- 1). Look at your vehicle's odometer. The 1.5-liter Toyota engine is equipped with a timing belt inside the engine. The belt is supposed to be replaced every 60,000 miles in a 1992 year model car. If it has been more than 60,000 miles since your timing belt was replaced, there is a good chance the timing belt may have failed due to age and wear, causing it to jump time.
- 2). Turn the key on in the ignition and look to see if the check engine light comes on. If your car has jumped time, the check engine light will be on. Your car is equipped with an electronic control module (the computer) that generates one or more error codes when it senses a problem with your vehicle. It also turns the check engine light on. This feature is an important tool for diagnosing car problems, especially if you are not a mechanic.
- 3). Attach an error code reader to your Toyota's electronic control module. The electronic control module is located underneath the dashboard on the driver's side of the car below the steering wheel. Allow the code reader to scan for error codes. Decode any error codes that it pulls up using the manual that came with the error code reader or a website that specializes in error codes (see Resources). If your car has jumped time, the codes will indicate a timing problem in the engine, as well as firing problems and camshaft position errors.
- 4). Attempt to start the car. If the car does not start but continues to try to crank there is a good chance that the car has jumped time. An engine that has jumped time will have a difficult time starting because the compression and camshaft timing both will be affected. If the car does start, it may emit a significant amount of exhaust smoke and run very poorly.
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