Bad starting '90 Camry

[dj1111]

Back again. My daughter’s Camry is acting stupid again. Intermittently it refuses to start. And when it refuses it floods out. Spark plugs are soaking wet when I remove them. The last time this was happening I removed the ox sensor, cleaned it off and fixed an exhaust leak at the manifold. You wouldn't think this would help a cold engine that much but the thing started and ran great for a couple of weeks. So I replaced the ox sensor and as soon as I tried restarting it, it flooded. Crap (actually I said much worse). I did manage to get it running and once it's completely warm it runs and starts fine. Now today it would not start again. I don't have the equipment to test all the sensors and run diagnostics so it may be time to take it to the shop. Would the engine temperature sensor be worth the investment?

I have one more question for anyone out there. I read an article about 4 cyl Camry's and it stated the map/air flow sensor is one of the most influential sensors under the hood (but very expensive for this model). They don't go bad to often but if they do it will make life miserable. So the question. With the engine running when either warm or cold if I unplug the sensor should it affect the performance. My only other experience with map sensors was with an 89 Dodge and when it went bad or you'd unplug it, the engine would run like crap, real rich.

[typesix]

I once forgot to plug back in the air flow sensor on my 89 4 cyl Camry and the engine started but then died when a load was put on it. Water temp sensor can read by a meter, approximate readings are : 6k ohms @ 32F, 3k@68F, 0.5k@140, 0.3k@176F. Is the car's thermostat OK? If it opens too soon, water temp will not rise and car will run rich in colder weather.

[dj1111]

The thermostat is fine I just replaced it last winter. The car is never a problem once it's running and warmed up. It's mainly cold starts or semi cold starts. The thing floods bad, but not always.

[typesix]

The ox sensor only comes on when the car is warmed up. Another possibility I have heard from radio show auto mechanics are leaky injectors not shutting off completely when car is turned off.

[dj1111]

It ended up being the coolent temperature sensor. Was telling the computer the engine was colder that it was. So it told the injectors to pour in more fuel which resulted in the flooding problem.

[Mike Gerber]

Glad to hear the problem was relatively cheap and easy to fix. You should also notice an increase in fuel economy. With todays fuel prices this was a good time to get this fixed.

Mike