Idle RPMs for 1987 Camry Sedan?

[CJohnston]

Hello,

I am new to the world of cars and my Father's girlfriend gave me her 1987 Camry Standard Transmission Sedan. It's still in great shape, new transmission put in it, the only thing that I need to keep an eye on is the clutch (I think it's wearing out) and the E-Break.

My question today is what is the normal Idle RPMs when you first start the engine? I started it up the other day and it sounded awfully peculiar. It didn't sound like any other time I have started it up. It was quite a bit louder and the RPMs sat at about 2.3.

Is this normal, or should I have it checked out?

Thank you for reading,
Courtenay.

[Jimnist]

if it's idling at 2.3k, that's a lot. It should sit aroung 600-750rpm once warm. May jump to 1000+ when cold, but should drop back down. Check it out Idle – adjustment

[new echo owner]

x1 to Jimnist. IAC sticking? Did it drop back down after it warms up?

N.E.O.

[CJohnston]

Thanks for your reply Jimnist. I will check out that link.

New Echo Owner:
I hate to sound like a total goof, and as I am only 19, I don't know what IAC Sticking is, haha.

I didn't look at it today as I biked to work, but I'll have a look at it tomorrow and see what it does after it warms up. It was a fairly warm day when I tried it, but a warm day doesn't necessarily mean a warm engine.

What can cause the RPMs to spike that high?

[new echo owner]

IAC, Idle Air Control, it is an actuator that the computer use to control the amount of air that by-pass or move around the throttle plate, which in turn regulates the engine idle speed. On occasion, the actuator may get stuck due to build up and not able to regulate the idle speed, hence abnormally high or low idle. If you can find out whether the idle speed stay high after the engine is warmed up, then we may know a little bit more if that is the case.

N.E.O.

[atobe]

or it could be your cold start injector is malfunctioning... but you should see what it idles at when it warms up.. mine idles at 2k in the morning also but it drops down slowly as it warms up... start it up check back in 5-10 mins

[CJohnston]

I started it up and it idled at first at around 1.7k. I waited and it only went up from there. After a whole of 2 minutes it was already at 2.1k. I turned it off after it was making an odd vibration. It wasn't like a clicking, or metal hitting metal. I'm not sure how to explain the sound, like an odd spinning sound.

[new echo owner]

What kind of object do you think would best discribe the sound? An odd spinning sound doesn't really clicks. Have you check the fluid level, like power steering, engine oil? Can you locate where the noise is coming, left side of the car or right side or ?

From your discription, ti does sound like the IAC might be sticking, however, you might to have the car run a little longer so it will warm up a bit more.

Anyway, start with checking the fluid level for the engine and steering, then start the engine and see if you can locate where the noise is coming from.

N.E.O.

[CJohnston]

I just filled the oil, so it's not that. The sound is like... a washing machine on spin cycle when more clothes are on one side than the other. It sounds like it is coming from the drivers side, but I can't be totally sure. I'll let it run for a few minutes longer and see what it does.

[CJohnston]

I started it up and it was at first 2.1, it rose quite fast but dropped to about 1.9k. My neighbour gave me a tip and asked me to pop it into neutral and tap the gas, and it should drop. It dropped to about 1.2. It's still a little high, but not nearly as bad as before.

[new echo owner]

1200 rpm, that is more manageable. Is it still making the spinning type noise? Definitely from the driver's side?

N.E.O.

[CJohnston]

Yes, it definitely sounds like it is coming from the drivers side.

[new echo owner]

OK, if it is from the driver's side, and it is a rotational sound, then it would be a part that is related to the transmission. Since it is a manual transmission, there is a few things that you can check to further narrow it down.

Does the noise change if you put light pressure on the clutch pedal? How about push it down to disengage the clutch? Do you notice any noise when you are driving and shifting up the gears? Does it feel like it require some effort to push down the clutch pedal? Feel any vibration on the pedal when you lay your foot on it?

BTW, what is the mileage on the car?

N.E.O.

[CJohnston]

The Transmission is new. It was replaced a month before it was given to me. I got the car in August, so you know.
It sounds normal when I am actually driving the car, aside from it being a little louder than usual. Changing gears sounds normal as well except for it being louder. There isn't a vibration on the clutch.

Mileage is 318,000 Km. I am not sure where you are located, but that is roughly 197,000 Miles.

[new echo owner]

So it isn't the original transmission that is in the car; however, it doesn't really make any differences. If there is a noise there that you haven't experienced previously, it would still be a good idea to find out what is causing the noise, Then you can determine if it is something that need further attention or if it is something that you can put off until a later time.

You didn't indicate if the noise changes when you put light pressure on the clutch pedal? Did the noise stop when you push down on the pedal to disengage the clutch? When you said louder, in what way is in louder?

In case you are wondering what is with this twenty question stuff, in a manual transmission there are certain parts that rotates with the engine while it is stationary and there are some parts that don't. Same situation when the car is moving, except there are more parts involved inside the transmission when the car is in motion. Through the process of elimination we can narrow down the list of possible cause of the noise.

N.E.O.