I have two issues and need advise.

[rvenom]

What's up toyotanation, I'm new to the site and let me just say so far its been amazing and loaded with good DIY info that I fine great for my wallet. This is my story I have a 98 camry 4 cyl, recently had the engine replaced cause when my little brother owned it he ran it to the ground. So since Im sooo tired of leasing and trowing my money away plus got engaged and need to save. I decided to replace the engine and take it over instead of junking it like my dad had planned. So now I got 83k on the motor and transmission has 153,600 original. I'm trying to give it TLC so I gave it a nice inside and out detail from a local car wash joint and got raped by replacing the struts at Sears. So my questions.

1. The transmission fluid is dark and it seems to shift fine altho not as smooth as my 2008 civic which I don't expected it to be but, I do sometimes a little jerky feeling when it shifts, should I add fluid or change it? The level is perfectly fine, I don't know if it was ever done.


2. I also have that P0401 and P0446 code I tested the EGR valve and it checked out fine I also check the relay thats on the canister by the gas tank and that checked out fine too, I can only think of the VSV being the problem but im not use how to test it.

again thank you all for all your help and great info

Brian

[fenixus]

hello Brian,

per 1)
I would suggest avoid adding extra trans fluid if level is good. what you need is cleaning on transmission and differential (they are separate).

start with draining all ATF out of transmission, best if you can measure the amount and add the same amount back in. should be around 2.3-2.7qts

then do same on differential, should be around 1.7qts

refill with synthetic blend fluid, e.g. Castrol Import Multi Vehicle or Valvoline MaxLife ATF or something really decent like fully synthetic Mobil1 ATF - all of those fluids you can order online (with coupon codes) in local Advance Auto parts store and choose local pickup.
another cheap alternative is using Walmart's Mercon-V fluid (Dex-III compatible).

you may consider replacing trans pan gasket and strainer at this point if it hasn't been done yet.

check out Camry FAQ sticky link on top of this forum section and you will find the DIYs covering it.

per 2)

P0401 is EGR flow insufficient
possible trouble area:
- EGR valve stuck closed
- Open or short in VSV circuit for EGR
- Vacuum or EGR hose disconnected
- Manifold absolute pressure sensor
- VSV for EGR open or close malfunction
- ECM

P0446 is EVAP Control System Vent Control
possible trouble area:
- Open or short in VSV circuit for vapor pressure sensor
- VSV for vapor pressure sensor
- Open or short in vapor pressure sensor circuit
- Vapor pressure sensor
- Open or short in VSV circuit for EVAP
- VSV for EVAP
-Vacuum hose cracks hole blocked damaged or disconnected ((1), (4), (5) holed (6) and (7) in fig. 1)
- Charcoal canister cracked, holed or damaged
- Fuel tank over fill check valve cracked or damaged

before you start replacing parts or removing them for clean up, first unplug all rubber vacuum lines and check if you find anything clogged or leaking vacuum, you may need to borrow a hand vacuum pump from autozone and use some adapters/connectors to attach it to vacuum lines without over-stretching the tip ends or damaging them.

get a hold of factory service manuals for gen4 camry, you will need them for troubleshooting and checking parts if they are up to specs.

[rvenom]

fenixus, thanks man I really appreciate the advise. Do you know if there is a resistance reading on the vsv circuit relay cause i can ohm them out. I will check the lines like you said this will be my little project for tomorrow. I also spoke to little brother and he says he did remember taking the car to one of them 10 min oil change places and had the trans fluid replaced, so I'm going to do it this time myself and put in better oil. I was afraid of the high milage and rumors of causing problem if oil is changed.

[fenixus]

which vsv you mean? for egr or evap?
anyways, there is more to that than just checking resistance.

will send you a PM in a few minutes

I would get the trans pan gasket and strainer kit from parts store and drop the pan (15 bolts), clean it of sludge/dirt, replace gasket and replace strainer (3 bolts).
it's recommended to use a 1/4'' torque wrench on those sensitive bolts and never overtighten them.

those rumors about HM transmission going bad are old wife's tale. if it's that bad that it will break apart with new fluid then it will do the same sooner or later no matter what. you can only help it last longer by changing fluid for the fresh one.

Haynes maintenance calls for trans fluid drain refill every 30k miles (normal driving conditions) or 15k miles (severe driving conditions which means city driving or lots of short trips).
It also calls for differential fluid exchance every 60k miles (normal) or 30k miles (severe).

The fact that you did flush in the past and it still works is a good sign, but please do drop the pan and clean it now. power flush doesn't remove the sludge from pan and doesn't change the strainer for a new one unfortunately.

[fenixus]

PM sent

[Silent Runner]

Yea! Follow Fenixus great advice, and change up that transmission fluid. It should shift at least as nice as the Honda

[rvenom]

the vsv I mean is the one thats located behind the motor by the firewall, I believe it sits low not on top. it had a little cap thing on the end I think its some kind of little filter thing and looks like two tubes hook up to it they run for about 90 bucks new at dealer. look like this http://compare.ebay.com/like/3004493...=263602_304662


thanks for that pm, oh and is the trans and diff fluid the same or different?

[fenixus]

ah right, that's the VSV for EGR.

it should click when you jumper it to the battery terminals.

check page SFI-43 in manual for testing it.
in short, the resistance between terminals should read 33-39ohm at 20C and there should be no continuity between either of terminals and the body.

normally (not energized) the air should be flowing from port E to port G.
after energizing air should be flowing from port E to filter cap (venting to atmosphere).

yes, the trans and diff fluid is same ATF (Dex-III) on those automatic transmissions.

[rvenom]

oh ok I can test it with a 9v batt just like I did the rear relay by the gas tank niiiceee, thanks again i'll keep posted on my results over the weekend you've been very helpful. I see you're in northern Jersey too I just moved to Cedar Grove from Kearny.

[fenixus]

no probs, good luck!

Hey you are really close to me I live in Wallington, NJ hehe

Originally Posted by rvenom

oh ok I can test it with a 9v batt just like I did the rear relay by the gas tank niiiceee, thanks again i'll keep posted on my results over the weekend you've been very helpful. I see you're in northern Jersey too I just moved to Cedar Grove from Kearny.

[rvenom]

I was looking at that pdf lol I don't I'll ever need a mechanic again thats a sweet deal, wow you are close

[fenixus]

yeah, haha those PDFs explain everything, I started DIYing everything I can since I got them haha!

I have just checked Google Maps, it's around 12 miles / 23 minutes between us LOL

Originally Posted by rvenom

I was looking at that pdf lol I don't I'll ever need a mechanic again thats a sweet deal, wow you are close

[rvenom]