90 camry 6 cyl starting problems - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

derickstephens · 05-15-2009, 08:02 PM

Just bought a 90 camry with v6. Was not starting. I put a coil in it and now it is running. Decided to change plugs and wires and clean throttle body. Throttle body was dirty. Car now runs, but only for a short time. Almost acts like a stuck bowl on a lawn mower. Any suggestions? Should I clean the body even more, maybe. It never fails to start, it just wont stay started. Or, if it does stay started, when you give it gas, it dies. Help please.

TBayToyotaBoy · 05-16-2009, 11:15 PM

Unfortunately, the 2VZ is a throw-back to the days of excessive vacuum lines. Check them all for leaks before you do anything else.

Another, more sinister possibility, is a head gasket problem. If you can get access to a compression tester, check each cylinder for compression within specs.

How long does the car stay running before it stalls each time? Until it's warm? Or only a minute or two? Once you have had it running a few times (and the engine temp had come up a little), will it start again even if warm? Try checking for a diagnostic code with the check engine light (the Haynes and Chilton manuals describe this process--all you need is a paper clip). If a sensor is throwing signals out of spec, it could cause the stalling.

Hope this helps.

--Tim

derickstephens · 05-20-2009, 10:50 PM

I have it running pretty good now. The idle is now pretty high. I cleaned the iac valve and it did not seem to affect it any. The idle speed was lower before I cleaned the throttle body. I also noticed when it got warmed up and was run around the block it ran good for awhile and then wanted to die. Any help is appreciated.

TBayToyotaBoy · 05-21-2009, 12:17 PM

Okay, a couple of ideas more for you: check the grounds from the block to the body. I've seen this happen on Chryslers and Fords before...one wrong jiggle and the ground "un-grounds" itself.

Also: read what I wrote above about diagnostic codes with the Check Engine Light. Once the engine comes up to operating temperature, the ECU begins reading input from several sensors (when cold, the ECU bypasses these). Check both water temp sensors, heck even the O2 sensor...worst case, the ECU itself could be shot. Often when cars are stored for a long time the moisture in the cabin can corrode circuitry.

derickstephens · 05-21-2009, 12:48 PM

The car seems to be running good, but fast idle as before. Do you know of a good vacuum diagram on this car. I have one hose hanging loose and I cant for the life of me find where it goes. This hose is attached at the other end to a little switch on the back valve cover on the passenger side. What is this switch controlling. It is a small blue barrel shape with a two pin electric lead running to it.

JMSports · 05-21-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derickstephens

The car seems to be running good, but fast idle as before. Do you know of a good vacuum diagram on this car. I have one hose hanging loose and I cant for the life of me find where it goes. This hose is attached at the other end to a little switch on the back valve cover on the passenger side. What is this switch controlling. It is a small blue barrel shape with a two pin electric lead running to it.

Pictures always help us to help you...take some pictures of what your talking about!

Mike Gerber · 05-22-2009, 01:05 PM

"I have it running pretty good now."

What did you do to get it running good? You don't say.

How long was this car sitting before you bought it? How old is the fuel in the tank? Just asking this because sometimes we forget the simple things.

Mike

derickstephens · 05-22-2009, 05:08 PM

The car had only been sitting for a week or so before I bought it. I did find a loose pin in the mass flow sensor. When connected it would run, when it would break contact, it would die. I believe this is why it died in the first place. The other is that I finally found a vacuum diagram and found that I had ended up with a hose and no place to put it. Finally found a broken off spot on the vsv and that is where it goes. I had the line going to the fuel regulator going straight to the vacuum port instead of through the vsv. Can you tell me where to get another valve. I dont really see them mentioned at my local auto shops. Maybe I don't really know what to call it.

Mike Gerber · 05-23-2009, 03:15 AM

There are free Toyota factory service manuals stickied at the top of the Camry forum over at AutomotiveForums.com. I suggest you go over there and download the generation 2 manual. You should be able to find what Toyota calls the valve you are describing. You will probably have to go to a dealer or a salvage yard to get a new one.

Mike