Help! 1993 Camry 4cyl LE

[ULAWE]

My Camry has been thru hell the past few weeks and I'm getting a phobia while driving it. Basically what happens is, when my car is stopped at a stop light, stop sign, or just stopped. The car just dies out, and I cant start it back up!

The first time it stopped it was in the middle of the highway in the middle of rush hour. I had to get that towed home. Our mechanic found the problem, and was a broke coolant hose, which drained all the coolant. Now with that problem fixed. The exact next day I was going up hill, and it was traffic. All of a sudden the car just stopped in the middle of the hill and couldnt get it to start. Luckily a few locals helped us out, put the car in neutral and just made it freefall from the hill. They thought it was a overheating problem because my radiator fans wouldnt spin unless the A/C was on. they fixed it by hooking the fan directly to the battery. Few hours later after that incident, i was heading home and the car just stalled. The engine was cool to the touch so I knew it wasnt the overheating problem. I sucessfully drove it home though.

Now I had the mechanic replace a few parts, Fuel pump, fuel filter, new throttle body, new IAC, new distributor, new ignition coils, new sparkplugs, new seals, new air filter. It ran good, but everytime I would stop, it would shake like crazy, and I felt like the car was gunna stall. Now I get a phobia everytime I stop, because I feel like the car is going to stall again. The idle RPM is about 500-600 and it shakes like crazy with the A/C on.

Now I'm scared to drive my vehicle because I feel like it will stall, and I have to go thru the embarassment of being stuck in the middle of traffic. Also this car stalled a total of 13 times before I had the mechanic replace the parts.

I also seafoamed the car a few days ago (havent drove it yet because of my phobia of this car). I added 1/3 to the engine oil, 1/3 in the vaccum break hose, 1/3 to my fuel. After the smoke show my car's idle without A/C and in park is about 1,100 which is a bit low. I also broke my MAP sensor (accidently, broke it by putting my weight on it while looking around the engine) but replaced it the following day.

[ULAWE]

Also is it normal to have faint black smoke coming from the exhaust? or is that the Seafoam in the gasoline?

[project92camry]

try to adjust the idle up to 800rpm on the TB and see if it goes away

[Mister_Perkins]

Idle is supposed to be 750 +/- 50

[ULAWE]

Thanks guys, but im a super car noob. I've only been recently interested in car mechanics for less than 1 week. best I did was replace the map sensor, and seafoam the car.

I know there the throttle body is, but there is 2 wires, and i dont know which one to adjust. Also do I need to adjust any fuel mixture thingy after I adjust the idle?

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by ULAWE

Thanks guys, but im a super car noob. I've only been recently interested in car mechanics for less than 1 week. best I did was replace the map sensor, and seafoam the car.

I know there the throttle body is, but there is 2 wires, and i dont know which one to adjust. Also do I need to adjust any fuel mixture thingy after I adjust the idle?

There is no fuel mixture adjustment on a modern day throttle body. It's all controlled by the computer on the car. On old vehicles equipped with Carburetors, they did have fuel mixture adjustment, and had jets inside the carb. as well. All of these would need adjusted correctly for it to work right

The way you adjust your fuel mixture in a modern day car is to get a computer that you can program, and you can adjust the fuel maps inside the computer to what you desire.


The throttle cable you need to adjust is the upper throttle cable. The lower cable is for your cruise control. They are both 12mm size so use two 12mm wrenches, loosen both bolts and tighten the inside bolt first. Only LOOSEN the inner nut a little at a time. Each time check your dash to see what RpM you are at.

[ULAWE]

im adjusting it but my idle rpm stays the same. im confused

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by ULAWE

im adjusting it but my idle rpm stays the same. im confused

ERRRR
haaaaahhahahaa .. MY BAD. I am a doofus . Loosen the inner nut!!!

. If your throttle doesnt go up, your adjusting the wrong cable. Make sure your adjusting the UPPER cable


I dont know what I was thinking there. !!!!

When you loosen it, it pulls the cable tighter. In-turn your throttle will raise

[ULAWE]

Nevermind I got it, Idle RPM is 1,200 now but that's with no A/C and on Park. However when I put it on Drive it goes back to the same rpm as before.

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by ULAWE

Nevermind I got it, Idle RPM is 1,200 now but that's with no A/C and on Park. However when I put it on Drive it goes back to the same rpm as before.

You do not want the Idle at 1,200. You want it maximum 800 minimum 700. nothing more, nothing less.

While ideling do you hear a knocking sound coming from the motor? Since you broke a coolant hose and it shut down, you may have damaged your motor.

What does the exhaust smoke look like?

Is your car using coolant?

You say your fans were not turning on unless the A/C is on. does your air conditioning work?

Have you done a tune-up recently? Spark plugs, filters, spark plug wires, etc..

Make sure your PCV Valve is working properly too

1. BLOW AIR FROM AIR INTAKE CHAMBER SIDE
Check that air passes through with difficulty.
If the PCV valve fails either of the checks, replace it.
2. REMOVE HOSE FROM PCV VALVE
3. REINSTALL PCV VALVE

[ULAWE]

You do not want the Idle at 1,200. You want it maximum 800 minimum 700. nothing more, nothing less.
it idles at 600 on Drive, 500 with A/C on. However on park with no A/C it idles at 1200 rpm


While ideling do you hear a knocking sound coming from the motor? Since you broke a coolant hose and it shut down, you may have damaged your motor.

What does the exhaust smoke look like?
Use to be faint black, now it's transparent.

