Erratic idle, missing at higher speeds

[Bennyhonda]

I know... another rough running Camry problem. I did a forum search and read a lot of them, but none seem to encompass the same symptoms as mine.

When the car started doing this, it was only at idle, not at higher speeds but it gradually got worse and now does it all the time. One strange thing:say I'm driving 60 and the bogging begins... if I let off the gas for a second and then reapply to maintain 60, the car will sometimes run fine. Other times, the bogging will reoccur seconds after doing this.

Since the symptoms began, I've changed the fuel filter as well as the distributor cap and rotor. Plugs are about a year old. Added fuel injector cleaner several times. Still no love. I've just ordered new plug wires and I figured I'd take off the Throttle body and intake to clean it (the butterfly is not very dirty at all) when I install the new wires... also, it'll give me easy access to the rear plugs, which I'd like to inspect again.

If this doesn't help and the spark plugs look good, where would you go from here? I was thinking injectors or possibly the ignition coil? If this is the next step, how does one go about testing these?

If you'd try something else first, I'm all ears.

Thank you.



Ben
Portland OR
1990 Camry LE
V6, Auto w/144k

[Phils Camry]

Check your air filter to fuel injection intake hose....the big black one. I had this problem. The hose had a pinhole in it. Eventually it got bigger to where the car would stall and wouldnt even run. Maybe it s loose. Try that first.

[chuck_arvin]

I think you were on the right track with doing stuff to the ignition system but I think it may be the coil inside of the distributer. I had a corolla that did this. I bought another distributor from the junk yard and put my cap, button, and wires on it. You can also replace just the coil but it involves more work as the distributor need some disassembly to get to it. I also had a similar problem with my camry with 2.0L 4-cyl and it was from the seal inside the distributer let oil leak into the distributer from the head. I pulled the cap off the distributer and about 1/2 cup of oil came out and ran fine for about 30 miles then started again.

[Bennyhonda]

Well,

Today I cleaned the throttle body and put the new wires on. I'm not 100% certain but it almost seemed like one of the wires had come loose (wishful thinking) in the rear. That certainly could have caused the problem I was experiencing. I would have found out today if I hadn't broke the bimetal vacuum switch valve while installing the throttle body. Why they couldn't make these out of solid metal is beyond me. $63 for a new one! I'm heading to the junkyard tomorrow. Wish me luck.

EDIT: It's all better now. Must have been the wires. Thanks for the advice ya'll.

[1883atlantics]

How odd, I just started having almost the exact same problem. 140k miles, 90 V6 Sedan Le. Wow. I was just going to post a question on this. Now I know to go check for a set of wires after doing a primary inspection. I had the spark plugs done along with the timing belt and water pump about 2 years ago so I hope the plugs are not the issue (that rear bank is a pain to get to). I think I'll inspect the cap, etc while I'm at it.
Does your V6 leak oil around the rubber grommets on the valve covers?
Jeff