2022 at 2:37 PM
    #10
    pulldo

    pulldo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2014
    Member:
    #124586
    Messages:
    538
    Gender:
    Male
    houston, texas
    Vehicle:
    95 dlx, 2.7l, 4wd, 5 spd.
    Seems like I remember this same problem here on the forum a few years back,, the guy was going through the same thing you are, and he ended up replacing the dist. That fixed it,,, now this is the best I remember for a old man.
     
  11. Aug 12, 2022 at 2:41 PM
    #11
    alexh

    alexh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Member:
    #4706
    Messages:
    343
    Vehicle:
    1998 TRD
    Or some people have so many extra parts they can try swaps, I'm moving in that direction (not intentionally) but wife says garage and side of house is starting to look like Sanford and Son - if you are old you know what that is...
     
  12. Aug 12, 2022 at 2:44 PM
    #12
    pulldo

    pulldo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2014
    Member:
    #124586
    Messages:
    538
    Gender:
    Male
    houston, texas
    Vehicle:
    95 dlx, 2.7l, 4wd, 5 spd.
    Soon be 75yrs and counting,,, plenty of gray hair to,

    but yeah, I resemble that remark, hard for me to chunk perfectly good parts, :cool:
     
  13. Aug 12, 2022 at 2:51 PM
    #13
    forsparta808

    forsparta808 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2022
    Member:
    #403321
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Vehicle:
    Rusty 1st Gen 1995
    Stock
    Have been leaning towards it being a distributor issue, most likely the pick up coil but they are not sold separately anymore.

    Going to go through the resistance tests this evening and I'll update what I uncover. Also will post up a few pages of this manual to help someone else out diagnosing the "coil in distributor" 1995 model.

    Also the service manual shows camshaft sensor as part of the distributor with the crankshaft sensor being the only one "Testable"

    Thank you for the quick replies, looking forward to some winter fun in this old girl
     

Products Discussed in

To Top