92 camry stalled and won't restart

Hoping you can direct me on what to check re our otherwise super-reliable 92 camry 4cyl 2.2. Some background -it has a finicky idle - when hot, idle can run super low from time to time, sometimes almost to stalling, but usually I drive the car and I've learned to work around it (give it a little gas when car is stopped to avoid stalling, etc. We've tried replacing the IAC valve with another one from wreckers and didn't help the problem much. Also cleaned the throttle body regularly and still doesn't help that much) Today our son drove it to a friend's house just down the street. He's not that experienced driving the car when the idle is acting up. Put the car in park, and it was still running, and went to ring the doorbell. When he got back to the car it had stopped running. He tried to restart and it turns over real good, but didn't ignite. We got there about

a minute later and tried to start. We could smell gas so we assumed - maybe? - the car stalled and then when we tried to restart, the engine flooded? Because there was a definite gas smell. Son kept swearing he didn't flood the engine. Pushed the car back to our house, let it sit for a while. Tried to start again. Engine turns over real good, but doesn't start. Waited a while longer and tried again, same thing. What would you suggest we check first - spark plug wires? distributor coil? I've been reading a lot of other posts about similar problems this but would appreciate some fresh advice. Thanks

Reply 1 : 92 camry stalled and won't restart

Last time that happened to me, it was my timing belt that was broken...



I'd start the car, kept trying to start it and it flooded the engine. Nothing serious, but that's just what happens. I'd look at the timing belt....