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1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell


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teamcurtiss
Novice

Dec 19, 2013, 10:23 AM

Post #1 of 16 (4617 views)
  post locked   1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

My sister has a 1999 toyota camry. She just got her oil changed and they reported back the following issues:

minor engine oil pump seal leaking
drive belts are work out
timing belt is due

Here is the issue we are experiencing that I am posting to this forum about:

Her car has been running fine but about a day later after the oil change the engine is suddenly really loud, it sounds like a go cart now when it was relatively quite before. When I open the hood it sounds like it is coming from the engine area. When she revs the vehicle you can also smell a strong odor of gas.

Here is a video of her engine on idle:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9y1r4t0dv768zqb/engine.MOV

Here is an audio file of her revving the engine:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9nsce2yqedbjnbu/Car%20Engine.m4a

I didn't grow up working on cars. I have learned how to work on my own car throughout my late twenties and early thirties. I have changed my own spark plugs, spark plug wires, radiator, alternator, air filter, brakes, rotors and calipers. I have learned a lot, but I still need some helpful guidance which is why I am reaching out here. My thoughts are that it is likely spark plugs and wires. My sister mentioned it has been about a year since they were replaced.

Any advice?

Thank you for any help with this!

Chad

In Reply To


(This post was edited by teamcurtiss on Dec 19, 2013, 10:31 AM)


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Dec 19, 2013, 10:50 AM

Post #2 of 16 (4586 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

I can't open the audio file but from the vid it sounds like an exhaust leak?

Dan.

Canadian "EH"






teamcurtiss
Novice

Dec 19, 2013, 10:57 AM

Post #3 of 16 (4573 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Someone else I mentioned this issue to suggested the same thing.... How can I troubleshoot it to verify that it is an exhaust manifold leak?


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Dec 19, 2013, 11:13 AM

Post #4 of 16 (4566 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

If there's noise from the exhaust there will also be pressure. Pressure that you can feel with your hand; but be very careful because it'll be hot. You may need to get under the car to find it; just follow the noise?
There are also Mechanic's stethoscope that you can use.



Dan.

Canadian "EH"






Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 19, 2013, 12:06 PM

Post #5 of 16 (4555 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

OMG Dan you scared me! I have a Dr. Appt. in an hour and saw that pic and thought "Oh No" forget that appt.Crazy


OP exhaust can happen any time. Flex pipe at a glance you'd see it's in trouble. Odor might not be fuel but make sure. Hot exhaust could be getting on some greasy something or whatever that it shouldn't. You need to know either way,


T



DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Dec 19, 2013, 12:14 PM

Post #6 of 16 (4547 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Yea I guess the Doc could get up close and personal with one of those scopes. LOL
Just remember tight cheeks my friend.

Dan.

Canadian "EH"






Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 19, 2013, 12:23 PM

Post #7 of 16 (4541 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Nah - if that test I'm sending the cat!





Have a good day - Tom



teamcurtiss
Novice

Dec 19, 2013, 1:50 PM

Post #8 of 16 (4526 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

I jacked up the vehicles to check the exhaust path and it seemed that the noise was coming from the flex pipe.

Here are 2 videos of the flex pipe in action:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ylijpepeyx5eqc9/flex%20pipe.MOV

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uoksih4vpsnyr5v/flex%20pipe%202.MOV

Here is a pic of the flex pipe close up:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wde59q1798u577y/flex%20pipe.JPG

Am I on the right path? Here is a youtube video for a suggested fix for it:
link deleted ............ not allowed

Will this fix work permanently? Would you suggest I do this?

Also the car seems to have an oil pump seal leak. Here are 2 pictures of the oil dripping down:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bdmu16mk5wrhfai/oil%20leak%201.JPG

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fmnnvrjblb558xh/oil%20leak%202.JPG

Any suggestion on how to fix this?

Thanks for any advice. Trying to get my sister up and ready to travel around a 1000 miles for the holiday.... she plans to leave Sunday which is why I am trying to get this figured out and fixed over today through Saturday.

Again thanks for any 2 cents.


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Dec 19, 2013, 2:13 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 19, 2013, 4:54 PM

Post #9 of 16 (4502 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

I can't watch all that different stuff. Seems you know it's the flex pipe so get that and anything needed to replace it. If this has to be ready today or tomorrow get going!


Parts should be in stock for anything about this exhaust. Just take one more look and check motor mounts - all that hold engine/trans in place. If this can move toooo much that would take out anything close to a weak flex pipe.


Search out all that is required - any gaskets nuts, studs, bolts and have them with the time constraints to make this right. If this car is quickly going on a 1,000 mile run do anything exhaust that looks weak or rusted now while you are there,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 19, 2013, 5:05 PM

Post #10 of 16 (4497 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

This doesn't need to be this complicated. Take it into an exhaust specialty shop and let them inspect it. If it needs a flex hose and that is very common on Toyotas, they can cut one in very reasonably. If there are other problems, they will let you know.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 20, 2013, 12:44 AM

Post #11 of 16 (4487 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Agreed - not complicated, timing is with a weekend coming slows things down if any snags,


T



nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Dec 20, 2013, 7:57 AM

Post #12 of 16 (4475 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Thats a pretty common thing to go out on those. Way cheaper to have a muffler shop weld in a new section of flex instead of replace the whole pipe. As HT said, see about getting to a muffler shop and have them take care of it. Welded in plenty of these for people over the years and the guys who do a lot of it are able to lay in a nice weld to hold it together.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Dec 20, 2013, 8:08 AM

Post #13 of 16 (4472 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Ditto - Exhaust shop best for this as what I found for the most common set up the flex is part of the converter pipe all in one. Not cheap that way.



NOT for just the flex. Some you can get just flex part, gaskets, 4 bolt sets and just bust old ones and be done in no time but doesn't look like it for this car,


T



teamcurtiss
Novice

Dec 20, 2013, 10:59 AM

Post #14 of 16 (4458 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Thanks for the feedback!


teamcurtiss
Novice

Dec 20, 2013, 3:34 PM

Post #15 of 16 (4439 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

We went to a muffler shop and they cut out the flex hose section and replaced it which fixed our issue. They were also helpful in explaining and showing us the exhaust system and what we can expect. It cost $171 to fix. Thank you all for the help!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Chad


(This post was edited by teamcurtiss on Dec 20, 2013, 3:39 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 20, 2013, 4:27 PM

Post #16 of 16 (4433 views)
  post locked   Re: 1999 toyota camry - engine suddenly loud with gas smell  

Glad to hear it worked out.

Closing this question now as solved to keep spammers out.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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