Camry troubles (ignition?) - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jerseyboyintexas · 03-18-2002, 06:55 PM

OK Everyone -- I'm at my wit's end on this one. Wife is mad at me,
>and no shop has been able to find anything wrong on diagnostics.
>
>Symptoms: ONLY on hot, humid days, ONLY first one or two startups,
>hesitates, stalls, no power, feels as though timing is WAY off.
>Then clears up. Thought I had the problem fixed two weeks ago when
>I replaced the cap and rotor, but guess only temporaily. After the
>second startup, the car runs like a charm.
>
>Cap was really bad inside, and rusty (not sure why) and the graphite
>knob in the center wasn't on its spring, but rather pushed all the
>way inside the rotor making the spark jum to the cap. Oxygen sensor
>doesn't even come on unitl reaching a certain tempature right?
>
>If it was old enough to have a vaccum advance, I'd swear it was the
>problem. But since it has electronic ignition, where do I turn?
>Also could be some kind of "choke" or "cold start valve" -- but I
>haven't found the "hot and humid" start valve to replace!
>
>the car is a 1990 Toyota
>Camry LE
Thanks for any help you can give!
Dave

budking686 · 03-18-2002, 07:36 PM

My 1996 Camry did this as well...Try checking to see if your idle control valve is ok? I had a similar problem went to a dealer and had them run on their computer and this was the problem...Easy to fix but the dealer wanted 600 all together and like 350-400 for the part...You can get parts real cheap at http://www.magauto.com Mine valve only cost around $160...good luck

GreCam96 · 03-18-2002, 07:55 PM

I have this problem tooo.. can someone tell me if this is a defect in the camry...

88 LE · 03-19-2002, 02:53 AM

Since you've already replaced the distributor cap + wire set and the rotor the next thing to check is the coil.

The ignition coil on the 2nd gens (87 -91) are known to crack and cause the problems you listed.

Good luck.

TRDCAMRY · 03-19-2002, 11:48 PM

Sorry for the long reply.
I used to drive a 1988 Camry and it had the same problem, only on humid days.
I now drive a 1995 Camry and it also does this on humid days only.
My cousin is a mechanic for a Toyota dealer and he tells me that most Camrys suffer from this minor defect.
My solution: I accelerate it up to 3,000 RPMs when it does this and problem solved.

jerseyboyintexas · 03-24-2002, 07:20 PM

FIXED!!! Thanks yall. Went to replace the coil and it seems as though the gasket between the coil and distributor body was shot. Replaced the coild anyway, but for anyone else out there with the same problem, a little gasket sealer might go a long way!!!