Any Car wizards around?

Miles Berry · #1 02-05-2009, 04:38 PM

My pos '89 Toyota Camery has died on me. It's been having problems starting, but once it starts, its been fine. I was going to just buy a new battery for it and hope it was a ok. But today, after I screwed with it for a few minutes and got it started and let it run a while, it died on me. I jumped it, it started, idled low, and died again. Also, I got the alternator replaced a few months ago, when I had similar problems. So I'm hoping that the alternator is still fine.

Any other ideas of what it might be? Should I still get a new battery and see if that works at all?

Thanks guys!

miles

Anthbass · #2 02-05-2009, 05:27 PM

Switch on your lights with the engine off and check if the headlights light up. If they do, you have a functioning battery. If you engage the starter and the engine turns over, your battery is also working. If you hear a 'clicking' sound when trying to start the car but then engine does not turn over, that is the solenoid telling you the battery does not have enough juice to engage the starter. Your car should have a gauge or warning light to indicate if your alternator is, indeed, working (amp gauge or warning light). You said you had it recently replaced, so unless your car in in the habit of destroying alternators, it seems an unlikely candidate, unless you noticed that your lights became dimmer and dimmer when driving recently. Without being able to see the car in person, I can only hazard a few guesses: fuel delivery is likely a problem, or spark. An internal combustion engine only needs fuel, oxygen, and fire to operate. Is you car fuel injected or does it have a carburetor? Your injectors may be plugged or the jets in the carb. The spings might be weak on the injection pump, your distributor may have issues, there could be electrical issues with spark delivery, the choke might be sticking, vaccuum leaks...Hopefully, you can find a garage that won't anally rape you and can solve the problem with a minimum of stress and $$. Good luck.

hbarcat · #3 02-06-2009, 12:17 AM

An 89 Toyota that runs for a short time and then dies is certainly not having a problem with the battery or charging system, and likely not an electrical problem of any kind.

I'd start looking at:

fuel delivery
vacuum (leak)
sensors (temp, air flow, etc)

Miles Berry · #4 02-06-2009, 10:37 AM

I'm gonna take it in today. It wasnt until yesterday that it died once it was running. At first one of the door lights was on, and it drained the battery, so thats why I thought it was something simple.

I had similar problems about 6 months ago though, my car would die, then not start, what we figured out though was that in the starter motor, a plastic casing had worn away so it was metal on metal and shorting out. So we just replaced the casing.

I dont know, I really dont want to keep dumping a bunch of money into this piece of crap!

But whatever.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

TallLankyBastyd · #5 02-06-2009, 11:07 AM

I've heard that this guy is THE Car Whisser around these parts...

excane · #6 02-06-2009, 12:03 PM

What's a Toyota?

hover · #7 02-06-2009, 12:14 PM

yeah, sounds like something in the engine management or fuel delivery. Check the idle control valve or throttle position sensors, check for vacuum, crank position sensor. Do you hear a slight "bzzz" before you turn the ignition? If not, the fuel pump could be suspect.

I wish you the best of luck with your vehicle.

Georynn · #8 02-06-2009, 12:15 PM

No sorry, My wizardry forbids me from using my powers for necromancy...

Batteries get old and lose their ability to hold a charge... perhaps you need a new battery?

RTO · #9 02-06-2009, 04:03 PM

If you have a remote starter that's your problem, along with battery.

For some reason, alot of the remote starts for camry's, corollas and similar toyotas don't shut the lead off from the battery, So they slowly drain away.

Solarmist · #10 02-07-2009, 12:20 AM

Why did you replace the alternator? - did you have it checked to see if it was bad?

When you turn it over - does it crank over as fast as it should or is it slow(er)?

From what you described - it kinda sounds like ^ said - fuel problem.

Like ^ said - only 3 things to run: 1) fuel 2) compression 3) ignition

Miles Berry · #11 02-07-2009, 11:13 AM

The alternator was bad a while back.

The auto place I took it to said the battery was bad, so the just put a new one in, but it was still dying. Now they say the spark plugs need to be replaced, , 2 valve cover gaskets, intake plenum gasket, and 1 air intake hose assembly. They arent telling me what exactly is causing it to die though, and are quoting me 850 bucks for everything..

I have no idea what to do.

Mike N · #12 02-07-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles Berry

I have no idea what to do.

Take the car to someone who knows what they're doing. Sounds like the shop it's at now doesn't have a clue and they're just going to throw parts at it until something fixes it.

68Goldfish · #13 02-07-2009, 02:00 PM

If the battery's junk it needs to be replaced. The intake boot, if it's got a crack in it, is probably the reason why it stalls and runs bad. That probably fouled the plugs. The VC gaskets are probably leaking and the plenum has to come off to get at them which is a little gravy.
I am just guesing at the VC gaskets as I'm not a toyata mechanic but on jeeps and chryslers you have to remove the intake plenum to get at the VC gaskets a lot of the time. And I'm assuming that your engine as a MAF sensor which is why the cracked boot would cause your problem. But like I say I'm a Chry/jeep tech..

Solarmist · #14 02-07-2009, 08:06 PM

Beware of Gregs Japanese Auto - I've been ripped one to many times there. The last time they told me $45 for an engine inspection, but charged me $97, and they told me I needed a new motor, and it would cost $5200! [Nissan XE 4WD truck]. I found out later it had a "noisy valve" from Bucky's - I changed to a high mileage oil would quiet it down - it did, and no problems since.

TheDarkReaver · #15 02-07-2009, 08:11 PM

Kenbuntu · #16 02-07-2009, 08:26 PM

thats the thing with some garages. You go in, tell you its one thing that wont cost much to fix. They fix it, youre happy and start driving. The fix they do is only temporary, and because youre a satisfied customer, you go back and they manage to get some more money out of you. This process repeats till you're finally fed up with the garage.

Second option. If you can, try finding a new car, Like an old civic or corolla that an old person drives, but doesnt drive anymore. Those are usually long lasting.

Jim Campbell · #17 02-07-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles Berry

My pos '89 Toyota Camery has died on me. It's been having problems starting, but once it starts, its been fine. I was going to just buy a new battery for it and hope it was a ok. But today, after I screwed with it for a few minutes and got it started and let it run a while, it died on me. I jumped it, it started, idled low, and died again. Also, I got the alternator replaced a few months ago, when I had similar problems. So I'm hoping that the alternator is still fine.

Any other ideas of what it might be? Should I still get a new battery and see if that works at all?

Thanks guys!

miles

borrow a multimeter set to volt dc 2000 rpm should read 14 volts or so at the battery terminals.....less means the alternator or regulator is suspect..........check to see if belts are actually turning alt...if the bearings seize up you usually hear it....car batteries last up to five years or 60 months whichever comes first.....check the free stuff first like dirty battery terminals,fluid levels