engine miss on long drives

[FifthCamry]

Hello everyone,
I have a '96 Camry LE, 4 cylinder. It has 161,000 miles on it. This is the fifth Camry in the family. When I take it for long rides I experience an occasional miss in the engine. I'm talking about well over an hour at highway speeds. I recently gave it a tuneup but just had an incident yesterday where it really bucked for a second or two and then smoothed out. I keep up with all the regular maintenance items (timing belts, oil changes, etc.) Any ideas? I have never replaced the O2 sensor.
Thanks.

[whocares04]

O2 sensor is not a problem (at least it wasn't for my V6) b/c it throws out a CEL and i drove around for literally months before i replace it (just this weekend ) but during that time my engine never missed...and i drove a couple 3 hr. + trips.

it sounds like a timing problem but has this just recently started or what b/c u might have gotten a faulty spark plug or something?

i have never had this problem so hopefully others can help u out...good luck and welcome to the TN family, we're pretty useful....

ALSO, u might wanna use the search function and search for "engine miss" or along those lines.

[Mike Gerber]

First of all, I would check the distributor cap and distributor rotor for signs of wear and pitting. Then I would check the resistance of the spark plug wires with a digital volt/ohmeter. Around 7000 Ohms per foot of wire is considered acceptable. Then I would get a manual and check the fuel pump pressure with a gage. You may have to take it in somewhere for this. It shouldn't cost very much. There is a schraeder type valve on the fuel rail where they can place a gage and check the fuel pump pressure. It's similar to checking tire pressure. Weak fuel pumps can surface as the ambient air temperature and the engine temparture rises. If you want to try something fuel related on your own, you could try replaceing the fuel filter first, especially if it's never been replaced.

Good luck.

Mike

[Cyorke]

While you are checking the distributor and rotor for wear be on the look out for oil in the distributor also. You may want to make sure you dont have oil in the plug tubes also. Just my 2 cents worth.

[FifthCamry]

Thanks for the ideas. I recently tuned it up so I'm pretty sure it's not the wires or plugs. It mimics the same symptoms before the tuneup when I was on I95 on the way back from my daughter's college. I'm still leaning toward an electrical problem. I'll keep you posted.

[Davee]

Originally Posted by FifthCamry

Thanks for the ideas. I recently tuned it up so I'm pretty sure it's not the wires or plugs. It mimics the same symptoms before the tuneup when I was on I95 on the way back from my daughter's college. I'm still leaning toward an electrical problem. I'll keep you posted.

I simpathyse with you . My 97 4 cyl had a similar problem for at least six months & three visits -- even left over weekend before dealer found the problem . Never happened since. I don't know what they changed other than plugs & distibutor cap. I know I found tagging on the ECU behind theglove compartment recently . I don't think that detail would be on a factory installed part ? Good Luck

[eyeball96]

If ya havin't had your throttle body serviced ya might do that!