Help with idle issue, 88 Camry Wagon - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mfagus · 05-03-2008, 04:31 PM

Hi guys, brand new to the forum. I just picked up a 88 Camry wagon with 210k on it. Overall, runs very well but I am having issues with the idle being too high. I did some research on the board and found the section about cleaning the throttle body and did that. Now it is spotless. My idle continues to be too high. I do not have a tach so don't know what it is idling at but I know it is definitely too high. I found the idle adjust screw and the idle is already turned down as low as it can go. This must have been done by the previous owner. When A/C is on the idle drops down to an acceptable level but even that seems slightly high to me. I could live with that but do not want to drive down my MPG with driving with the A/C on even when it is not needed.

Help!!! What is wrong and what needs to be replaced?

thanks in advance for the help.

Mark

typesix · 05-03-2008, 06:23 PM

Try checking for a vacuum leak.

mfagus · 05-03-2008, 06:36 PM

Thanks for the tip. Any suggestions where to start looking for a leak?

jtmoney · 05-03-2008, 07:31 PM

well you have an 88, so there aren't that many vacuum lines. find the vacuum diagram sticker on the hood and verify all throttle body connections. also remove and inspect your idle air control valve.

fourdrinie · 05-03-2008, 08:16 PM

Have you check the timing?

mfagus · 05-03-2008, 08:30 PM

Will take you suggestions and start looking tomorrow. I dont think it is a timing issue. Every car I have seen that is out of time runs rough. My car does not, it runs very smooth with no misses. Only issue is a high idle.

mfagus · 05-04-2008, 03:28 AM

I did take a glance tonite. There are 3 vacum lines on the back passenger side in an upside down triangle shape. I followed the top two lines and they do lead somewhere. The bottom line is capped off. Is that the way it is supposed to be?

TBayToyotaBoy · 05-04-2008, 02:49 PM

That capped line, is it rubber or steel? It sounds like an egr line, perhaps... but no, generally vacuum lines are not supposed to be capped. They should all lead somewhere.

mfagus · 05-04-2008, 04:55 PM

It is a rubber cap. Car is really starting to act up. Today while driving in addition to the idle being high it started to surge up and down from high to really high. Also, when this was happening the "charge" and "lights" warning light came on flickering and steady. Also, when the A/C is turned on, the idle drops but then after a little time the idle goes back up to where it was with the A/C off?
I am really starting to think it is a vacuum issue?

Do you guys agree?

TBayToyotaBoy · 05-05-2008, 01:58 AM

It definitely sounds like a vacuum issue. I had virtually identical symptoms when I first bought my GTS Corolla, the guy had neglected it so badly that one of the rubber hoses had a two-inch long crack emanating from the clamp. Replacing it solved the problem completely.

Now to figure out which of your lines was capped-off. Is there an empty port on either the egr valve or modulator?