97 tacoma cranks over but will not start..

1. Cold weather: Cold temperatures can affect the performance of the engine and make it harder to start.
2. Battery issue: A weak or failing battery can cause the engine to take longer to start.
3. Starter issue: If the starter is worn or damaged, it may struggle to crank the engine, especially in cold weather.
4. Ignition system problem: If there's an issue with the ignition system, such as a faulty spark plug or ignition coil, it can cause the engine to crank for a long time before starting.
5. Viper DS4+ installation issue: The Viper DS4+ remote start system may not have been installed correctly, or it may have a defect that's causing the issue.

I don't need a back up camera but YOU need a mechanic

If the code for the crank sensor comes back, then there's still a fault in that circuit. Check for sensor resistance and wiring harness short or open. Crank sensor resistance should be 1,630 -2,740 ohms when cold. TPS would not cause those symptoms. IAC could cause rough idle but wouldn't affect higher RPMs. Bad coolant temp sensor could also be part of the problem. Bad sensor = ECM thinks engine is warmer than it is and provides too lean a mixture. But fix the crank sensor issue first since that affects the fuel injectors.

Yes it is possible for one or more coil packs to die out; but what is the probability that it has?

What error code(s) are you getting on your diagnostic code reader?

check you are getting a spark from plugs

My personal suggestion would be to go for these repair catalogs. I know this website reliable-store that i used to buy them from, and they sold online it was very good manual. Go ahead, I bet.

There should be a small white ceramic block on the firewall - this component cuts the battery voltage from 12 to 9 volts for the coil and ignition system. It has 4 wires and is called a ballast resistor.
You may need a book with the wiring diagram to be able to test it. You should have battery voltage going in and something like 9 volts coming out.
You can also run a wire with a fuse from the battery to the positive side of the coil to check the system. Disconnect the factory wire from the coil first.

I BELIEVE they have A BALLAST RESISTOR Close to the COIL that Will Cause this if they FAIL

ok, try to put all accesories from your old engine to used engine, toyota dont make conversion kit, and the distribuitor is not compatible with your wires

Found this solution and it worked for me on my 1996 Toyota Tacoma and fixed the problem you described...!!! Here it is --------"I Hope You All Appreciate This FAST and EASY Inexpensive Repair That Even The Toyota Dealers Dont Seem To Know How To Fix !!! The Problem Is The Air filter temp sensor. Look On The Left Side Of the Air Filter Housing and Disconnect The Plug Thats Attached To The Spark Plug Like Plastic Sensor Mounted on The Side Of the Air Filter Housing, Now Go Start Your Truck !!! Your Truck Will Start And RUN Fine Now ! Replace The Sensor Approx $59 at Autozone... This Should Fix 90% Of Your Problems If your In the other 10% and it does not Fix it , Email Me and Ill See If I Can Help ! People Have Spent Hundreds and into The Thousand Dollar Area Trying to Resolve This Intermittant Problem At Inept Shops with Illiterate Mechanics ! If Your Happy With This Fix, BE Generouse ! I Do Accept Donations at Paypal Send to [email protected] Thank You JOE Mechaniac"
The answer (above) came from this link and was posted by joe the mechanic on this thread
http://www.fixya.com/cars/t890232-1996_toyota_tacoma_wont_start_when