? for the Techs out there

[JohnSWA]

Hi folks.

This is my first post here and I'm sorry for it being a tech question but here it comes.

I'm somewhat mechanically inclined being an aircraft mechanic for 20 years and all, but something on my 99 Camry is beginning to make me pull my hair out of my head!

The other night I got the check engine light. I pretty much ignored it since all was supposedly well. The next day my wife drove it to the store and it barely made it back. She said that when she stepped on the gas pedal, if she gave it a tiny bit of gas it would go maybe 15 mph, if she stepped on the pedal a little too much, it would just rev like it wasn't in gear!

Now it will turn, but it wont run. My wife explained the problem differently yesterday and I treated the problem like it was a fuel/spark problem. I checked the EFI fuse and then changed the fuel filter. I then changed the pcv valve and had no change. When I try to start it, I get a kind of out of time sound from the motor as if the plug wires were misalligned. I thought that it was either fuel of spark, so I checked the plugs for good spark... no problem there, checked the wires... ok, checked the coil packs... ok, so I went back to fuel. I wasn't hearing any sound from the fuel pump so I changed that. I got great sound from the pump, but same problem!

Naturally she tells me about the transmission stuff after I changed all of this, but I still don't understand why I have the problem starting!

I would really appreciate any help you might offer and I must say that this is a great site!

John

1999 Camry 122K miles

[Eye8Pussies]

the transmission thing sounds like it may be something wrong with the torque converter


beyond that...it sounds like you've covered everything when it comes to the starting problem tho...between good spark and good fuel, what else? maybe air? did you check the afm/maf sensor to make sure it's getting a correct signal?

[Porkch0p220]

Never leave your 3 basics, spark, fuel, compression. Why don’t you go down to your local AutoZone and barrow a scan tool? That will start you off in the right place. If the car was only driving 15 mph there is a good chance its in safe mode. Just don’t leave your basics but from what you have told me, I would check the code it’s a start
p.s. im going to school to be a tech, first thing i would do is hook it up 2 scan tool, since it is OBDII its brainless work

[Tercel GTS]

Did you scan the codes?

[ag6286]

Originally Posted by Porkch0p220

Never leave your 3 basics, spark, fuel, compression. Why don’t you go down to your local AutoZone and barrow a scan tool? That will start you off in the right place. If the car was only driving 15 mph there is a good chance its in safe mode. Just don’t leave your basics but from what you have told me, I would check the code it’s a start
p.s. im going to school to be a tech, first thing i would do is hook it up 2 scan tool, since it is OBDII its brainless work

agree about checking the codes and all but just because its only driving 15mph does not in anyway link it to being in an open loop mode

[Porkch0p220]

Originally Posted by ag6286

agree about checking the codes and all but just because its only driving 15mph does not in anyway link it to being in an open loop mode

sorry i dident mean becouse it was going 15 mph. he said the check engine came on and he ignored it. if the problem is big enough it will send it into limp mode

[ShawnM]

From what you described and how many miles you have on the car, the first place I would look is the timing belt. Especially if you have never changed it. A belt that has jumped a few teeth will sound like the timing is off. Compression will be off on more than one cylinder. Hope that helps, and welcome to the site! Let us know what you find.

[JohnSWA]

Thanks, guys! Will Autozone actually let you borrow a scanner? I know they will check it for you, but I can't get the car there with out towing it. Great idea!

[Porkch0p220]

i dont see why they wouldent, they have let me

if u get stuck never leave your basics, 3 things an engine needs to run

spark
fuel
compression

for all u noobs

[Cyorke]

Originally Posted by ShawnM

From what you described and how many miles you have on the car, the first place I would look is the timing belt. Especially if you have never changed it. A belt that has jumped a few teeth will sound like the timing is off. Compression will be off on more than one cylinder. Hope that helps, and welcome to the site! Let us know what you find.

I am going to go with Shawn on this one. It almost sounds like the timing has jumped a couple of teeth. You hsould try lining up the timing marks on the crank pulley then remove the top part of the timing cover. Check to see if the marks on the cam gear are lined up with the marks onthe cylinder head. You may have to rotate it once or twice after you get it all torn apart but that sounds like your problem to me anyway.

Ken4 has a good thread that shows all of the timing marks and good instructions on replacing the timing belt on your car as long as it is the 4 cyl. here is the link to that thread. http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t109966.html

[JohnSWA]

Chris, thanks so much!!!!!

I'll take a look at this asap and I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks again!

[Porkch0p220]

just do a compression test, u dont have to take anything apart!!!!!!!!!!!! save ur time. you will know if the belt skipped

[JohnSWA]

Could I damage anything if I continually crank the motor to do a compression check? I've been cranking this poor thing trying to get it to start after everything I tried doing the "shotgun troubleshooting". Good to know about the compression check. At least I can do that fairly easy!


Ok, I checked the compression.

#1: 175 psi
#2: 155 psi
#3: 175 psi
#4: 175 psi

Could a 20 psi difference be a good indicator of a bad timing belt?

Thanks again for your help! You guys are awesome!


Mod edit: Please use the button.

[JohnSWA]

Goodmorning, folks! Just a little bump to the top to see if 20 psi makes a difference.

Thanks!

[Cyorke]

well it sounds like the timing belt is not broken.

maybe throttle position sensor. Obviously if you could check codes that would be the easiest way to go about diagnosing. I am not sure what kind of voltage or ohm readings you should get from the TPS but I am sure you could get a manual that shows it.

If you aregetting spark and you know you are getting fuel it now seems you ahve compression so it looks like it is going to be some sensor.