CEL: Engine running too rich...?

[Camry LE 94]

I brought my 96 Camry I4 A/T to Auto Zone so they could plug the diagnostic cable into my car to determine why my Check Engine Light was on... What came up is "Engine too rich" or something of the sort. Can anyone tell me what this means?

[Mike Gerber]

You need to get the actual code and report that back here in order for people to help you. If the light comes back on, go back to Autozone and have the code read again; but ask them to tell you the code number this time.

Mike

[H.Rivera]

the only time ive heard of that is that your car is not burning the gas correctly. thus losing gas millage and power. but it would be beter with a code.

[hill8570]

I assume this is "Bank 1 too rich". Means that the long-term fuel trim for Bank 1 (for a 4-banger, there's only one bank) is hard to the rich side, due to the computer having to heavily richen the mixture beyond the initial calculated levels.Could be due to a misbehaving oxygen sensor, unmetered air getting into the throttle body (usually due broken / cracked / disconnected vacuum hoses), really poor fuel pressure, a dodgy MAP sensor, or a flakey input air temperature sensor. By far the most likely cause in a '96 would be the vacuum hose thing. Take a look at the vacuum diagram on the underside of your car hood, and take a good look at all your vacuum lines.

[96paseo]

Just to add. Take a good look at your large rubber intake pipe that goes from your air filter box to the throttle body. I have seen these split on several camrys. This usually triggers a "System to lean"code but just to be sure. Also, get your ECT checked. If your ECT resistance is too high at normal operating temperature, the ECU will put in more fuel than necessary.