2004 celica gt running rough. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

CamrySExxx · 11-23-2009, 09:21 PM

Hey guys, I'm a camry guy and I usually stay on the camry forum but my gf has a celica and it's running really rough.

It's got about 160km (km not miles), its a 04 gt. And well its running rough, not as smooth as its suppose to be . Very slow on accelerating, feels like its bogging. I drove took it for a quick spin like two weeks ago and it definately needs a tune up.

What would you guys suggest? It's also got the Check engine light on ...

just I dont have a scanner to pull the codes. Is the only way to get the codes to use a scanner? obd II i believe?

anyways im planning on ...

Cleaning the throttle body
Seafoam treatment
Change the air filter
Change the oil to mobil 1 synthethic after seafoam
probably a fuel injector (not really needed)
and maybe new plugs... Are the plugs in the celica the special denso iridium ones? If so how long are they suppose to last?

Any other suggestions?
Sorry guy's I dont know much about celicas so cut me some slack

all I know is that its a 1.8 and it doesnt have vtec.

im just messing.

anyways thanks guys

vw guy · 11-23-2009, 09:48 PM

i think the recommended replacement for iridium is 100,000 km so you're overdue.
maybe you need to adjust the valves?

CamrySExxx · 11-23-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vw guy

i think the recommended replacement for iridium is 100,000 km so you're overdue.
maybe you need to adjust the valves?

yeah something around that. I remember hearing either 100km or 160km. I think it might be 100miles 160km, ill see . Hopefully they arent crazy expensive ...
The ones in my accord were 20$ a pop ... 80 bucks for a 4 cynlinder! thats nuts.

RobMilkshakes · 11-23-2009, 11:01 PM

I'd recommend pulling the code ASAP, that could have a major effect on both the performance and gas milage depending on the code. Most autoparts places offer free scans with little handheld OBDII scanners.

CamrySExxx · 11-24-2009, 11:38 PM

does anyone knows if its like the hondas where you cna jump the terminals in teh obd connector and the light will flash? Then counting how many times the light flashes, you can find more info on it online? anyone know ? that might be a bit easier.

Pwner Guy · 11-25-2009, 02:21 AM

Replacement intervals for iridiums is 192,000 KM. We don't do them on the 3.3L any earlier than that, pain in the arse job that it is especially on the Sienna, 3 hours for a plug job is not pleasant. Also before doing anything I'd pull that code and find out what it is so you can address that. It may point you to the reason for the rough running and other issues. I'm afraid that the newer Toyota's lack the underhood diagnosis plug and can't pull codes from jumping connections. The only way to pull codes is with an OBDII scan tool. Even then unless it has software compatible with Toyota's computers it might only show you the OBDII codes.

CamrySExxx · 11-25-2009, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pwner Guy

Replacement intervals for iridiums is 192,000 KM. We don't do them on the 3.3L any earlier than that, pain in the arse job that it is especially on the Sienna, 3 hours for a plug job is not pleasant. Also before doing anything I'd pull that code and find out what it is so you can address that. It may point you to the reason for the rough running and other issues. I'm afraid that the newer Toyota's lack the underhood diagnosis plug and can't pull codes from jumping connections. The only way to pull codes is with an OBDII scan tool. Even then unless it has software compatible with Toyota's computers it might only show you the OBDII codes.

Yeah I remember hearing the iridiums were to last quite some time. 192km sounds about right. Maybe ill pull the plugs and see how they are and probably just clean them up a bit. The one thing why I like the I4 over v6's are because everything is right there nice and neat , well compared to the v6

And after my research I found out that the scan tool would be my best bet. Looks like I'll be heading to part source or some where for a free diagnostic.

Ill report back on what I find.

Going to clean the MAF, throttle body, doing a seafoam treatment, and gonna take a look at the air filter tomorrow.

I have a feeling that the CEL is on for either the maf , or the o2 sensor. Well thats my guess. I'll find out tomorrow or some time this week.

CamrySExxx · 11-25-2009, 07:38 PM

Didnt get much time to mess with the car because some plans changed...

