can someone help me solve my warm idle pulsing ? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dorifuto.boi · 07-15-2010, 05:20 PM

hey guys,
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my car vibrates "pulses" during warm idle. i took it to the dealership and paid 60usd for a diag and they said it was a misfire (but my car wasn't throwing any codes ??) and the case was the spark plug wires not conducting as well. (cylinder 1)

I bought a set of NGK wires and replaced them. the engine still pulses.
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i went back to the dealership and got a free diag and they told me that it was a misfire because of the ignition coil for cylinder number 5.

I bought an ignition coil from autozone and replaced the one on top of cylinder 2. (the wires go to cylinder 5)
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so now i've spent 60usd for the initial diag, 40usd for the wires, and 60usd on an ignition coil !!!

its not even a misfire is it ?? because if it were a misfire, there would be a code....
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thanks a lot guys

Nervous · 07-15-2010, 05:24 PM

So, have you fixed the vibration after all? If so, relax and don't think about it. It is useful to replace wires periodically anyway. I just would replace all three, just to be consistent.

dorifuto.boi · 07-15-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervous

So, have you fixed the vibration after all? If so, relax and don't think about it. It is useful to replace wires periodically anyway. I just would replace all three, just to be consistent.

no its still not fixed..... -sigh-

paying 40usd for the ngk wires are ok.

but im just trippin cause i paid 60usd for the diag and they just keep giving me crap about whats wrong

and also i paid 60usd for an ignition coil that i didn't even need (do ignition coils go bad ? if so then i'll quit trippin about payin so much for the ignition coil cause i can keep it and use it in the future)

SexieWASD · 07-15-2010, 05:36 PM

Yes ignition coils do go bad, more often on some engines (GM 3800 series) than others but they burn out, or more often they will crack from heat and vibration allowing water to enter the case.

dorifuto.boi · 07-15-2010, 05:48 PM

ok alright thanks guys. i'll quit tripping about the money.

im not going to go back to the dealership to pursue this vibration problem. gonna find a better shop.
but do yuu guys think that the dealership is wrong about the misfire ? cause shouldn't all misfires throw a code ?

***fenixus*** · 07-15-2010, 05:51 PM

not sure, but it might be related to dirty fuel injector on that cylinder as well. you have a new set of Bosch plugs, right ?

have you tried adding 24oz bottle of chevron techron into a gas tank ? it will not do miracles, but can help remedy situation if it's related to dirty fuel injectors. also how old is your fuel filter ?

another thing (this one is painful to diagnose) would be a vacuum leak somewhere (might be around the fuel injector o-ring/grommet as well).

i think this actually is a misfire, just very rare and random, so ECU cannot ever confirm it (2 trip logic). my engine was heavily misfiring at idle for some time and so far I have seen only once a pending code for it (never a solid code).

dorifuto.boi · 07-15-2010, 05:56 PM

yeah i just put my bosch spark plugs a few days ago. i know bosch sucks for toyotas (well i just found out lol) but its only been on a few days. so i HOPE its not that. .....cause i mean this problem appeared before i replaced the spark plugs anyways.

i'll go grab a bottle of injector cleaners and see if it works.
im not sure about the fuel filter. i JUST bought this car so i have no history of it

***fenixus*** · 07-15-2010, 06:03 PM

if this is a relatively new purchase, also pay attention to the coolant level, check at same temp (either hot or cold) to compare.
how is the oil filler cap looking (threads), any milky buttery stuff on it ? any leaks under car (fluids) ?

flushing ALL fluids with new ones is a good practice for all "new" cars, i learned it the hard way, though i don't think it will solve the problem, but it might help avoid other problems in future.

what year, model and mileage is it again (cannot find that info now) ?

dorifuto.boi · 07-15-2010, 06:05 PM

1999 toyota camry 1mz-fe

no leaks at all

im planin on doin a tranny flush when i get my clutch/flywheel replaced hopefully next week (err not flush, fluid replace)

what do yuu mean about the coolant ? i don't get it

whats the oil filler cap ? is it the cap on top of the engine that covers the hole yuu pour engine oil into ?

thanks

***fenixus*** · 07-15-2010, 06:20 PM

well, if coolant level stays same then nothing to worry about. was just thinking out loud, if coolant level was dropping over short time and motor oil or oil filler cap (yes that's the one) was having sort of milky residue on it, then it would point to a blown head gasket. that *could* cause some uneven engine operation (due to uneven compression between cylinders).

but don't worry about it if coolant level stays same every day.

dorifuto.boi · 07-15-2010, 06:22 PM

coolant levels seemed to have been the same every day. i'll check the filler cap. or maybe i'll go change the oil and see if any coolant leaked into the oil ? any other signs of blown head gasket except for coolant leakin into the oil ?

i wonder what else would be causing the crappy warm idle.........

***fenixus*** · 07-15-2010, 06:48 PM

i think also coolant color might turn brownish if there was a leak between oil vs coolant. so if it looks clear and have the right color, it's probably good (check oil filler cap for milky/buttery residue anyways).

other than that, crappy warm idle may be related to a vacuum leak. and tracking those things is the biggest pain in the ass out there ... I already spent a few months (weekends mostly) on that and still not done ... sigh ...