Is your car using coolant?
Yes, green coolant thing Prestol.

You say your fans were not turning on unless the A/C is on. does your air conditioning work?
Yes it works very well, and i spliced the connection so when i turn on the car, both fans will spin at 100%.

Have you done a tune-up recently? Spark plugs, filters, spark plug wires, etc..
Yes new spark plug, ignition coils, that little motor thing inside the new distributor cap, new filter, new cap things where the spark plugs go inside.

Make sure your PCV Valve is working properly too
I have no idea what a PCV valve is.

I know there is no headgasket damage because there is no white smoke indicating coolant being burnt

[Mister_Perkins]

If you look at the previous post I put up I added an image of the PCV Valve.

here is a rundown of possible causes for Rough Idle:

1. Faulty ignitions:
• Incorrect timing
• Fouled, shorted or improperly gapped plugs
• Open or crossed high–tension cords
• Cracked distributor cap
2. Incorrect valve clearance
3. Leaky EGR valve
4. Leaky intake and exhaust valves
5. Leaky cylinder


Fluctuating Hydro Carbon Reading (using datastream to monitor)
1. Vacuum leaks:
• PCV hose
• EGR valve
• Intake manifold
• Throttle body
• IAC valve ----- CLICK HERE TO VIEW HOW TO REMOVE / CLEAN
• Brake booster line
2. Lean mixture causing misfire

If you have a datastream monitor, it would help a bunch...

[ULAWE]

1. BLOW AIR FROM AIR INTAKE CHAMBER SIDE
Check that air passes through with difficulty.
If the PCV valve fails either of the checks, replace it.
2. REMOVE HOSE FROM PCV VALVE
3. REINSTALL PCV VALVE

Can you explain what this PCV Valve does? Also how do I remove it? I tried removing it before so I can clean it, but I cant remove it.

[ULAWE]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

If you look at the previous post I put up I added an image of the PCV Valve.

here is a rundown of possible causes for Rough Idle:

1. Faulty ignitions:
• Incorrect timing
• Fouled, shorted or improperly gapped plugs
• Open or crossed high–tension cords
• Cracked distributor cap
2. Incorrect valve clearance
3. Leaky EGR valve
4. Leaky intake and exhaust valves
5. Leaky cylinder


Fluctuating Hydro Carbon Reading (using datastream to monitor)
1. Vacuum leaks:
• PCV hose
• EGR valve
• Intake manifold
• Throttle body
• IAC valve ----- CLICK HERE TO VIEW HOW TO REMOVE / CLEAN
• Brake booster line
2. Lean mixture causing misfire

If you have a datastream monitor, it would help a bunch...

How do I fix gapped plugs?

I have a new IAC, and throttle body replaced. I also made sure that I had no leaks on the brake booster line. I have no idea what a EGR valve is.

I also stated I added seafoam to my fueltank, and I have not replaced the fuel in it.

I do not know what a datastream is, I'm a complete noob at cars lol. I'm a web designer not a mechanic :P

I forgot to add that I added TransTune (seafoam product) to my transmission. However I believe I added too much and I have excess transmission fluid. I'm afraid I might do so damage to my tranny, and I want to know the easiest way to remove some trans fluid. Because my stick thing for the transfluid, is showing 1 and a half inches above the HOT mark, and the fluid is cold.

[Mister_Perkins]

Originally Posted by ULAWE

1. BLOW AIR FROM AIR INTAKE CHAMBER SIDE
Check that air passes through with difficulty.
If the PCV valve fails either of the checks, replace it.
2. REMOVE HOSE FROM PCV VALVE
3. REINSTALL PCV VALVE

Can you explain what this PCV Valve does? Also how do I remove it? I tried removing it before so I can clean it, but I cant remove it.

Sure.. The PCVs ( Positive Crank Ventilation ) Job is to reduce blow-by gas by re-introducing the gas into the intake manifold (Part that the throttle body fits into)

As the piston moves up and down inside the cylinder it created pressure that is pushed up to the top of the motor through a crank case vent tube, when this is happening the PCV uses the intake manifold vacuum pressure to suck the Blow-By (Hydrocarbon gases) back into the intake and re-introduces it back through the valves.

To Remove the PCV Valve, Remove the hose from the intake first, then pull the PCV Valve out. (May need a flat head screw driver to pry it up .. its pushed inside a rubber seal)

Originally Posted by ULAWE

How do I fix gapped plugs?

I have a new IAC, and throttle body replaced. I also made sure that I had no leaks on the brake booster line. I have no idea what a EGR valve is.

I also stated I added seafoam to my fueltank, and I have not replaced the fuel in it.

I do not know what a datastream is, I'm a complete noob at cars lol. I'm a web designer not a mechanic :P

Well you have made it very easy to narrow down the problem... The EGR Valve is connected on the back side of the throttle body. Since you've replaced the spark plugs, and probably specified the year / model they probably gave you the correct Spark plugs. To Gap them, you get a tool called a feeler gauge and gap them to 1.1mm (0.043 in).

Heres a picture of a clogged EGR Valve.



Heres a link on how to clean your EGR Valve. This is on a 97-01 camry, but the setup is exactly the same

EGR Valve Replacement, DIY. << Click there



DATASTREAM:

Datastream is when you hook a scan tool up to a computer and watch the computer functioning. You can watch how much air the motor is getting, how much fuel the motor is getting, how efficient your oxygen sensors are doing, and much more.

They are available on ebay, or the following website:

http://www.myscantool.com/ << Plugs into your car, and then your laptop computer

Hope the above information helps