Rough Idle

[kissfan007]

My dad just got a 95 Toyota Camry 4 Cyl. with less than 40,000 miles on it. But when it's just sitting, it tends to run somewhat rough. It's been getting slightly worse lately. He put in some additives to clean out the fuel injectors, but that hasn't helped. Any suggestions?

[Mike Gerber]

This generation Camry 4 cylinder (5SFE engine) normally has a slight shake at idle. It is most noticeable when many accessories are on like headlights and turn signals. I would start by cleaning out the throttle body. Do a search on this forum for "throttle body cleaning". You should find a good description with good pictures. It's for a V6 but the procedure is identical. There is no screw to adjust the idle on this generation, so if that doesn't fix it you may have to change the engine mounts which is an expensive propositon or just live with it.

Mike

[Toysrme]

Clean the Idle Control valve.




If worse comes to worse, you can adjust the idle by the idle by-pass screw located in the AFM housing, under a metal plug (It must be drilled out carefully).
That lets more, or less air bypass the air-flow meter's vane -> which in turn makes the car run leaner, or richer at idle.



There is an adjustment screw for the throttle plate, but that won't adjust the idle for more than a few seconds. The ICV let's the ECU directly control the idle. It WILL idle at whatever the ECU wants it to.



Lastly, once any cleaning/repairs are made, you shouldn't be getting a ton of vibration. If the enigne is running smoothely, but vibrating a lot; you need to check all of the motor/transmission mounts.

The older A Family are rough by import standards. None of the S blocks should be - Toyota nearly doubled the amount of counterweights, and balancing when designing the S family.

[Brian R.]

You shouldn't get any vibration when you are idling in neutral or Park. You will get some vibration in drive - normal.