1988 Camry doesn't start after sitting 8 months
 

Alright so my friend has a 1988 camry and it will crank but not start. It has been sitting for 8 months. I put in fresh gas in it, checked for spark and it is receiving spark although it looks weak it is receiving spark. I don't hear anything when I put the key in the on position. All it does is crank but no start, since their is spark I assume its a fuel problem.


Could the fuel pump have gone bad?

The fuel pump will only run if the engine is cranking over or engine running.

Look around in the engine compartment for a small plastic box might be mounted on one of the strut tower mounts. Inside the box are electrical terminals.

Find the FP and B+ terminals and jump with a section of electrical wire. This will bypass any fuel pump relays and allow the pump to run when the ign switch is on.

Fuel tank and pump access is from under the rear seat via a oval cover plate in the chassis.

You can remove the spark plugs and check for gas getting into the cylinders when cranking over.

Check the air intake system in front of the MAF sensor for debris perhaps caused by mice.

A week spark can cause starting issues. The coil body is known for cracking.

I removed the plugs and cranked it, couldn't even smell any gas at all. Will try jumping the terminals. Car ran fine according to my friend when she parked it for the 8 months.

The fuel pump relay is wired to an air vane switch in the MAF sensor. When air flows into the engine during cranking the vane moves a switch to power the relay. Make sure the MAF sensor inlet is clear of debris.

The engine has a cold start fuel injector installed into the intake manifold. The injector is on a timer activated by the fuel pump relay.