99 SLE V6 Problems - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Lauer340 · 10-28-2010, 08:39 AM

I bought my Solara for about 3000 with 160k miles on it. And it looks like it was well maintained, but when driving at a steady speed the car pulsates at higher speeds and seems like at a steady lower speed it putters almost as if it is out of gas. When accelerating everything seems to be fine. Any suggestion would be helpful.

Solid_Koolaid · 10-28-2010, 10:15 AM

That's a bit vague to me.

When did it start ? Has anything been done on the car recently ? Check engine light ?

Are you sure the problem comes from the engine ? Don't neglect the transmission (especially if automatic)

Any details would come in handy

Lauer340 · 10-28-2010, 02:07 PM

The check engine light is on. I had it checked they said it was a sensor? Maybe o2 or thermostat. Also, it is an automatic. IDK if it is the engine or the tranny. It was problem the day I bought the car.

Solid_Koolaid · 10-28-2010, 05:40 PM

Knowing the exact check engine code would be of help. It could be O2 related for sure. It could be EGR related too, it would explain why this only happens at steady-speed. It *may* be related to coolant temp. sensor too... but this is all theoretical, try to get the CEL code from you mechanic or some auto part store.

It doesn't sound like thermostat related... Is the engine heating-up normally, steady temperature ? (needle somewhere close to the middle position when at temp and staying there ?)... even if it was not, it would hardly explain the symptoms.

Lauer340 · 10-29-2010, 10:48 AM

On the code reader it said something about fuel and it mentioned one of them sensors two error codes and nothing was done to this car recently. Also, I did how ever notice its do for an oil change and def. a basic tune up. Could the plugs and wires be an issue here? And the car heats up fast, but the needles stays right at half way, fans kick on pretty hard too lol.

Lauer340 · 11-01-2010, 10:39 PM

it also stated cylinder misfire in 1,3, and 5(this is new code provided by advance auto) and I do know each ignition coil runs to 2 spark plugs(meaning there is only 3). So if it has 1x2 it would def. not be the ignition coils otherwise there would be 4 cylinders misfiring right?

Solid_Koolaid · 11-01-2010, 11:07 PM

What catches my attention here is the fact that cylinders 1, 3 and 5 are all on the same bank. rear bank as I figured out. (this one's a bitch to work on

)
I'd check/test if the rear O2 sensor is working correctly. It could be sending the wrong information to the ECU.

Also check the wires from the coils, are they properly connected to the coils, corrosion, resistance check, if you've got small enough hands to work on the rear spark plugs.

Could be a timing problem too, like the timing belt having jumped a few teeth on the rear bank camshaft gear... all cylinders on that bank would probably be misfiring while the other would just work fine. And even when not misfiring, rough running would be expected.

http://www.**********s.com/camry/eg2.pdf

O2 sensors : Page 306+
Timing : see timing belt installation from page 49.

Feel free to browse, detailed engine service manual for 1MZ-FE. There might be a few differences between yours and the one in the manual (earlier version, mid-90, previous gen Camry) but it should be 99% the exact same.

EDITED : cylinders 1, 3 and 5 are on the rear cylinder bank. I was mistaken in the first place.

Lauer340 · 11-01-2010, 11:14 PM

see i was think the rear plugs were 1,3, and 5 and I did disassemble one ignition coil upfront and it looked relatively good (the boot and spark plug as well) which made me assume that the harder of the spark plugs were possibly neglected considering it is a tedious job. But my car also ready system is running too lean bank 1

Lauer340 · 11-01-2010, 11:14 PM

also read something like fuel metering?

Solid_Koolaid · 11-01-2010, 11:17 PM

Rear bank is bank 1 with cylinders 1, 3 and 5.

There are 2 fuel rails to the injectors, one for each bank... you could indeed investigate this.

Lauer340 · 11-01-2010, 11:18 PM

fuel rails?

Solid_Koolaid · 11-01-2010, 11:21 PM

I meant the fuel delivery pipe common to all three injectors of each bank. Pressure line if you prefer.

Lauer340 · 11-01-2010, 11:23 PM

That does make sense, I can smell some sort of fuel its kinda unexplainable but I would compare it too brake cleaner. Its very vague but yea. How expensive and how hard of a job would it be to clean or replace those?

Lauer340 · 11-01-2010, 11:24 PM

If were talking about the bar over the fuel injectors....

Solid_Koolaid · 11-01-2010, 11:29 PM

Well, have you removed the plastic cover on top of the engine? The fuel rails are right there, easy to inspect... it's could simply be a leak in some pipe or hose, in which case it won't be expensive to fix. That would explain the lean running, sputters, engine dying, smell and so on, if the pressure isn't high enough due to a leak.

Fuel injection in the service manual in at page 217 and from page 240 you got everything about the injectors I think. But spare you the headache of reading all this before having checked for the obvious on your car.

Gotta go to bed, working tomorrow. Hope you find the problem.