what's the typical sympton of a sludged engine - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ruoknow · 08-03-2005, 09:03 PM

Need some input from your guys.

I am trying to buy a 99 solara (se v6), but the CEL is on for the reason i don't know.

I have checked all the fluids: transmision fluid looks beautiful (pinkish), but engine oil is a little brown (still normal).

I can fix the things around engine to turn off the CEL, but i don't want to replace the whole engine.

Could anybody tell me what is the typical sympton for a sluged engine?

94CoupeV6 · 08-03-2005, 09:10 PM

Bring it to a mechanic and have them use the diagnostics to figure out why the CEL is on.

bronzemaxell · 08-03-2005, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruoknow

Need some input from your guys.

I am trying to buy a 99 solara (se v6), but the CEL is on for the reason i don't know.

I have checked all the fluids: transmision fluid looks beautiful (pinkish), but engine oil is a little brown (still normal).

I can fix the things around engine to turn off the CEL, but i don't want to replace the whole engine.

Could anybody tell me what is the typical sympton for a sluged engine?

if it is around 100k miles, probably it is the 02 sensor, but you can bring it to anywhere who has a odbII scaner to see the code that cause the engine light on

ruoknow · 08-03-2005, 09:36 PM

thanks guys.

i suspected that it is the oxygen sensor.

when i was doing the test, i put in P and pedaled down the gas. the rpm went up smoothly over 4000. does that prove that the engine is fine?

the reason that i didn't test drive it is because the car was surrounded by other vehicles in a dealer's parking lot. There was no way to drive it off.

CDub LXi · 08-03-2005, 09:39 PM

Tell them you want to test drive it, then test drive it to Autozone and have them run a free CEL check

Super Kaioken · 08-03-2005, 09:45 PM

^ lol. that would be pretty funny. but yeah do that if you can.. slugged or sludged? what's the symptoms of a sludged engine?

ruoknow · 08-03-2005, 09:57 PM

Thanks Super Kaioken for correctiong my mispelling (forgive me, not a native speaker)

Thanks Big Body LX for your advice.

Ranger X · 08-03-2005, 10:07 PM

Just because it ran smoothly to 4000 in park, doesn't mean it'll do the same when actually driving. Tell them you want to test drive it. And, tell them to scan the car for you. They shouldn't be selling it with the CEL on anyways. If they don't want do that for you, don't buy the car, because they're just trying to rip you off and want to get as much money as possible from a car that is probably messed up, that they are too lazy to fix. I got swindled like that when I bought my car. Speaking of money, how much are they asking for it?

ruoknow · 08-03-2005, 10:15 PM

4000 for a 99 solara(1mz-fe, leather) with 125000 miles and a CEL on it.

Ranger X · 08-03-2005, 10:18 PM

That is really cheap, and there's a reason for it. I would not buy that car. If you don't believe me just go get a quote from www.kbb.com. Nearly $8500, And that's for no options but the leather. You're probably going to have to spend another two grand or more getting the car back up to spec.

CDub LXi · 08-03-2005, 10:35 PM

n/m... You're looking at a Solara

ruoknow · 08-03-2005, 11:07 PM

Yeah, i kind of like it, especially the first gen.

Let me examine it before i buy.

ruoknow · 08-03-2005, 11:09 PM

Thanks Ranger X.

Something is wrong if it is "too good to be true". I understand what your mean and will check it out and report to you guys.

Out of my curiosity, how do you guys check out a sludged engine?
1.You really need to take off the valve cover?
2. the upper portion of dipstick can give you some clue?
3.the cleanness of the oil cap?

other than those, when you drive a car with a sludged engine, what's the symptom?

Hajoca · 08-04-2005, 06:48 AM

Not to discourage you, but the above 3 can be good indications if:

1. seller did not take off valve cover and power wash or solvent wash the top of the cylinder head and inside of valve cover. See if you can check inside the PCV hose. PCV valve could have be replaced with new one with little effort. the hose, especially at the ends should not be hard or cracked. And the Fresh air inlet hose from air cleaner snorkel to valve cover should not have any oil inside. Check air intake snorkel for oil inside too.

2. Dip stick wiped a few times with solvent will clean it nicely, check the plastic handle portion at the dipstick, to see if it is discoloured (brown) and different from the outside portion where you are holding.

3. Same as #2, a new oil cap, or a cleaned one will throw you off.

Ask your mechanic to check oil pressure.
Are there any maintenance records?

ruoknow · 08-05-2005, 12:11 PM

I test-drove that car for a little while. Apparently, it doesn't have a sludged engine. the pickup is really good and it shifts really smooth. I drove it to autozone get the error code pulled out. It turned out to be P0402 and P1411 and repeated twice for each (4 error codes, but actullay two kinds).

I noticed there is another thread posted by trioptimum titled "CEL, codes P0402 and P1141".

Somebody has any experience with that?

Is that expensive or hard to fix?