1998 throwing codes and running poor - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Randall1989 · 12-26-2010, 05:25 PM

I have a 1998 camry with the 2.2 in it. It has had the code 0300 on for some time now (EGR FLOW) and every now and then for the past few months it would run bad when i first fired it up and accelerated, it would flash thew check engine light ten or so times and then be fine. But yesterday when i was coming home it kept flashing the light and was running horrible, the engine was shaking bad and it was back firing when i gave it gas, i drove it ten miles more like that to get home Now it is still doing it and it has now power and shakes bad, even when it is in park and idling. I pulled the codes P0300 P0301 P0302 P0303 P0304 and P0401 today. My neighbor said it might be the timing belt, but i have no idea whjat it could be. It has 175000 miles.
Thanks guys for any help.

Randall1989 · 12-26-2010, 06:35 PM

i meant it had the P0401 for awhile, not the P0300

***fenixus*** · 12-26-2010, 06:36 PM

P0300 is an engine cylinders random misfire.

when it flashes the CEL at start up it means it is experiencing misfire at that very moment.

Your ECU also reports detected (and confirmed) misfire on EVERY cylinder so you may have a major issue with either air or fuel delivery.
replace the air filter (if not already) and think of replacing the fuel filter soon. You may also try adding some fuel system cleaner to gas tank, like Chevron techron concentrate (20oz bottle) - note it may help or it may actually make things worse, results vary depending on your current condition.

you may also have a major vacuum leak, but that should be detected by the ECU as well, besides you could hear air hissing loudly under hood.

lastly you may have both bad igniters, or (which is unlikely) all spark plugs and/or all spark plug wires bad.

P0401 means as you said EGR flow insufficient. if this issue is current (and not an old stored code), it may mean that your EGR valve is stuck or clogged.

troubleshooting EGR is a 3 step process, where you should check/clean/replace all 3 components (EGR valve, EGR modulator and EGR VSV) and check vacuum tubing between all of them. search forum, there was lots of useful threads on that.

Chris Crash · 12-26-2010, 06:37 PM

Did you ever take action to resolve the 401 code?

If not, I would pull the EGR off and clean it and inspect carefully. Also clean the tube.

But if you're EGR is the source of the problem and it's that dirty that you're running poor, I would take the entire intake plenum off and clean it thouroughly including the IAC valve.

Randall1989 · 12-26-2010, 06:41 PM

I cleared the EGR Code before but it came back and was there today when i ran the codes...So does it seem like the EGR valve could be causing this big issue?

im going to check for vaccume leaks tomorrow by spraying some carb cleaner and im also going to replace the fuel filter.

Also: so it doesnt seem like a timing belt issue?

Chris Crash · 12-26-2010, 06:45 PM

If all you did was clear the code, you should definitely inspect the EGR system. I think there's a few DIY's in the sticky thread on what to do for this. I would clean it, then inspect. Inspecting a clogged EGR is worthless!

***fenixus*** · 12-26-2010, 06:52 PM

I agree, fix the EGR first, so there is no any codes related to it and see what happens next. I doubt it's timing belt related problem. I've seen before a faulty EGR system (not even throwing a code, so issue must have been minor) causing intermittent power loss on acceleration on my car.

Chris Crash · 12-26-2010, 06:54 PM

No, it doesn't seem like a timing issue. Though I would pull the top cover off just to check if it's loose. If it broke, the car won't start. And it wouldn't jump teeth unless it's loose.

***fenixus*** · 12-26-2010, 06:57 PM

also if it was loose you could usually hear the belt flapping on the plastic covers.

Randall1989 · 12-26-2010, 07:24 PM

Ok guys, thanks for the help so far.

So it looks like i should take the EGR valve off and inspect it (and try to clean it out?) before i do anything else. What all should i inspect when im taking the EGR off and while im in that area.

Thats my mission for tomorrow

Randall1989 · 12-27-2010, 07:31 PM

I wasnt able to get to it today because i had to work till dark and its too cold to do anything outside....so i will do it early tomorrow

Randall1989 · 12-28-2010, 05:18 PM

Ok so i took the EGR valve off today and looked at it and cleaned it out with carb cleaner....but it wasnt even that dirty. I will put it back on tomorrow.

Should i take off the modulator and clean it? and if so, how do i clean it?

Or is there anything else i should take off and clean while im down there?

I understand that the EGR valve is causing the P0401 code but how could the EGR valve cause the P0300 P0301 P0302 P0303 P0304 codes which mean all my cylinders are misfiring? Keep in mind that the valve wasnt that dirty.

If it isnt the EGR Valve causing all the misfiring then what else could it be?

***fenixus*** · 12-28-2010, 05:25 PM

did you unbolt the long pipe between EGR valve and engine block (it's for exhaust gases) ? that maybe blocked, either pipe or outlet port on engine or both.

be careful though, Toyota used cheezy 10mm head bolts made of soft metal to attach EGR valve to that pipe. I broke one of mine and then destroyed the valve (which wasn't too dirty either but was sticky anyways) in process of heating up the broken stud (it didn't budge anyways, was fused for good).

EGR modulator has a filter in it, you can try cleaning it with a compressed air, but if it looks dirty just get new modulator. there was a test procedure on modulator in the FSM. PM me if you need it.

last piece of puzzle is the EGR VSV (Vacuum Switch Valve) mounted on the back of engine block in a very hard to access spot. it has an electrical connector on it. FSM also describes a testing methodology for it (compressed air and hot wiring to battery).

Randall1989 · 12-28-2010, 07:10 PM

I got the EGR valve off without unbolting the long pipe (those 10mm bolts were a pain), im going to try to get the pipe off tomorrow because since it can get clogged. Any suggestions on getting it off easily?

The port on the intake that the EGR valve bolts up to had a nice ring of carbon build up around the bottom rim about 3 mm tall, i poked it out and off. Itg looked like a semi-circle on the bottom of the intake EGR port.

I havent done anything with the VSV or the modulator yet...but i guess that will be tomorrows project.

The guy at advanced auto said that i should take the intake off because it is a common problem that the EGR ports inside the intake get clogged and thats probably what is causing my problem...is there any validity to this?

Randall1989 · 12-29-2010, 03:44 PM

So today i cleaned the EGR valve with carb cleaner (it wasnt that dirty), i cleaned the pipe leading the the EGR (it wasnt that dirty) and i sprayed out the modulator with carb cleaner, i also put in new spark plugs.......still runs the same. I am about to put a new fuel filter on it (i dont know where it is located tho.

It runs crappy from initial start when the engine is cold...if that means anything for helping diagnose it