"The engine never dies when it stalls" means the engine misses badly but keeps running or the car stops moving when in drive but engine keeps running?

 

The engine stays at idle when it stalls. When I give it gas their is no acceleration. I have to let off the pedal and "barely" tap the gas several times until I feel the engine engage acceleration and starts picking up again. I then switch gears and then the next gear stalls. Giving it more gas won't help. I have to downshift and try the lower gear. Most of the time I have to come to a full stop and then start all over again. A mechanic check the fuel pump he says it's got enough pressure. Hope this helps. Thanks.

 

When sitting at idle, can you try manually moving the throttle plate? I'm curious if you maybe have a stretched or failed throttle cable that is still sticking to itself when pulled gently.

 

The cables got about 1/3 of an inch of play but mechanic said it was fine also.

 

Cracked ignition coil, replace it.

-Charlie

 

The way you describe it, it sounds like it may be a slipping trans.? Did You by chance change your trans.fluid in that old classic camry?

 

Lets clarify:when the car is moving, you pushing the gas pedal, but the engine bogs down; if you pressing on the acclerator gently the car picks up the speed.
If you floor the gas pedal in park does the engine seems to have same symptoms?

 

Yes. pushing the gas pedal down bogs the car down. Tapping the pedal doesn't always work. I do that until I can feel the car pick up and start moving again. When in park it's the same situation. I have to tap the gas until the car picks up, shift gears, and then it bogs again. No problems when the gas is above 1/4 tank.

 

I'll check the ignition coil. Thanks.

 

I haven't switched out the tranny oil yet but the car doesn't pick up and the engine doesn't rev when stalling.

 

Just so you are clear on the terms - stalling in the car world normally means that the engine stops rotating, not just stops accelerating. That's where most of the confusion on the thread happened. Better terms would be hesitating or bogging.

I'll say it again - replace that ignition coil...

-Charlie

 

I've had this problem before... I replaced the coil, TPS, ECM, and Mass airflow meter then cleaned out the intake plenum with seafoam and that seemed to take care of it. I don't know which of these was the actual fix because I did them at the same time.

 

All of those would make sense. I know the TPS is good, so I'll get the other parts and switch them out. I just don't know why it only bogs down when it gets to a 1/4 tank. Something is telling the car that it doesn't have enough fuel or it requires more fuel. But, I'm still getting at least 30 miles to the gallon as normal.

 

Any chance that it happens more when the weather is especially wet? Maybe it has just happened to coincide with the fuel level?

-Charlie

 

with car in park maintain the engine speed around 2500 rpm for 30 seconds; if the engine will start mising after 10 seconds, it most likely the fuel starvation; if the engine will cough during throttle opening check the ignition system
I came across the case when the leaking short 2 inch hose on the fuel pump motor (inside the tank) caused the same problem- the gas was just leaking back into the tank

 

Owners manual does mention possible issues if fuel goes below 1/4 tank. I've had hesitation while accelerating once on our 87 camry dx 3sfe. Never happened again on a low tank.

 

Unfortunately, the manual is nowhere to be found. What did you do to get it fixed?

 

Hi Charlie,

The extent of my mechanical knowledge doesn't exceed tuneups but I'm learning. I don't think it's the weather. I was having the same problem all summer long. Going to get an ignition coil tomorrow. Do you think the gas cap could be contributing to the problem also when the gas gets that low?

 

I would check the fuel pressure when it starts to bog when the tank is low.

Sounds to me like the engine is starving for fuel when the tank gets low

 

I've got that owner's manual......can you believe that !

Pm me if you want it....

 

I put more gas in the tank. Above 1/4. Never had the problem again.

I've run my 88LE at high speed across the open desert and ran out of gas with no issues other than that. Of course I was carrying some extra gas in a gas can to get to a station.

 

I know its a little late but if you were to look inside your fuel tank (or atleast on my 87 camry same problem) you will see a retention pan around the fuel pump. This is there to keep fuel around the pump when your on a hill when the fuel level is low or below about 1/4 tank it seems. So when the fuel is low it will not come over the sides to fill this pan and the only other option is a port/ tube that is only about 1/2 inch in diameter that fills from the front of this little pan and then runs around and towards the rear of the car. That way fuel doesn't drain from it while you are pointing down hill. Anyway that tube was plugged with rust therefore the pan would run empty unless I cornered or stopped hard and it could splash over the top. I did not replace the tank but I did remove it and gain access enough to dig at it with a small wire and using compressed air I was able to unplug it. Solved my poor running under 1/4 tank issue.