Help!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

redline_mr2 · 07-23-2006, 12:59 AM

I'm driving a 89 toyota camry le 3sfe. Well the last few days the motor hasn't been right the same.
First time while I was driving the oil light came on for the first few moments after the engine was on.
Second time leaving work the motor was at 4000rpms going onto the high and drops to like 1000 rpms and then went right back up.
Third time I was heading to home from QT and the check batt and e break light came on and off the whole way home.
Fourth time heading to work and the motor just dropped rpms again.
Five time leaving a friends house the the motor was jumping rpms and the check engine light was on for awhile once I drop it went off.

I don't know where to look or where to start looking. Any suggest any clues?

Lord_Anarchy · 07-23-2006, 03:12 AM

Try to see if you can get the code stored in your ECU from the CEL light coming on. Aside from that.. it's sounds like a vaccum leak issue... Check and make sure your oil level is at the proper level.

P.S. Check your alternator's current state. Your problems smell like the problems I had RIGHT BEFORE I kissed my alternator good bye. It was coupled with my headlights going off BRIEFLY on the F'in highway.. That's pretty fun considering that plenty of psychos treat the highway like Sonoma raceway

redline_mr2 · 07-23-2006, 07:03 AM

Okay I will do. My friend and I planned on going up to autozone and hook it up to that. I just replace my alternator a year ago in the car and the one before was the stock one. How do I check for a vaccum leak? I just tried disconnecting the batt. We will see what happens when I hook it back up.

southpawz · 07-23-2006, 07:13 AM

When you disconnected the battery you probably cleared out any codes in the ecu ....so you may have to wait till the check engine light comes back on before a code reader will pick anything up.

Mike Gerber · 07-23-2006, 01:04 PM

"My friend and I planned on going up to autozone and hook it up to that."

Autozone will only read OBD2 codes. Your 89 is OBD1. You can still read the codes yourself with a piece of wire and the specs from any manual. However, like Southpawz stated, you probably erased any codes when you disconnected the battery.

I too suspect a failing alternator. That's when the multiple check engine lights will come on. The falling of the RPM was probably due to not enough voltage being produced to fire the spark plugs. First make sure the battery cable connections are clean and good and tight at the battery. Then move on to looking at the alternator. I know your alternator is only a year old, but I have seen rebuilt alternators fail right out of the box. You can check the alternator yourself with a DVM (digital volt/ohmeter). With the engine off, set the DVM to 20 volts DC and touch the 2 test leads to the 2 battery posts. It should read around 12.25 to 12.60 volts. Now start the car and repeat the test. With the engine running it should read above 14 volts, something like 14.50 under an electrical load. You will probably find something like 13.00 volts or less. That means the alternator is weak and needs to be replaced. Check the warranty you got with the last alternator. By the way, an alternator is a fairly easy DIY repair. Just remember to remove the negative battery cable before starting any work.

Mike

Lord_Anarchy · 07-23-2006, 09:56 PM

Yup.. easy fix with the alternator. If you were in MD, I'd do it for you just because your a Toyo kid

Anyways, what RPM does your car idle at? Ohhh.. P.S. Autozone tests alternators too but that involves pulling that bad boy out and dragging it into the store

If you need one and your warranty doesn't cover it, buy one off of Ebay. I bought a used one from a Celica GT drop top and it worked just fine. F autozone for charging me over 130 for a new one

redline_mr2 · 07-23-2006, 10:09 PM

Well heres the bad news I went to lunch for my break. The car went about half a mile and died. Just stopped running. She wouldn't stay started. So I pushed her back to the parking lot. After work I was going to give it another shot to see. Maybe if I had any lunch. I did not. Good news my dad gave me his lexus until I get my mr2 here!!! We took out the alt. the thing failed every test four times......They were out of stock and he tried to say my limited warr. was up but its not up till 8/5. My ex g/f her b/f worked there and his buddy was there and just mugged me. I said bad ricer bad. My bud said hes mugging you and I just said loudly all beat your ass. So tomorrow I have to get a alt. to see if she will go back to normal. I HATE THAT CAR BUT LOVE TOYO!!!!!

redline_mr2 · 07-26-2006, 12:00 AM

Changing it didn't doing anything really.

Lord_Anarchy · 07-26-2006, 03:46 AM

lol.... What are the problems you still have?

redline_mr2 · 07-26-2006, 08:01 AM

won't stay started. if it does start and stay its rapped ramp changing and idolt light including check engine.

Mike Gerber · 07-26-2006, 12:10 PM

Try recharging the battery from an external source and then have it tested. You have probably really run down the battery. I have seen strange things happen when batteries are really run down. The alternator alone, even a new one, can not always bring the battery back to life.

Mike