Something is wrong with my V6, power loss... any ideas? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MJZ · 03-07-2009, 06:12 PM

I just noticed today when I was driving to my friend's place that the car wasn't driving quite right. I turned the music off to listen for anything wrong and it became clear to me that I needed to take it to the dealer right away. Unfortunately, once I arrived at the dealership, they told me to come back on Monday since I had no CEL errors, and they had a full day.

Well, so here is the problem:

LE V6 '09 Camry... behaving like it's an Inline 4!

Acceleration: No longer jumps the needle to 5k/6k rpm when I pedal to the metal. Massive throttle lag. The engine makes an empty spraying sound for 1/2 second, the best I can describe is like you are trying to spray a near empty bottle of aerosol, before I get any tangible response.

Sounds: Whoosh Whoosh. The engine now "roars" with a wooshing sound, like there is too much air somewhere.

The usual V6 gattling gun sound is now GONE. "Batatatatata at 6k rpm"... (if it ever gets there), no more....

Torque: Distinct lack of torque, feels like at all RPM ranges.

Strangely enough, I did a small run to 60 merging on the highway, and while I could feel the power deficiency, it was still quicker than an I4 Camry would be.

Now the stats:

9500 miles on the ODO, bought basically October '08 (September 27th). 2 oil changes so far, once at 3500 miles, once at 6500 miles, and I have one coming up when it hits 10,000. Both times Mobil 1 5W30 full synthetic.

So, any of you more tech inclined care to give the diagnosis a shot? I'm bringing the car back to the dealer on Monday for them to diagnose and fix.

P.S., I thought it might have been a bad tank of gas, but I ran through the tank, and refilled it, drove it 50 miles, and still the same.

***Punks_Not_Dead5*** · 03-07-2009, 06:41 PM

check the air filter?

MJZ · 03-07-2009, 06:45 PM

Could it be something that simple?

ebumdude · 03-07-2009, 07:11 PM

Could be anything....

Fuel pump / fuel filter, bad air filter...etc.

That sucks to hear about your car, let us know what they say on Monday.

MJZ · 03-07-2009, 07:31 PM

^ keep listing, I want to be able to get all the possibilities...

Well, I hope it's something as simple as dirty air filter. Is driving with a dirty filter a very bad thing?

I'm wondering why the sensors aren't going off though, if the fuel mix is too rich!

leinadneon · 03-07-2009, 07:38 PM

check your intake it might be loose or something like that or just take it to the dealer
i had something like that happen to me my intake came loose so my car was really slow so i was like WTF!!!!! i popped
the hood and sure enough my intake was loose i fixed it and good as new

MJZ · 03-07-2009, 07:51 PM

^ Why would the intake get loose?

desentrix · 03-07-2009, 08:01 PM

I would have guessed something to do with intake.

MAF malfunction, vacuum leak, then again, I'm not a mechanic.

MJZ · 03-07-2009, 08:05 PM

The strange thing is... no error lights!

leinadneon · 03-07-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzh

The strange thing is... no error lights!

i didnt get any either i jus started to lose power with weird sounds
as for why it came loose no clue

Asteroid · 03-07-2009, 08:30 PM

Could be fuel delivery related. When there is insufficient fuel you get the poor response as described.

Does the exhaust look/ smell rich or is it clean?

gdanaher · 03-07-2009, 08:57 PM

Get under the hood with the engine running and jiggle the vacuum hoses around. You are hearing that whoosh sound from something. Get in there and find it. There's the problem, right there....

salvimoreno · 03-07-2009, 09:05 PM

Hmm that sucks to hear. You should definitely take it to the dealer asap.
Btw did you send out the grille?

Pawel062 · 03-08-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzh

I just noticed today when I was driving to my friend's place that the car wasn't driving quite right. I turned the music off to listen for anything wrong and it became clear to me that I needed to take it to the dealer right away. Unfortunately, once I arrived at the dealership, they told me to come back on Monday since I had no CEL errors, and they had a full day.

Well, so here is the problem:

LE V6 '09 Camry... behaving like it's an Inline 4!

Acceleration: No longer jumps the needle to 5k/6k rpm when I pedal to the metal. Massive throttle lag. The engine makes an empty spraying sound for 1/2 second, the best I can describe is like you are trying to spray a near empty bottle of aerosol, before I get any tangible response.

Sounds: Whoosh Whoosh. The engine now "roars" with a wooshing sound, like there is too much air somewhere.

The usual V6 gattling gun sound is now GONE. "Batatatatata at 6k rpm"... (if it ever gets there), no more....

Torque: Distinct lack of torque, feels like at all RPM ranges.

Strangely enough, I did a small run to 60 merging on the highway, and while I could feel the power deficiency, it was still quicker than an I4 Camry would be.

Now the stats:

9500 miles on the ODO, bought basically October '08 (September 27th). 2 oil changes so far, once at 3500 miles, once at 6500 miles, and I have one coming up when it hits 10,000. Both times Mobil 1 5W30 full synthetic.

So, any of you more tech inclined care to give the diagnosis a shot? I'm bringing the car back to the dealer on Monday for them to diagnose and fix.

P.S., I thought it might have been a bad tank of gas, but I ran through the tank, and refilled it, drove it 50 miles, and still the same.

sounds like you have my 07 camry v6 before they did the ecu reflash. my father saw this response and suggest 1 you check your air filter to make sure it ain't clogged up 2 you disconnect your battery for a minute and reconnect it so your computer will reprogram itself and 3 if your putting in low octane then put in the high octane stuff. these cars work best with the highest octane. i use sunoco's ultra 93 and used to use the 94 when they had it.

edit: my dad also said to check the vacuum hoses and you should open up the air cleaner and see if there is anything there. you said u were at the delership for them to install the grill so they might of forgot something. also crazy as it sounds but the dealership might have done something. someone i know usually went to this nissan dealership in my area and they always did something so he would come back. with this economy, everything is possible.

MJZ · 03-08-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawel062

sounds like you have my 07 camry v6 before they did the ecu reflash. my father saw this response and suggest 1 you check your air filter to make sure it ain't clogged up 2 you disconnect your battery for a minute and reconnect it so your computer will reprogram itself and 3 if your putting in low octane then put in the high octane stuff. these cars work best with the highest octane. i use sunoco's ultra 93 and used to use the 94 when they had it.

edit: my dad also said to check the vacuum hoses and you should open up the air cleaner and see if there is anything there. you said u were at the delership for them to install the grill so they might of forgot something. also crazy as it sounds but the dealership might have done something. someone i know usually went to this nissan dealership in my area and they always did something so he would come back. with this economy, everything is possible.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm not sure I want to do anything to the car while it's still under warranty. I will leave it to the dealership.