What would cause compression from from one valve to another

Remove #1 spark plug, turn engine to TDC #1 on compression stroke (you can tell this several ways--put plug in loose and listen for compression escaping, use compression gauge, stick finger in hole to feel pressure (not recommended cause as engine goes past TDC may suck finger into hole), or examine valves if cover is off-you should have intake closed and exhaust closed). There should also be marks on the crank pulley, but the TDC mark can be showing TDC on compression stroke or 360 degrees off on exhaust stoke. If this doesn't help, google search 4 stroke engine cycles.

It depends on which TDC you are talking about, compression TDC or exhaust TDC. On the compression stroke, no valves will open after TDC-this is when combustion has occured, the power stroke. When the piston reaches bottom and starts up on the exhaust stroke, then exhaust valve will open. At TDC of exhaust stroke, exhaust valve will be closed, and the intake valve will then open as piston is moving down.
If you have the intake valve opening right after TDC, you are on the exhaust stroke of that cylinder. The exhaust valve is only open during upward movement of the piston on the exhaust stroke. Immediately after TDC of exhaust stroke, the intake will open as the piston travels downward.

there are many ways. (ill assume the damper pulley marks are ok)
1: valve cover off, watch valves #1, all closed at mark is TDC firing.
2: with cam cover off, front of engine watch the marks. per FSM>
3 the blow rag out of the spark #1 hole trick. ask.:
4: the compression gauge trick. max press at TDC is TDC true.
micky mouse can stick is finger in the spark hole and feel the the intake valve but not me,,,, ok, way 5 a bore scope.......

There are two TDC's, TDC of the compression stroke, both cam lobes will be up, away from the valves. On TDC of the exhaust stroke, the exhaust lobe will be just past the exhaust valve, and the intake lobe will just be ready to open the intake valve. See, as the piston rises on the exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve is open. When piston reaches TDC, the exhaust will close, and the intake will be opening as the piston begins downward again. Coming up on the compression stroke, and on up to TDC, both valves remain closed-lobes are away from valves.

Right, so you have two TDC's-the exhaust stroke and the compression stroke Top Dead Center-and both occurr when the crank hits the zero mark on the timing scale.
Always set timing with the number one cylinder at TDC on the compression stroke. How do you know which is which? If you have a distributor, the rotor will be pointing to number one cylinder tower, when at TDC of the compression stroke. If you are on the exhaust stroke's TDC, the rotor will be pointing just opposite of number one .
If you don't have a distributor, look at the valves for cylinder one under the valve cover. If at TDC of compression stroke, both valves will be closed. At TDC of exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve will be open.
You can also find the compression stroke on number one by pulling out the spark plug for number one, and either put a wrench or socket on the crank pulley and turn it clockwise, or use the starter and bump the engine over in short bumps. Put your finger or thumb over the spark plug hole and feel for the pressure to build up. As soon as you feel pressure on your finger, (if turning by hand, pressure will be slight, but you can feel it) you are on the compression stroke. Stop bumping the starter and turn the crank on around by hand until the zero mark lines up on the timing scale-TDC of compression stroke! The exhaust stroke will have no pressure build-up as the piston comes to top-because the exhaust valve is open. On the compression stroke, both valves are closed as the piston travels up the cylinder.

The compression stroke is relative to the head (actually the position of the valves), so TDC is all the same on the block, the lower end. Just line it up at TDC on #1.

Have you checked for bent valves or broken pistons? If the timing belt broke while it was running, and you have an interference engine, there could be damage from a piston touching a valve.
I don't know if that 2.4L engine is an interference motor. google it to find out. I don't think the position of any mark on the oil sprocket makes any difference.

1 intake down
2 compress up
3 power stroke down
4 exhaust up




if you start with you start with the piston just a couple of degrees past TDC (top dead center) so that it has started its return down


now set the valves so they are closed:
if you have an adjustable valve clearance's then your clearances should be noticeable like 10 thousands ( you should be able to move the lifter ( rocker arm ) and it will be loose up and down


with the spark plug still out; so you can see the piston coming to TDC and passing it to come down


turn the flywheel and watch the strokes and the condition of the valves


1 just past tdc, the intake valve opens and the piston goes down for the intake stroke


2. jst as the piston comes around BDC the intake valve should close and return to tdc with all valves closed ( the compression stroke )


3 just past TDC the ignition will fire and the piston will return down with both valves closed( the power stroke)


4 just past BDC the exhaust valve opend , the piston travels up and completes the exgaust stroke.




and after completing the exhause stroke and arriving at tdc the intake valve opens and you start over again 1,2,3,4

The valves for any given cylinder will be closed when that particular cylinder is at TDC and on the "firing" cycle. Since 4 cycle engines have four "cycles" the piston can be at TDC twice. Once for firing and once when the exhaust cycle is completed and the intake cycle is starting.

Cycle 1: Intake valve is open and piston is travelling DOWN. (Intake)
Cycle 2: Both valves are closed and the piston is travelling UP (compression)
Cycle 3: Fuel has been ignited and the piston is travelling DOWN ( power)
Cycle 4: Exhaust valve is open and the piston is travelling UP (exhaust)

TDC is Top Dead Center, or the point that the piston is at the top of it's travel.

tell me is your camry tuned up?

are you on the right stroke? If it is not tdc on compression stroke it will not ever start. You have tdc 3 different times, once on intake, exhaust, and compression. I bet that is your problem, must be on tdc on compression!