'97 Camry Vibration Problem

[dannyv23]

Hi everyone. Today on my way home from work about a mile after I leave, I make a left turn and I feel the car just sort of lose power and shake. I thought that I possibly ran out of gas and the sensor somehow was broken at the half-way mark but I pull into a gas station and sure enough, it was only half a tank of gas that went in. Then I crawled on over to Autozone to borrow the OBD-II scanner and I pull the codes. It gives me:

P0300 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

Any ideas of how I can troubleshoot this or does anyone know what could be the problem. The car had been running fine before this and as soon as it happened the check engine light came on and would blink any time I would get the car over 2000 RPM. IS the timing off somehow? Problem with the spark plugs?? Fuel filter????

Help!

Thanks for your time.


Edit: Forgot to mention its a 4 cylinder Camry. I just recently changed the oil in about 150 miles ago too. I also cleaned the throttle body and gave it the seafoam treatment.

[papirringo]

misfiring is either gas or fire, check spark plugs,cables and injectors

[RIP]

A flashing CEL means the computer has detected a fault that will damage the cat converter if it continues.

Here's more info: http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_cod...e-detected.php

[dannyv23]

So do you think I can drive it another 6 miles at low speeds to get to and from work tomorrow? I don't have another car right now. I don't want to make things worse but I don't have another option for transportation right now.

[Mike Gerber]

You don't say how many miles are on this car. If well over 100,000 and it hasn't been done, I would change the spark plug wires. It's something almost anybody can do and is the most likely problem.

Whether you can drive it any further or not is up to you. As has been stated above, you will eventually destroy the cat converter as the unburn fuel from each cylinder missfire passes in to and through the converter. Just how long eventually takes is anybody's guess.

Good luck.

Mike

[dannyv23]

Well today after work I finally had time to crack her open and I found that the two spark plugs in the middle were soaked in unburned gasoline. I changed the spark plugs to some new NGK ones and changed the wires as well and it seems to have stopped the vibration and is idling normal again. It also doesn't shake anymore when I drive it and the check engine light doesn't blink when in gear. I erased the codes. Hopefully they don't make a return appearance.

And sorry for not listing it above but my girl has 133,000 miles on it. Still runs like a champ. The old spark plugs were maybe 15,000 miles old. SHould it have burned them up already or is there something else that I need to look into to make them last longer?

Thanks guys for your replies.

[RIP]

Great news. Sounds like you nailed it. Compared to some with this problem you are a lucky man.

Edit - Missed your questions. Your average copper spark plugs should last at least 30,000 miles. Platinums would last much longer. Just make sure you're using the correct heat range plug for your engine as stated in your manual. Got a hunch it was the plug wires causing your problem. Could have been the wires themselves or a bad connection. Make sure you use dielectric grease when installing. Keeps corrosion out and makes them easier to remove next time.

Besides being wet, what condition were the plugs in. Were the electrodes intact or were they deformed in some way?

[dannyv23]

The electrodes weren't deformed but some of them were more burned than others. They seemed a bit more covered in carbon or whatever covers spark plugs. The old spark plugs weren't NGK plugs, they were Bosch plugs but they only had two electrodes like the NGKs that I put in.

[Mike Gerber]

"Got a hunch it was the plug wires causing your problem"

I have to agree with RIP.

In addition, some people have complained of problems using Bosch plugs in Toyota engines. Stick with NGK or Denso. I think you will be fine now that the wires have been replaced and the Bosch plugs are out of there.

Mike