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Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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guapatona
New User
Apr 6, 2008, 1:23 AM
Post #1 of 7
(5920 views)
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Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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Hi,
This is my first time here, so I hope someone can help me. I'm confused. I have a Toyota Camry 1994 Le 4-door sedan, with 114,170 miles on it.
I've visited my non-Toyota mechanic twice. He has a good reputation in the neighborhood for being very honest.
Back in 11/07, I had my tune up, as well as new spark plugs and timing belt replaced. All of a sudden in January, my car turned off while waiting at a stop light. It wasn't particularly hot or cold, but it was while I was out of town and had driven about 75 miles that day. It turned back on right away. It became an intermittent and entirely random problem, maybe once every couple of weeks or days. I don't drive that far usually, so my car doesn't normally get too hot and I couldn't find a particular pattern.
I barely drove it at all, but since I'm moving cross-country, I decided to get it checked out, as well as my oil change. The mechanic said this is a very common problem that the throttle is dirty, so they cleaned and lubed the assembly. The next day, it turned off again while at a stop light. I noticed that the idle dropped real low before it did so.
I brought it back. He said, it wasn't the assembly and he'd have to do testing and it wasn't going to be easy to find the problem. He couldn't replicate my problem and couldn't find anything wrong with the car, he ran all his diagnostics and drove it 5 miles without any problem. He said he "put chemicals in" to clean the fuel. I think he meant injectors (?) This was Friday. I drove my car about 5.5 miles later that night. It was super smooth (big difference in performance). Parked it. Three hours later, got in. Every time I stopped, it would hesitate. It didn't turn off but when I pressed the gas, it would hesitate.
Then I parked. When I tried to start the car, it cranked but wouldn't start. Ten minutes later it started fine and drove great.
It drove it twice today. In the morning it was fine but a little weird. The RPM almost went up to 3k just up a slight incline. While at a stop sign it seemed to idle a little loud and when it quieted down, I noticed the idle dropped very slightly. On my way home it was totally fine. Tonight, I drove it 5.5 miles, it hesitated at every stop light, even when warm (after a short jaunt on the freeway). A couple of hours later, I drove back and it didn't hesitate at all, but when I went to parallel park and was in reverse without pressing on the gas, the engine turned off. It did the same thing as yesterday and wouldn't turn on... I waited a few minutes, it turned on long enough for me to finish the parallel park and it turned off again.
What is going on? I'm so confused. I'm gonna take it back Monday to the mechanic but can't find any other posting with a story similar to mine...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 6, 2008, 3:04 AM
Post #2 of 7
(5914 views)
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Re: Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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Guess: Since injector cleaner in the gas seemed to make a difference that may be the problem area. solvent for the tank is better at prevention than a fix so perhaps having the professionally cleaned out would solve this. May have a bad one, can't say on that,
T
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guapatona
New User
Apr 6, 2008, 8:02 AM
Post #3 of 7
(5910 views)
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Re: Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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Hi,
That's what I was kind of thinking; maybe they are so dirty. But the problem is real odd now. I don't know why it got worse. Someone suggested that it might be the air flow meter in the air cleaner... would that be affected by fuel cleaning this much?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 6, 2008, 9:00 AM
Post #4 of 7
(5909 views)
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Re: Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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I worry about the gas we're buying today more than ever. There's tons of incentive to use additives and non fossile fuels to cut the price down, emissions down or whatever. I have clearly noted it doesn't "keep" well for off season storage too.
As a result - I'm suggesting more fuel filter changes, use of solvents periodically just for prevention which seems to have worked in the fleet around me.
It did catch my attention that you notice an improvement for a while! That suggests something about the additive used helped. There are no magic things that just make an engine run better than intended that I know of so you may have gotten used to some diminished performance and the fix for this should only make it more efficient for the long run.
You mentioned you were happy with your mechanic which is great and are going back. Do bring up that you noted the improvement and see what he/she suggests from there. Good luck,
T
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guapatona
New User
Apr 6, 2008, 11:26 AM
Post #5 of 7
(5905 views)
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Re: Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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I read elsewhere that adding additive is a waste of money... ?? Sigh. I don't know. Thank you for your help!
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dave284
Enthusiast
Apr 6, 2008, 11:39 AM
Post #6 of 7
(5904 views)
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Re: Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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I just reading your post and you mentioned the air flow meter which I have ran into such cases where it had a lot to do with the idle problems...maybe the problem lies there...but only a advance diagnostic test would tell...just a thought.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 6, 2008, 3:24 PM
Post #7 of 7
(5899 views)
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Re: Toyota Camry 1994- hesitation/stalling
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Note on store bought additives: Some are useful, most are a waste IMO. I will use by brand "Chevron's Techron" fuel system cleaner and really believe it has helped. Not a bottle per tankful like they want you to do but half of one now and then.
The ones that claim wild power increases, and oil additives that make your engine last forever are a waste.
I do use fuel stabilizer for long term storage in like seasonal equipment which has helped.
There's no real quick fix junk to solve neglect or most of the claims of the junk I see out there,
T
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