Possible tranny issues on 2000 Camry LE? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MrMario2011 · 03-02-2011, 09:52 AM

Hey guys, I haven't had a very good day so far and this is the case. So for some background info, for the past half year sometimes my check engine light would come on and off, but after getting it checked I was told it wasn't a big issue. My exhaust has also been louder for some reason. Anyways, this morning I was driving to school and was at a red light. I started hearing a noise and turned down my stereo, and my RPMs went from 500 to about 800, I could feel the brake vibrating and the steering wheel too. I started accelerating and it felt almost like my transmission was slipping, then my check engine light started flashing. Not just on, but flashing, which it has NEVER done before. I was freaked out but was driving the car 5 mph under the speed limit. About half way to school I smelled a burning smell coming out of my heater, I turned into a parking lot and turned off the car. When I got out, a little bit of smoke was coming out of my exhaust. I called my dad and said I had to turn around and come back home. While I was driving home, I kept the heater off and it didn't smell but was still having some issues driving, and the check engine light was still flashing. When I pulled into the garage my dad also noticed some smoke coming out of my exhaust. I thought it could have been the oil, but my dad said no. I asked my friend who has had 3 years of auto tech and he asked specifically if the car was still vibrating while I was driving. I told him it was vibrating when I was idle, but when I was driving it wasn't as noticeable. He said it could be a tranny issue, but he has to check it out for himself. I explained it to some other people and they said it sounds like a tranny problem. Could anyone give me more info on this? Or at least give me some tips? I'm definitely planning on getting it fixed, but is it even ok to drive the car as it is right now? Please Toyota Nation, anything would be helpful!

***fenixus*** · 03-02-2011, 01:40 PM

flashing CEL means there is engine misfire going on at that very moment.
scan the computer and post back all codes including pending ones.

louder exhaust is most likely cracked open flex pipe, get it replaced, around $100-140 in local muffler shop (parts and labor, welding involved).

MrMario2011 · 03-02-2011, 04:16 PM

I still haven't gotten it checked out. I got home afterschool and opened up the hood to check everything, for some reason my coolant was completely out. I mixed 50/50 coolant with water in there and let the car idle for about 10 minutes. Check engine light was on and there was a tiny bit of smoke coming out of the exhaust, as you said it looked sort of like a misfire. Anyways, I got in and popped it in reverse, which is when it started shuddering. The light kept going from flashing to staying solid, I noticed once it did that when it shifted. Anyways I asked someone about it and he looked up what I told him, he found this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...5105221AAW9sq0

I'm kinda freaked out by reading that due to the fact that what this guy said 2 years ago is EXACTLY what happened to me this morning

MrMario2011 · 03-02-2011, 04:30 PM

Sorry for double posting, but could this product K-Seal work?

Amazon

You Tube

You Tube

I found it in a YouTube video, then did some searching and such on it. People who are having some similar issues (misfires with draining coolant and white smoke) have had a surprisingly very high success rate using this stuff. Would anyone here recommend it? I would much rather spend $10-$20 on this stuff if it would do the trick.

***fenixus*** · 03-02-2011, 05:51 PM

check your oil. if there is milky blurry liquid on dipstick you need a head gasket job not some additive.

MrMario2011 · 03-02-2011, 08:06 PM

Well I just got back from a trip to my local Autozone getting the engine light checked. It gave me the error codes P0301 and P0401. I've been getting the 401 code on and off for some time, but it seems that the EGR valve is just faulty now. We'll either clean it real well or just throw a new one in. The 301 code is showing that I have a cylinder 1 misfire, which would explain the shaking and everything else. I got spark plugs and a wire kit, I'll be getting an estimate on it tomorrow too at a local garage since the soonest I can work on it will be next weekend.

Oh, and I already checked my oil, it's perfect and still has another 1,000 miles left on it.

***fenixus*** · 03-02-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMario2011

Well I just got back from a trip to my local Autozone getting the engine light checked. It gave me the error codes P0301 and P0401. I've been getting the 401 code on and off for some time, but it seems that the EGR valve is just faulty now. We'll either clean it real well or just throw a new one in. The 301 code is showing that I have a cylinder 1 misfire, which would explain the shaking and everything else. I got spark plugs and a wire kit, I'll be getting an estimate on it tomorrow too at a local garage since the soonest I can work on it will be next weekend.

Oh, and I already checked my oil, it's perfect and still has another 1,000 miles left on it.

that sounds good. check/replace spark plugs & wires.

do you have any cooling system leaks (external)? that might explain coolant loss. any heating problems?

see how the oil filler cap looks like on bottom side, any funny butter like stuff on it?

don't use any additives yet. fix the EGR system and do a minor tune up first. you still *may* have a minor HG leak.

MrMario2011 · 03-02-2011, 08:35 PM

I saw no leaks anywhere, so I don't know what to say. My friend said it might be leaking into the exhaust, which caused the white smoke.

***fenixus*** · 03-02-2011, 08:39 PM

and how exactly that coolant might be leaking into the exhaust? cooling system's only connection with exhaust is through the engine block (that is IF there is a HG leak into combustion chambers).

I would take the car to a shop and let them perform the cooling system pressure test (with spark plugs removed) and see where the leak is coming from.

MrMario2011 · 03-02-2011, 08:43 PM

Pressure test, huh? I'll ask about it tomorrow when I get it checked out.

***fenixus*** · 03-02-2011, 08:55 PM

yeah, cooling system pressure test is the easiest way (shops use compressor with radiator fitting for your car) to know for sure if you have that leak and where it is coming from under pressure. don't ask about it, insist on it (with spark plugs removed to see if coolant squirts out of cylinders under pressure or no).