86 camry engine problems

having engine problems 86 camry 2SE wont run unless timing all the way advanced and even then it is realy hard to start (I use starting fluid) and it still dont idle till it warms up then it idles, it never does run the way it should even when warmed up (I need help) thanks

Can you give us more info? When was the last tune-up, have you tried anything else? Is there a strong spark?

Distributor wires mixe dup, Cam timing off. turn the engine to 0* - TDC on #1. The rotor in the dsitributor should point to the #1 spark plug wire.


If the cam timing is off replace the timing belt & realign it. (Water pump is replaced every other timing belt, timing belt should be changed every 60,000 miles on your engine)

I have had this problem for a while, then the head gasket blew, so I replaced the head gasket (it was burnt all the way through in between the 3 and 4 cylinders so the cylinders where just exchanging compression I guess but with a new head gasket it does not smoke anymore but the problem with the hard starts and everythin else is still there,

I think the cam is in the right place #1 at tdc with the exaust valve about to open (the whole in the cam sproket strate up) I dont know if the cold start injector is working, or a sensor that tells it to spray, and I think the egr valve is plugged (would the egr valve cause such a sever problem
also I tried plugging all the vacume lines and it didnt change anything, I apreciate all the help I can get

one more thing I noticed thier are 2 marks in the cam housing where it looks like you would alligne the cam (which one do I use the one thats strate up or the one thats 1/4 turn twards the firewall) I have it on the strate up mark

the distributer points tward the #1 plug wire when the cam is pointed to the mark that is strate up and I am pretty sure the plug wires are in the right spot

ok I pulled off the egr valve cleaned it up and found out that the diaphram leaks so it cannot open, so it would always be shut right, would a bad egr valve cause the engine to run so bad?