Avensis T25 Spirit Automatic Petrol won't start

[Angelmaker]

Good evening everyone.

I am new to posting in here, although I have been reading a lot of threads over the last few years.

My old Avensis, 57 plate and as described in the topic title won't start. I wonder if any of you have any advice.

Last year I had a similar problem, almost exactly a year ago. On that occasion I had it towed to a garage round the corner from me who had it for over three months and couldn't work out what the problem was. It was then taken to a Toyota specialist who fixed it within a week. The sensor for the fuel intake manifold needed replacing.

The car has been running fine since then but about a week ago less than a minute after starting it up and then putting it in reverse it jolted suddenly, then again when I went in reverse again. After that it was fine. Then on Friday morning when I started her up and went in reverse the same thing happened except this time the engine went off. It wouldn't start again after that.

The recovery company said tye Battery could do with replacing but it should be able to start the car, there is some kind of electrical fault.  I noticed that the engine coolant had gone down a lot since I last checked it. There was some still in the reservoir but very low. Topped it up.

The Toyota specialist is busy until the new year so I had it towed to another garage not too far from me. He said the water pump seems to be leaking but that isn't why the car won't start. He ordered a crank shaft sensor. He has tried that but it didn't work and now he says that he doesn't know what it can be except the ECU and he can't fix it.

I'm thinking it might be the end of the road for it now unfortunately and time to scrap her but I am reluctant to, especially as apart from the recent jolting in reverse incident it had been running fine. No engine management light on either.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Angelmaker]

I should add that the engine does turn over. The mechanic has said that there is no spark coming from the spark plugs.

[Cyker]

Immobilizer maybe? Do you have another key you can try?

 

[Angelmaker]

I'll have to try it on Monday as the garage tye car is in won't be open tomorrow.

It could maybe be that. I did damage the key slightly a couple of weeks ago but it has been working fine. I was able to unlock the doors with it on the morning the car stopped working. The engine started up and went off after I put it in reverse and there was a jolt/shudder through the car. After that it turned over but wouldn't start.

Could that still be the immobiliser?

[Angelmaker]

I will try the other key on Monday but I can't help but think that the leaking water pump has something to do with it. I have read that a faulty water pump can be linked to the cam belt not working properly. Not sure if that can happen to an Avensis or not.

It could be a coincidence that the water pump developed a fault/leak not long before the car won't start.

There was still some fluid left in the reservoir and the engine didn't over heat at all anytime before it failed to start.

[Angelmaker]

It wasn't the immobiliser. The car is at a proper garage now. Seems to be an electrical fault but also low pressure in all cylinders. Timing chain is a bit slack apparently but not much.