Timing Belt or Transmission?

[dynasty]

Hi guys, I own a 99 4-cyl Automatic Camry with 107k miles on it. Just the other day when I started up my car, I noticed the check engine light(gosh dangit) was glowing. So I'm wondering what the heck is wrong with it...here are the symptoms I have experienced:

At Idle: RPM wobbles underneath 1,000 and doesn't pass 1,000. (It used to be steady)

When I turn the engine on: It takes a second/half-a-second longer for my motor to start while it used to start just fine.

While driving: At certain amounts of acceleration it takes longer for the power to kick in. RPM goes up just fine but no true acceleration happening until 1-3 seconds later. Oh and sometimes when I'm feathering the throttle to decelerate at speeds greater than 40 mph it feels like the trans. kicks sometimes.(Transmission is lagging in a way, or timing is off or something like that...)

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It would be very helpful if you guys could make some assumptions as to what is wrong, and if possible, tell me how much you think this would cost me at a repair shop.

Thanks for reading and for the help in advance!

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[fenixus]

get the trouble codes scanned for free at local autozone or advance auto and post them all here.

[dynasty]

Alright, I'll post those up as soon as I can, I didn't know advanced auto parts or auto zone would do that for free!

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by dynasty

Alright, I'll post those up as soon as I can, I didn't know advanced auto parts or auto zone would do that for free!

yes they do obd2 scanning for free

[reluctantmechanic]

Originally Posted by dynasty

Hi guys, I own a 99 4-cyl Automatic Camry with 107k^

boy, thats low mileage...has the belt ever been done?

[dynasty]

@reluctantmechanic: No, I haven't replaced the belt for this car, and the belt should be good

Ok! So they scanned it and it said a bad MAP sensor. So we checked it and the wire was unplugged haha. Plugged it back in and within 20 seconds idle was smooth again and the drive home was very promising. But i should drive it around for at least a days worth and then reset the CEL if it hasn't gone away by then.

I have no codes to show because their printer was out for today...

Thank you very much for the advice fenixus!!!
you to reluctant (:

It's amazing how simple the solution turned out to be. (hopefully, this will fix it!)

Consider this thread inactive unless I start complaining again heh

[zythr]

Sounds like your timing belt is going. If you have a delay when you turn the key (ie like something is snagged) before the starter engages and the engine starts, can be a symptom of a failing T-belt

[dynasty]

Originally Posted by zythr

Sounds like your timing belt is going. If you have a delay when you turn the key (ie like something is snagged) before the starter engages and the engine starts, can be a symptom of a failing T-belt

I'll make sure to pay attention for that the next couple times I start it up

[71Corolla]

If your timing belt has never been replaced, you're on borrowed time.

[fenixus]

glad it helped

those cars can really tell you what hurts them if you know how to make them speak

and I agree with other posters, t-belt (and water pump most likely) is due to replacement SOON. they are scheduled to be replaced (together) every 90k miles, but they can last like 120k miles (it's a stretch, like 71corolla said, driving in a borrowed time). think about it to avoid unpleasant surprise in near future.

[reluctantmechanic]

timing belts don't feel like they "snag" they break or jump time. The slow start might be your belt having jumped time, making it harder for your car to run.

a slow start would make me think battery, starter, fuel problem,. but in this case, the code is going to tell us everything.

[dynasty]

Originally Posted by fenixus

and I agree with other posters, t-belt (and water pump most likely) is due to replacement SOON. they are scheduled to be replaced (together) every 90k miles, but they can last like 120k miles (it's a stretch, like 71corolla said, driving in a borrowed time). think about it to avoid unpleasant surprise in near future.

Would replacing the t-belt and water pump be a job for a repair shop to do? And, How much money do you think that would cost me?

Thanks for the input guys, I'll refer back to this thread if this MAP sensor isn't the only problem

[reluctantmechanic]

Originally Posted by dynasty

Would replacing the t-belt and water pump be a job for a repair shop to do? And, How much money do you think that would cost me?

Thanks for the input guys, I'll refer back to this thread if this MAP sensor isn't the only problem

this is a pretty easy diy - there is a video tutorial called "toyotarepairvideos.com" I think for 14 bucks, you can watch them do one...I recently did my moms car, and the video was very useful.

I think with belt, waterpump, tensinor, maybe the cam seals? 100-200 bucks.

[fenixus]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

there is a nice timing kit for 98-01 camry 2.2L on ebay.

another one which is great is sold by Rockauto.com:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1798460
at $153

local shop charges from 3.5hrs labor up to 5.9hrs labor on timing job depending if they do the oil pump seals/gaskets or not. hourly rate here is like $60/hr cheapest.

Check the Camry FAQ section in stickies, there is a few Timing belt DIY's for our cars. if you have time and tools (3/8'' metric socket sets, torque wrenches, etc.) then go for it. will take a few hours though
you may need to borrow a 1/2'' breaker bar and harmonic balancer puller from local Autozone.

[dynasty]

Hmmm ok, im attending college right now but I think I will try to do this DIY over thanksgiving break which is coming up real soon. It looks like if I did the DIY successfully it would cost less than taking to a shop most likely right?