Please help me..car problem, Distributor Options

[94celicany]

My 1994 automatic celica is and always has been failing on me. i attempt to start the car and i hear the engine turn over for a second than it shuts off. My mechanic who is insanely hard to reach told me the distributor is bad. I just changed the distrubutor cap but it still does not work.
So now a few questions,

1. Do i need to replace my whole distributor?
2. If so, is this a hard tasks to achieve?
3. How much does a whole distributor kit for a 1994 celica cost?
4. If this is not the problem, any suggestions of what it could be?

Please, don't bash me or anything. My car and i are not getting along for the past 5 years. Any help would be awesome! Thanks all

[ZGear]

Check to see if you have spark in each cylinders and see if there's any oil leaks into the distributor cap (gasket issue). Most likely will have to remove and install the whole thing. Roughly $30-$150 depending where you buy it from, local shops that reuses parts are cheap, but you get what you pay. Then you have the auto parts stores that will deduct a certain amount if you bring in your old distributor. Takes about two or three bolts that holds it down and twist it to come off.

[bccentaur3]

2 bolts. One on the left side and one on the bottom. 14mm bolts. Unbolt those and pull out. Take it to the autoparts store and have them check the coil. If its out of spec, it could be a bad coil.

[trdproven]

check if the wires have sparks and work your way back, cap, rotor, coil. Also check the condition of your plugs. But honestly, it could also be anything, battery, i've also seen water pump, clutch switch, ECU. Test the simple stuff first though.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Mar 2, 2009 - 1:02 AM

[nightryder]

when u replaced the cap, did u pull out the spark plug boots? if so, make sure they are in the correct order. the cap should be numbered to match the cylinders. the order of the cylinders from left to right is 1-2-3-4 i believe. someone please correct me if I'm wrong.