Hesitating/ bucking 1990 camry

[quicksand]

well iv posted about this in the past but before i changed the things i thought it could be .

well i have a 1990 toyota camry about 120,000 miles on it 4 cylinder buck/ hesitates repeadily usually before i get over about 15 mph. than it usually stops hesitating but on ocassion has continued to do it even at high speeds. Some times the engine light comes on simultanrously with the hesiatating and other times it can hesistate all day and the light never comes on. I initially thought it was the trans but sometimes i will slightly touch the gas and it feels like it loses power and wants to cut off but has never did. I have changed plugs,wires,cap,roter,trans fluid,thermostat. even though the check engine light will flash on they're are no codes in the computer. maybe a fuel delivery problem , map sensor i don't know any help would be appreciated sorry for the length. Thanks

[RIP]

4 things to try. > Clean the throttle body with a spray cleaner. I've never used it but some swear by this stuff called Seafoam. Type "camry seafoam" in search and read all about it. > Check the static timing. Should be 10 DBTDC. You have to jumper contacts E1 and TE1 on the test connector first. If it's off rotate the distributor to bring it in spec. >Take it to any garage and have them clean the fuel injectors. > Change the fuel pump and/or filter.

[Mike Gerber]

Since your problem seems to be mostly on acceleration (when the car is under load) my guess would be the coil inside the distributor. Your generation Camry had a problem where the coil inside the distributor would develope a hairline crack and short itself to ground on any metal inside the distributor housing. The problem was worse in wet/damp weather. To check this you will need a DVM (digital volt/ohmeter) and the specs from any manual. If this test shows the coil is defective, pick up an aftermarket coil from any parts house and install it. It should run about $60. If you go to a Toyota dealer, they want to sell you a complete distributor for around $600.

My second guess would be the fuel pump as RIP suggested.

Good luck.

Mike

[idmetro]

I vote with Mike on the coil. I have a 91 that has had 2 coil failures in 180K miles. The first time it had just the symptoms you describe randomly coming and going for months (unfortuntately I hadn't discovered this forum then) prior to its failure. Second time happened with literally 5 minutes warning prior to death; unfortunately that one was 150 miles from home. Check out your coil condition; it's likely your problem. Heck at ~$60 you might even consider buying one to keep in the trunk.

[quicksand]

thanks guys for the replys im gonna try to test or change the coil in the next few days and i will let you know what happens .

[quicksand]

well i have some more information i tryed checking the coil i think i did it right it was in range but i did check for codes again aond one showed up i have the 3s-fe engine code 24 which in my manuel says intake air temperature sensor signal so i guess i will try to locate and change that to see what it does

[trauma1]

Awesome. Having the same problem with my 89, and my Toyota mechanic suggested the same solution (coil). Thanks RIP and all!

[quicksand]

well im gonna try to change the intake air temperature sensor since it through on a code but i dont know if i have to change the whole unit in the air cleaner or just pull the sensor out