Engine light comes on, Problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Pencup · 02-24-2009, 02:55 AM

I'll try to explain this in as much detail as possible.

This problem has been occurring for at least a month now.

What will happen is the engine light will come on. I'll feel a lose of power. Somewhat like when its cold and you just start the car. it feels like its trying harder than normal yet giving less power, acceleration speed.

Say i can usually go from 20kph to 50kph in 2nd gear. But when this problem occurs i have to go 1st gear to 20kph like normal, 2nd to 40kph, 3rd to 50-55kph etc.

the rpm's seem different to. for example 20-50kph would only peak 3k rpm but doing the same when the problem occurs i reach 3.5-3.7krpm

Could anyone shed some light on what they think this might be, and possibly if i should see an auto electrician or just a regular mechanic? or if there is any problem solving i can do myself. I see threads where you guys are saying you found (insert code).

Anyway thanks heaps

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99 Camry v6, manuel

bigbird · 02-24-2009, 04:30 AM

that loss of power is your ECU putting the car in limp mode. you need to get the code checked out at an auto place or dealership. if we know the code we can help diagnose whats wrong.

***ASG14*** · 02-24-2009, 10:58 AM

As ^ said.

Without telling us what the CEL is for, we can;t help you.

Pencup · 02-24-2009, 09:34 PM

Taking it into a place monday so il let you know what they say.
ASG14, bigbird. Always helping us out on this forum. Love you guys lol

***ASG14*** · 02-24-2009, 09:49 PM

Post up as soona s you know the code, and we'll go from there.

I'm going to take a guess a temp sensor for the coolant is bad.

Pencup · 02-24-2009, 09:51 PM

I dont know alot about cars but temp sensor was my first assumption, also guessing possibly 02 sensor?
could be many things

***ASG14*** · 02-24-2009, 09:58 PM

Not an O2 sensor.

leosv · 02-24-2009, 10:14 PM

is the code P2195? My engine light came on too, and the possible solutions are O2 sensor and/or A/F sensor stuck lean or lean A/F ratio-fuel pressure, vacuum leak, or MAF sensor fault. I don't know what to start with. I guess cleaning the O2 sensor. I don't even know where the A/F sensor is.
The car runs fine unless I accelerate, and then it hesitates really bad. it happens at high RPM, but ONLY if I'm accelerating aggresively. If I'm just in high RPM due to late shifting, it doesn't hesitate.

Pencup · 03-08-2009, 09:23 AM

Ok guys i had my car looked at last monday...

Turns out that the rear spark plugs (The ones that are a bitch to get to) wern'r put in properrly and were stuffed along with the leads. They fixed them

They also couldnt pull up any code. but they believed it to be the knock sensor.

Car ran fine for a few days as i drove it to work, uni. Yet the last couple of days the light has re appeared and car drives like my old crap 1st gen.

Im really lost, i love my car but i cant afford to take it from place to place.

As i said it drives like descriped in my first post and chugs when i change gears (except after 3rd)

Pencup · 04-26-2009, 05:32 AM

It's been a while since i checked this post but i still have the problem.

Il add that when i start my car a lot of smoke comes out the exhaust for 10seconds or longer. My uncle says its a broken seal or something and oil is leaking into the spark plugs (something along those lines). Also said its expensive to fix. But il fix it if it's a cause of the engine light problem. As long as it wont cost over $500

Also since the place i went to get the Engine Code read couldn't find any engine code, what do people use to find the engine code themselves?

I also own the workshop book for my car if you would like to suggest some things to lookup.

Any help is greatly appreciated

abe88 · 04-26-2009, 10:25 AM

the smoke from your exhaust for the first 10 secs is definately seals and it is pretty expaensive to fix...they gotta take your engine apart, as to why its so sever to let oil into your spark plug bay is another thing...as far as i know the smoke at start up is broken rubber valve stem seals and they leak coolant. So it seems you've got a real problem developing. Was there smoke at startup back when you first started this post?

Pencup · 04-26-2009, 10:39 AM

Yeah there has been since i owned the car pretty much. But the coolant levels havent changed. i just go through oil a little quicker.

abe88 · 04-26-2009, 10:49 AM

I see, well you do have broken seals thats for sure and if the oil is getting into the spark plugs that could cause missfire im guessing and hence loss of power (coz one of you pistons isnt running like its supposed to). Search the forum on how to remove your spark plugs and make sure they have oil on them, and if they do then you know you need to replace seals, if im not mistaken that could cost you up to a grand and a half!

Pencup · 04-26-2009, 10:59 AM

Yeah thats a possibility and i will check the spark plugs tomorrow if its not bucketing down with rain again.

Thanks abe88

I have no knowledge about the working of a car but i have a feeling its something else. Because it drives great some days or for a good hours worth of driving. Then other days it will be sluggish after 4 mins of driving.

I also noticed something interesting.

On the way to work there is a certain corner and just after it there is a small bump. It is not a speed bump. It resembles the bump you get when welding metal together. When i drive over it my wheels slip a little on it and i notice the light will come on 80% of the time and the car will drop in performance.

Hope the above info can shed some more light ^

500KCamry · 04-26-2009, 11:23 AM

If the plugs are oil fouling to the point where misfire occurs, I don't think the problem would cure itself day to day, drive to drive. Oil fouling would cause a drop in power that persists till the plug is changed and the problem is corrected.

Not enough info in to diagnose. Whats the mileage?

Two other possibel sources are an electrical problem or fuel pressure problem.