1987 Camry Stalling! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Thelovaj · 11-08-2011, 11:12 PM

Got a 87 Camry from my mother-in-law for commuting. It's got 138K miles on it and was sitting around for the last five years. I drained all the old gas and ran premium at first. Surprisingly no oil leaks. Replaced the fuel filter and pump, spark plugs, distributor cap, oil, new battery, and coolant. It's got a good spark and starts every time with a good steady idle. Drives like a champ when the gas is above a 1/4 tank of gas but starts stalling when the gas gets low. The fuel gauge works but fluctuates dramatically. I never run it til it's empty. Made sure by filling it several times and calculated the mileage per gallon to assure its not empty.

The engine never dies when it stalls and keeps a strong idle. The car doesn't always accelerate until I tap the pedal several times until it finally engages. Sometimes I have to pull over to the side of the road and tap the pedal til I can get it going again. Yep, it's pretty embarrassing... It's rare but I've seen the check engine light come on twice and then disappear as quickly as it turned on. The car's been tested for malfunction codes and nothing showed up. TPS, EGR, and all fuses have been checked and working good.

Any ideas? Or should I just kick it to the curb? I'm thinking it could be the new fuel pump.

Doctor J · 11-09-2011, 08:29 AM

"The engine never dies when it stalls" means the engine misses badly but keeps running or the car stops moving when in drive but engine keeps running?

Thelovaj · 11-09-2011, 09:09 AM

The engine stays at idle when it stalls. When I give it gas their is no acceleration. I have to let off the pedal and "barely" tap the gas several times until I feel the engine engage acceleration and starts picking up again. I then switch gears and then the next gear stalls. Giving it more gas won't help. I have to downshift and try the lower gear. Most of the time I have to come to a full stop and then start all over again. A mechanic check the fuel pump he says it's got enough pressure. Hope this helps. Thanks.

'88 All-Trac · 11-09-2011, 11:10 AM

When sitting at idle, can you try manually moving the throttle plate? I'm curious if you maybe have a stretched or failed throttle cable that is still sticking to itself when pulled gently.

Thelovaj · 11-09-2011, 11:13 AM

The cables got about 1/3 of an inch of play but mechanic said it was fine also.

white90dx · 11-09-2011, 12:02 PM

Cracked ignition coil, replace it.

-Charlie

JimBowNut · 11-09-2011, 12:38 PM

The way you describe it, it sounds like it may be a slipping trans.? Did You by chance change your trans.fluid in that old classic camry?

Doctor J · 11-09-2011, 12:40 PM

Lets clarify:when the car is moving, you pushing the gas pedal, but the engine bogs down; if you pressing on the acclerator gently the car picks up the speed.
If you floor the gas pedal in park does the engine seems to have same symptoms?

Thelovaj · 11-11-2011, 10:10 AM

Yes. pushing the gas pedal down bogs the car down. Tapping the pedal doesn't always work. I do that until I can feel the car pick up and start moving again. When in park it's the same situation. I have to tap the gas until the car picks up, shift gears, and then it bogs again. No problems when the gas is above 1/4 tank.

Thelovaj · 11-11-2011, 10:11 AM

I'll check the ignition coil. Thanks.

Thelovaj · 11-11-2011, 10:13 AM

I haven't switched out the tranny oil yet but the car doesn't pick up and the engine doesn't rev when stalling.

es250nut · 11-11-2011, 10:39 AM

I've had this problem before... I replaced the coil, TPS, ECM, and Mass airflow meter then cleaned out the intake plenum with seafoam and that seemed to take care of it. I don't know which of these was the actual fix because I did them at the same time.

white90dx · 11-11-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelovaj

I haven't switched out the tranny oil yet but the car doesn't pick up and the engine doesn't rev when stalling.

Just so you are clear on the terms - stalling in the car world normally means that the engine stops rotating, not just stops accelerating. That's where most of the confusion on the thread happened. Better terms would be hesitating or bogging.

I'll say it again - replace that ignition coil...

-Charlie

Thelovaj · 11-11-2011, 11:13 AM

All of those would make sense. I know the TPS is good, so I'll get the other parts and switch them out. I just don't know why it only bogs down when it gets to a 1/4 tank. Something is telling the car that it doesn't have enough fuel or it requires more fuel. But, I'm still getting at least 30 miles to the gallon as normal.

white90dx · 11-11-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelovaj

All of those would make sense. I know the TPS is good, so I'll get the other parts and switch them out. I just don't know why it only bogs down when it gets to a 1/4 tank. Something is telling the car that it doesn't have enough fuel or it requires more fuel. But, I'm still getting at least 30 miles to the gallon as normal.

Any chance that it happens more when the weather is especially wet? Maybe it has just happened to coincide with the fuel level?

-Charlie