1989 Wagon misfire and runs rich

[89bluebetty]

I just bought this 1989 2.0 camry wagon. It has a miss and it is very faint on initial start up. It becomes much more noticeable was it is restarted the second time. It can be hot or directly after I start, kill, and restart. I have replaced cap, rotor, plugs, and wires. The light bule ported vacuum switch was missing/broken off so I replaced it and rehooked up the vacuum lines to it. It helped the initial start up but the miss is still there. I have no vacuum leaks but the distributor is leaking a little bit internally. I have cleaned the inside of the distributor with electrical cleaner. I have also cleaned the throttle body. I have just moved and can't find my repair manual. I was curious if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks, D

[white90dx]

Check/replace the ignition coil. You will probably also want to replace the distributor seal while you are at it...

-Charlie

[zythr]

Originally Posted by 89bluebetty

I just bought this 1989 2.0 camry wagon. It has a miss and it is very faint on initial start up. It becomes much more noticeable was it is restarted the second time. It can be hot or directly after I start, kill, and restart. I have replaced cap, rotor, plugs, and wires. The light bule ported vacuum switch was missing/broken off so I replaced it and rehooked up the vacuum lines to it. It helped the initial start up but the miss is still there. I have no vacuum leaks but the distributor is leaking a little bit internally. I have cleaned the inside of the distributor with electrical cleaner. I have also cleaned the throttle body. I have just moved and can't find my repair manual. I was curious if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks, D

Person wanted to dump this car and unfortunately you bought it.

[89bluebetty]

Thanks for the response Charlie. Do you know what the Ohms of resistance on a good coil should read? I know there are two readings, but I don't what those values are. I knew what I was getting into when I bought the car, this is my third gen 2 car. Most people just say replace the distributor in similar previous posts. Some say it fixed it and some say it didn't. I figured it might be coil, pick up coil, or igniter. I just don't know what resistances they should read since I have just moved and my manuals are in storage. Thanks again for the help. D

[sayers74]

here ya go.....

CHECK RESISTANCE OF HIGH–TENSION
CORD (See page IG–6)
Maximum resistance: 25 k per cord

CHECK RESISTANCE OF IGNITION COIL
(See page IG–7)
Resistance (Cold):
Primary 0.38 – 0.46
Secondary 7.7 – 10.4 k


CHECK RESISTANCE OF SIGNAL
GENERATOR (PICKUP COIL) (See page
IG–8) Resistance: 140 – 180

CHECK AIR GAP OF DISTRIBUTOR
(See page IG–7)
Air gap: 0.2 mm (0.008 in.) or more

[sayers74]

That oil being in the dist. can cause ya problems too.

[89bluebetty]

Well I coil tested bad on the primary resistance and it had a few cracks in it so I replaced the coil and dist. oring. This had little to no affect on the problem. I am going to test the pick up coil and go from there. Thanks for the help so far everyone.

[sayers74]

if the old coil had cracks & oil on it, it was probably arcing somewhere thru the cracks.

Youve probably got a bad pick up coil. get one at a wrecking yard for a few bucks or in a new distributor. thats the only way to get em. (not sold separately)

[Doctor J]

Who will be selling a good car
If car runs rough and emits black smoke despite clean air filter
(and has black sparkplugs)
check the trouble codes;
oversaturated charcoal canister
fuel pressure regulator
leaking injectors