Stutter on 1.8-litre VVT-i 1ZZ-FE

Have you replaced the intake manifold gasket with the revised, orange colored gasket from Toyota? This needs to be done even if it doesn't resolve your issue. Usually you would get the P0171 error code for that, so it might not be the culprit, but just replace it anyway if you haven't already.



Also, when you cleaned the MAF sensor, did you only clean the bulb/wire and nothing else? If so, you didn't clean the MAF sensor. That's inside the plastic tube that sticks out of it.

John Anthony said:

I've never replaced mine. I see no need unless it's giving you problems, like bucking. If the car has ever sat for a long time not being used (like for a year or two or longer) or for whatever reason had a bunch of dirt or rust in the gas tank, then yes I would change the filter.

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I found the culprit while changing the valve cover gasket:


That was a brand new spark plug a few weeks ago. I mustve somehow broken or damaged it while installing it. I did here a ticking sound, which I now realise mustve been the broken spark plug smashing up and down in its housing.

As you can see it appears that a piece of the ceramic is missing, so that either went through the engine or is still bouncing around in there. EEK!

On that note, would you be able to have a listen to the sound in this video and tell me whether that sound is the wonderful sound of Japanese engineered injectors merrily pulsing away, or the horrible, nay evil sound of a bent valve or worse from the bits of broken spark plug smashing through my poor engine?


I understand its difficult to say from a cellphone video in a supermarket carpark, but any guesses would be appreciated. This is the engine warmed up after replacing the plug.

petmeer said:

It was the very first set of spark plugs I installed. I am a complete novice, I did have a bit of problems getting the socket out, maybe I cracked it while trying to jiggle the socket out? I didnt use excessive force or anything... I now know to use the rubber insert only when taking them out, as mine is a bit tight and really, REALLY holds onto that spark plug. So I did spent 10 mins or so jiggling, turning and pulling to get the socket out, as the extension kept popping out of the socket.

The white part had completely separated from the housing containing the thread, so it could move up and down, which I think might be why it is so thoroughly destroyed. I hope I havent farked the engine!

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Oh, I see...… Well, you can go to a junkyard and practice removing and installing them until you get a feel for it. Try it on a couple of different cars and you should have it down. You can get spark plug sockets that don't have any rubber holder in them, but are magnetic. I love mine because they work so well and I don't have to worry about that rubber piece dropping out or getting stuck in the spark plug chamber, or drying up after being several years old, etc.


Here's a tool that's helpful when you get something stuck in the spark plug chamber. It's helped me out before I got the magnetic socket and is also useful in a variety of situations. It's a good generic tool to bring to the junkyard, along with a paint can key and an adjustable wrench:


I don't know if you've cause damage to your engine. Did you look inside the combustion chamber to see if there was debris on top of the piston?

bull6791 said:

John. You are excellent at diagnosing cars. You hit his problem right on the head. A combustion problem.

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Not in my view of myself. I can replace parts, but it takes knowledge and also problem solving cognitive skills to do diagnosis, and I have a long way to go in that department, but thanks for the accolade anyway.

bull6791 said:

What is farked the engine. I never heard of it.

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It's just a euphemism for the F word, as he is avoiding being vulgar. He just means that he hopes he didn't cause damage to the engine.

You can get a boroscope for less than $60 USD. I got one online for about $100 and I used it to take a look at the top of the piston after I had to chase the threads on one of the spark plug holes on my Corolla. Yep, with the camera I could see shavings on the top of the piston. I then used a brake bleeder attached to my air compressor to vacuum out all the shavings. The boroscope also helped me to see the back of the catalytic converter media, which can not be seen any other way.

Here's the one I got, and they have cheaper ones and other more expensive ones:


Also, I just watched the video with good headphones on. I really can't tell if that's excessive ticking or not, but I doubt you have bent valves. I imagine that would sound much worse, and might not even run at all in that case. Try putting a vacuum cleaner on top of the spark plug hole. Make a good seal so it can pick something up. I tried that before using my brake bleeder and air compressor and the vacuum cleaner was not able to pick up the metal shavings (aluminum, so I couldn't use a magnet) like the brake bleeder/compressor did. The vacuum might work for different debris that what I had. You can also try getting a rod and putting sticky tape on it. Stick it in the spark plug hole and see if you can pick up any broken pieces.