92 Celcia Engine Problems

[rhpope]

I have a 92 Celica GTS 5 spd with the 2.2L engine with a little over 200k miles on it.

It is hard to get started. Once you get it running, it is dead from idle up to about 3500-4000 rpm. It runs like it is missing on one or two cylinders. Once it gets up to 3500-4000 rpm range, it appears to act like it might run on all 4 cylinders.

Here is what I have done so far on trouble shooting:

1. Checked compression on all 4 cylinders and I get 210 psi on all 4

2. replaced plugs and wires. all the plugs fire so the distributor and the igntion seem to be fine. When taking the plugs out, all of them appear to be firing and burning fuel as they do not come out wet like a dead cylinder would, but some are maybe a little damp and one inparticular comes out dry as if it is the only cylinder running for sure all the time.

3. checked to see if there are any obivious vacuum leaks, but did not see anything, but I could have missed something with all the hoses.

4. checked fuel pressure by disconnecting the outlet banjo fitting on the fuel filter and making an adapter. I could not find the usual fuel test port that is on most fuel injetor rails. I was getting 60 psi out of the filter.

5. I pulled the codes from the computer and got these: 24, 25, 31, 41


From the definitions of these four codes, I want to lean towards that the ECU or computer is bad, because it is hard to believe that all the possible sensors that these codes describe have gone bad.

I came across another response on the forum here that someone had a problem with a timing belt jumping a notch or two, is it possible for this to cause the problem? I still wonder about the injectors or the fuel pressure in the fuel rail and that maybe the fuel pressure regulator is bad. Is there a fuel test port on the fuel rail somewhere that I did not see that is somewhat hidden? Any other suggestions as to the cause of the problem would be greatly appreciated.

One last question, is this the same basic setup as the 2.2L engine in the Camry with just different tuning in the computer or totally different?

Thanks,
Roger

[Pineapple]

Check wires and gounds in engine bay. A lose gound which bounce with engine vibration will cause funny problems.

[celicamaniac]

sounds like the same problem....yeah...but may not be...the timing belt...you have to check it....period...then go from there...if you smell gas...and you get fire....it has to be mechanical....and it is probably different than the camry unless it is the same 5sfe engine...just check that to. good luck. oh if you get it to run at all it is not the ecm or ecu.

[93celicaconv]

How did your problem manifest itself? Did it gradually get worse over time to where it is now, or did it suddenly happen? Any spills happen in the area of the front cup holders just before your engine problems started? Or did you do any engine work, and this problem started right after that engine work was done?

It sounds like it could be your ECM. You could try to find a salvage replacement for your engine/transmission combination from a salvage yard and plug that in to see if there is a change. It could also be a ground problem in the engine bay. If you can think of anything that was done just prior to the problems starting, that would be a good way to start the process.