86 Camry Engine Whine

[Husky]

I'm so upset right now I could cry.

Yesterday when leaving work I came out of the parking lot and a whine from the engine suddenly appeared the car then died. It started right backup without anyproblems and no engine light/ oil light came on.

So I start it to go to work tonight, everything was just fine until about a mile from the house that blasted whine came back.

I get to work and open the hood. The whine sounds like its coming from where the lifters are located. But its not having a loss of power or smoking or anything like that.

The whine is pretty significant and loud and obviously constant. Anybody have any clue what it could be.

I thought it was a belt but all belts were replaced about 10k ago and tension seems fine.

The alt is also newer so shouldnt be causing any problems.

We just started getting really cold here so im wondering if it doesnt like the temp. I've been using the heater for about 2 weeks now and i never used the AC during the summer.

Please help if you can, as i really am at a loss and i love the car.


86 Camry, Automatic Trans 173k no speedo cable.

Update - its now getting progressively worse. The car wants to die after its started and the engine light comes on along with the high pitch whine coming from where the EFI area is.

If i keep my foot on the gas the car is ok. But once i let off it whines for a second runs rough and then dies.. Please help im so poor that i cannot even afford an expensive repair, or car payments or even a new car.

[Doctor J]

Try to get diagnostic code from check engine light. The noise you describing could be produced by power steering pump or kinked high pressure line/hose as well as a bad timing belt tensioneer. Assuming the engine in the car is 2SFE (single cam) and its distributor assembly points toward the radiator,you may have to pull it out and inspect the driven gear for wear and shaft for too much play.

[Husky]

Well i managed to find the problem. It was the Ditributer Cap assembly. The Rotor had pushed up into the DC via vibration and was causing some sorta funky problem. I have never had this happen. Very odd to say the lease but she's purring now that i pushed the rotor back donw. I did just buy a new Rotor so im going to install it here in a few minutes. Hopefully i think its resolved for the moment.

[Kingdom934]

Hmm, if it comes back again, there's a chance the distribitor might be kicking the bucket. Reminds me how my dad's old camry had a bad distribitor which caused it to worn out the cap and the wires bad and quickly.