Damn the celica engine bay is cramped!!!

Only cleaned the throttle body today, I did pull the battery though which did reset the CEL, the car ran a bit better but I know the CEL will be back on soon.

Couldnt get the rusty bolts to open on the MAF since I thought my gf's place had tools, it was a cluster f*** in her garage! anyways, next up ill be cleaning the MAF and trying to get the air filter out... looked complicated, and then the seafoam treatment, then a full synthetic oil change.

Car has 130k on it, so the plugs should still be good if its original so im not going to bother taking a look.

Pwner Guy · 11-25-2009, 09:33 PM

If you remove the plastic shroud in the engine bay it frees up a lot of room.

Bitter · 11-26-2009, 08:44 AM

clean the MAF and make sure the airbox is snapped closed. often the one clip at the right rear of the airbox is missed since its hard to close. my MAF was filthy when i got the car and that snap was not clipped, cleaned the MAF and voila! zoom zoom once again.

CamrySExxx · 11-26-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

clean the MAF and make sure the airbox is snapped closed. often the one clip at the right rear of the airbox is missed since its hard to close. my MAF was filthy when i got the car and that snap was not clipped, cleaned the MAF and voila! zoom zoom once again.

Hopefully I can get those rusty bolts off, the gf's garage was a mess so I couldnt find the appropriate tools. Going to bring mine tomorrow.

Hopefully I can get the air box open, it sure was a bitch even trying to get it open.

Also does anyone have a pic of and can show me where the VACUUM hose is for the seafoam? or should I just stick to the brake booster?

RobMilkshakes · 11-26-2009, 09:35 PM

brake booster is an easy spot.

And seriously try to get the code pulled. Its a good thing to do all this maintenance, but if it does't help anything, it'll end up just causing some major frustration. And just to clarify something, you asked earlier if it was like hondas where you can jump a port, that is not a honda specific characteristic, rather just ODB I (pre 95-96 ish). On OBD II, the only way to pull that is there should be a trapezoidal shape connector on the bottom side of the dash on the drivers side(for most cars, I've seen a few on the passenger side, but those were domestics).

CamrySExxx · 11-28-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobMilkshakes

brake booster is an easy spot.

And seriously try to get the code pulled. Its a good thing to do all this maintenance, but if it does't help anything, it'll end up just causing some major frustration. And just to clarify something, you asked earlier if it was like hondas where you can jump a port, that is not a honda specific characteristic, rather just ODB I (pre 95-96 ish). On OBD II, the only way to pull that is there should be a trapezoidal shape connector on the bottom side of the dash on the drivers side(for most cars, I've seen a few on the passenger side, but those were domestics).

I ended up using the vacuum at the very front of the car above the air filter box.

I cleaned the MAF filter and pulled the battery so it cleared the CEL and it has yet to appear again ... if it does again I will for sure get it checked.
I got the TB cleaned the day before.

I ran a seafoam treatment ...

All I can say is that the seafoam was one of the best $15 ever spent. (yes its pretty expensive in canada). The car was putting out a ton of smoke but it DEFINITELY gave the car some power back and it for sure made it run much smoother. Before the car could barely make it up a hill without feeling all slugish, after cleaning hte MAF and running the seafoam its much better getting up the hill. I think its the MAF that was causing the CEL in the first place and making the car run very rough. Anyways I'll post up a vid of the smoke show in a bit :P

I still have to do an oil change on the car.

btw does the 7g celica GT (non gt-s) come with black housing headlamps?
and I liked driving the celica around for a day even though it was a GT automatic one. I drive a 5speed accord coupe as my dd but I like the feel of the celica... I like how low it sits

Bitter · 11-28-2009, 06:17 PM

you can get black housing headlamps or take the OE's apart and make them black inserts.

CamrySExxx · 11-28-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

you can get black housing headlamps or take the OE's apart and make them black inserts.

But does the GT come with it from stock though? I ask because it's my gf's car and she bought it used and I noticed the front headlamps weren't allighed with the body too well and I seen that they were blackhoused ... the gf doesnt really know much about cars but im pretty sure they were taken apart and painted.