Running rough

ANKO

MEMBER
TOYOTA CAMRY

I have an 89 Camry with 160k miles. The car is Idling Rough and Black smoke is coming out of the exhaust. In the mornings when you start it up, it'll start then chugg down and die. But when you do get it to start and idle, it idles rough. The car has no power going up or down hill. When you press on the throttle all the way down, the car seems to want to die then picks up speed very slowly. I've replaced the spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and air filter. Still no good. I've tried to play with the ignition timing by turing the distributer cap back and forth all the way. Either way I turn it. It still runs the same. There's nothing aftermarket on the car. The only thing I know is that the mass air flow sensor is not the original. It's from and an 88 toyota truck. But the check engine light does not stay on. It only comes on at times. Please let me know of what to check and how? I'm not sure whats going on.

5 Replies

JOEMECHANIC

MEMBER
28 POSTS

The fuel injector(s) are probably sticking, allowing way too much fuel into the engine, check this by disconnecting the injectors, and starting the car using a can of starting fluid sprayed continuously into the throttle body, if the car runs smoothly during this test than it is probably injectors, I reccomend a computer code diagnosis, before spending any money to change any mechanical part, hope this helps

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Monday, March 12th, 2007 AT 5:51 PM

ANKO

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Okay, Well that information did help me a lot! I do appreciate it! I didn't think about the injectors leaking. But I did the test. Disconnected all injectors and got some starting fluid and sprayed it while trying to crank the car. The car didn't start at all. It will crank and crank but no start. So I connected the injectors back and the car started again. What does that mean? And I also got the codes in the car if you can tell me what they are. I got them by jumping the OBD1 terminals TE1 and E1. I watched the check engine light blink. And I got codes

32 and 43.

If you can tell me what those codes are. It would help a lot! Thanks very much!

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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 8:09 AM

ANKO

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Sorry, the codes are

31 and 43.

Please let me know what they are and what I need to do. Please? Thank you so much for your help on this. My Grandpa will be so thrilled to get his car fixed!

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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 1:53 PM

JOEMECHANIC

MEMBER
28 POSTS

This is strange, the trouble code "31"is: airflow meter signal(vacuum sensor), and code "43" is: Starter signal.I apologize, I forgot to mention that during the starting fluid test, the accelerator pedal must be pressed. The vacuum sensor could have something to do with your problem, hope this helps-Joe

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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 4:05 PM

ANKO

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Okay, well here is an update. I replaced the Mass air Flow sensor and the vehicle does run a lot better. But there is still a problem. In the mornings and only in the morning. The vehicle has a hard time starting. The car will crank. But will not start. Feels as if theres not fuel. If you crank the car on and off for about 10 minutes. The car will eventually start up. When the car starts up. The car idles up and down. And also the car will shut off if you don't keep the gas pedal pressed. Once the car is warmed up. Idle seems to be fine and the car runs fine. But when the car is warm, and you try to start the car. It has a weak start. When you start the car. It feels like the car didn't start but it did start and will pick up idle gradually. If you can help me out with this issue. I will appreciate it greatfully. And thank you so much for your help.