Questions and Answers

Camry Stalling Intermittently Q. Dear Vince: I have a 1991 Toyota Camry, four cylinder and automatic with A/C but no ABS (I think). It has nearly 136,000 miles on it. It has been running great but recently I have a problem with the car. When driving back from work passing a congested portion during the late afternoon, since you have to be slow and constantly performing start and stops, sometimes the car will stall but I can usually turn it to park and restart with no problem.

At normal speed I have no problem. This is the summer in Dallas so my A/C has to be on most of the time. I feel at low crawling speed, the A/C plus the low engine speed is put too much that is why the car stalls.

I am guessing I need a tune-up (changing the plugs and distributor), or also may be the fuel filter (I changed it when it was at 45,000 or so).

I just changed the timing belts and the driving belts yesterday and I don't know whether that helps.

Since you mentioned vacuum leaks in many Q&As, I want to tell you the following issues which may or may nor relate to the problem I am having:

1) The first level (low) of the A/C control has stopped working sometimes ago, you can hear the A/C is working but no cool air, I have to use level I and II and high for A/C.

2) Recently I can hear some noise coming from the openings where cold air blows when the A/C is on, which matches exactly the RPM speed, it is louder when you accelerating.

My questions are where should I check first. SInce there are many things you can check: fuel filter, plug and wire, vacuum leak, fuel pump, injector etc. I don't want to spend too much money to replace everything which are recommended.

Also, do you know the guidelines as how often you should do tune-up, change plug and wires and distributor, change fuel filter, do fuel injection check-up, and change fuel pumps. If I have to spend too much money on the car, I will consider a new car or low mileage used car.

Thanks much,
Richard

A. I think this stalling can be cured by a good tune-up. The fact that the fuel filter hasn't been changed in over 90,000 miles would indicate the car does not get good care.

I would replace the spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap and rotor, fuel and air filters. That will go a long way in curing the stalling problem.

1) This is probably due to a bad fan switch.

2) You got me here. I don't know of anything in the dash that would make noise in time with engine speed except for the radio.

I recommend a tune-up once a year or 15,000 miles. Fuel injection check, you can put a bottle of injector cleaner in the tank every fill up, that's about it. Change the fuel pump when it goes bad.