1992 5SFE missing

[Montanahelp]

I'm looking to buy a 1992 camry wagon with a 4 cylinder and automatic tranny with 260K for $400.00. I havn't seen the car yet, but the owner says it feels like the engine is missing or vibrating when driving. The owner said it ran great until this missing condition. My experience with GEN 2 Camry 4 cylinder engines is that the plug wires or coil are a week spot. The owner thinks it could be fuel injector related, but claims not to be a mechanic. He doesn't know if it needs a new engine.

1.What it the easiest way to tell was is causing the miss or hesitation? I was thinking I would bring my timing light and put the clamp on each cylinder to see if each cylinder is getting spark. It sounds like a similiar condition on a 3SFE 4 cylinder that was cuased by a bad plug wire.

2. Are fuel injectors a week spot on these engines?

3. Could it be a timing belt issue?

Any other idea's? I'm on a low budget and have to drive 50 miles on winter roads to look at it.

Thanks

John
Montana

[Hajoca]

Timing belt issue, not as likely, as it still runs.
bring a sparkplug socket, extension ratchet and look at the plugs. Clean, worn or fouled.

Fuel pressure low due to dirty filter - yes will shake buy car and replace filter
Injector problem, no, unless solenoid connection/wires are bad.
EGR stuck open so that the mixture is overly rich-clean it
broken engine mounts -yes replace

[Montanahelp]

Should I bother with a compression test when I'm inspecting the plug?

[Kep]

Vibrating might well be a suspension problem which wouldn't be surprising at 260000 miles. Look at the rubber bushings in the control arms and the like. Try to wiggle the tie rod ends. ETC...

Normally, I would like a mechanic to look at it (probably about $100). However, for $400 you could spend a lot on repairs before it would be a loss. If you can afford to park it for several days at a time while you diagnose and work on it then it looks like a pretty good deal (especially if the paint and upholstery haven't been abused).

Ask the guy ahead of time if he will let you pull plugs and do a compression test. I would not expect to be able to do that in my area.

Kep

[Hajoca]

If you have a compression tester, bring along a set of booster cables, and some engine oil in a squirt can.

[Montanahelp]

I looked at the car and bought it. I used my timing light to determine the #2 cylinder wasn't getting spark, but after some wiggling of the wires the cylinder started firing. I drove it home 60 miles. The car is occasionaly missing,or hesitating when it is under load going up hill. I'm thinking is is plug wires? Could it be the EGR valve?

[Hajoca]

If you have the time, take the EGR off and clean it, along with the EGR actuator filter.

I think that you got a good buy. a new set of spark plug wires and a new cap rotor would be good to get too.

[Camryamnesty]

Does it miss at idle?
If so can you hear a clicking noise?
If yes shut it off, and pull the wires 1 by 1, and inspect the plastic part of each wire look for little white lines where it may have been arcing. Or just a little hole

[Montanahelp]

It doesn't seam to miss at adle. What is involved in cleaning the EGR valve? Montana doesn't have emissions testing. Can I just disconnect the EGR valve it, or block it off? I bought a new set of plug wires on ebay last night for $20.00.

[Hajoca]

The EGR valve is a simple bolt on (2 bolts) with a SS gasket. From what I recall blocking it will cause error codes, due to other pressure sensors that will indicate insufficient flow.

I took mine off in the summer and soaked the pin and valve chamber in starting fluid and that took all the deposits out.