95 Camry w/ 140k miles acting up...

[toyjunkie]

Halfway to work (7 min. of driving, takes 15 min to get to work) today, going 50 mph when the car began to be a little jerky. When slowing down it was more jerky. The car did not accelerate smoothly from 0-25 mph, but after that it would kind-of all of a sudden get smooth (at 30-40 mph it was driving basically normal).

I idled the car in park after work to see what it would do, and the idling seems ok, although it would sound a little funny (like revving) every 5 seconds. When at a stop light, while still in drive, the RPM needle jumps up and down. When driving, the RPM seemed to jump around as well.

Any ideas? I'm thinking distributor, but I don't have the funds to replace things and hope it fixes it! Any help would be great! Thanks!

[haux]

How new are the spark plugs? Spark plug wires?

[eyeball96]

Kinda sounds like a bad tank of gas! Add a bottle of rubbing alcohol to the tank...won't hurt it, and may solve the problem!

[toyjunkie]

Spark plugs are most likely new, just got the car and don't think the previous owner did much to it other than change the oil, etc. When changing wires (if that is the culprit) is it best to change plugs, wires, cap, and rotor all at once, just to rule things out, or not? Is that something I could do myself with minimal worry of messing something up? I've worked on cars all my life, but never on a Camry! Is there anything I could hurt?

I don't think it was tank of gas. I shy away from lesser known stations and go to the bigger names.

[haux]

I was throwing plugs/wires out there as an idea. But if you're check engine light isn't on from misfires, that may not be it.

When you say the car becomes jerky... do you mean it's "losing power" and then getting it back again, therefore jerking back and forth?

Originally Posted by toyjunkie

Spark plugs are most likely new, just got the car and don't think the previous owner did much to it other than change the oil, etc. When changing wires (if that is the culprit) is it best to change plugs, wires, cap, and rotor all at once, just to rule things out, or not? Is that something I could do myself with minimal worry of messing something up? I've worked on cars all my life, but never on a Camry! Is there anything I could hurt?

I don't think it was tank of gas. I shy away from lesser known stations and go to the bigger names.

[eyeball96]

I don't think it was tank of gas. I shy away from lesser known stations and go to the bigger names.

Bigger names sell crap gas at times too.

[toyjunkie]

Yeah, I guess losing power -- as in while accelerating you could feel it jerk - sputter might be a better word... Ugh.

[haux]

Originally Posted by toyjunkie

Yeah, I guess losing power -- as in while accelerating you could feel it jerk - sputter might be a better word... Ugh.

I'd say start at the obvious stuff. What you're describing sounds A LOT like bad spark plug(s). It could definitely be something else too. Clean your throttle body. You can use carburetor cleaner or special STP Throttle Body cleaner. Some people use Seafoam. There have been a number of recent threads about TB cleaning, so just do a search if you're unsure how. I wouldn't touch the distributor yet.

Let us know how it goes, or if you're having trouble with it.

[JustinC25]

I'd also take a look at the coil to make sure it isn't cracked. To do this, remove the air intake tube, and air filter cover. Then remove the distributor cap. pull the rotor off the distributor shaft, and pry the plastic cover off of the coil. Look for cracks in the transparent resin on top of the coil. If there is a crack, then the coil is bad, and will need to be replaced. If not then it is something else. You can do this check in about 15 minutes. To reassemble, put the plastic cover back over the coil, and push the rotor back on the distributor shaft. Next reinstall the distributor cap, and the air intake duct, and finally the air filter cover.
Start the car and make sure it runs good.