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Upon starting the car, I could hear and feel the engine just does not have that power that goes “vroom” and at times it looks and feels as if the car will stall. The light on the dashboard would flicker. This only happens for about the first 30 seconds but then the car runs fine throughout the day. This only happens usually first thing when I start the car after it sat overnight, but it starts fine after that initial first ignition. The check engine light had been on for over a year but I doubt it has anything to do with it nor is there newer codes. But I will have the codes re-checked to see if there’s any new codes that came up.
The car is: 2001 Toyota Celica GT, automatic, 290,000 miles. I’m assuming this is just old age of the car but it could be something else. The car runs fine throughout the day as I mentioned but seem to have that weak first ignition of the day.
Upon first ignition, I tried to give it a little gas so it “picks up” power and it seem to do the job a bit. Could this be because the car wasn’t picking up gas (or power) quick enough as it used to?
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If you could post any codes you have that would help with
diagnosis. 🙂 In the mean time see if this helps.http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-performance-issues
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems
The first thing I would look at is the basics. Remove the battery cables from the battery and clean them well. Have the battery load tested to rule that out as a problem.
290 000 miles, aye?
THE VERY FIRST THING you do is tell us what exactly was done so far maintenance wise. As this vehicle should have had major tune up done. THREE times at least by now.
From description, 1st thing that comes to mind is weak belt tension and poor cylinders compression. As metal expands from temperature, it re-seals pistons, compression improves, and power improves.
But at that mileage, it all goes down to what was done as maintenance. That’s the starting point.The old codes that I never fixed were: 0171, 0141, 0420
I had my oil changed yesterday, the car runs fine and just had the check engine light codes re-checked to see if the old codes above are still present and to see if new ones popped up. some of those codes disappeared while a new one popped up along with one of the old codes. The new codes now are: 0141 and 0300, could be 0171 and 0300, but it’s one of the old 3 codes plus the new code 0300. So far the car runs fine but I don’t know what these codes are telling me now.
The spark plugs are new, about 2-3 months old, new power booster, aside from the oil change and whatever maintenance or fluid top off Jiffy Lube adds or gives to my car has been done yesterday and usually monthly.
Today, upon ignition, while parked, I tried to give it some gas and seems like it isn’t giving it the right “vroom” sound. Could this be an accelerator issue? As if the gas isn’t going through properly when stepping on the accelerator.
I believe I did last summer or fall. The reading was bad like 100 100 180 180. But then again my car is still running. It still runs great. The person who did the compression test charged me $50. Also, I think the shop he worked at was desperate for a big job, which is probably why he gave me such compression test results. He could be on point considering the mileage of the car even at that time. That shopped he worked at closed for legal reasons. LOL. I know the car is old and “tired”.
The codes indicate P0300″Random/Multiple Misfire” and P0171 “Bank 1 System To Lean” if it is P0141 “O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 2)” If these codes have been going on for a long time it may lead to preformance issues. I would start addressing those by checking your O2 sensors. Check that they are responding to throttle inputs by switching from lean to rich conditions. Also Ohm out the heater circuit on the Sensors to see if it is Open. I had a similar experience and I had the following P0171 and P0141 and P0300 I had a bad o2 sensor on bank 1. Replacing that solved the Misfire and the P0141. Cleaning the MAF solved the p0171 system to Lean. There is plenty of info on this website and videos to help you solve those problems. Use the Search on the main page type in your codes and it will link to articles that show you how to test and replace if nessecary.
I was driving on the highway and suddenly the car felt like it was running on 3 cylinders. Next thing I saw was the check engine light blinking. This had happened before so I realized it’s the ignition coil plus the code I had read a few days earlier suggests so (P0300). Now, I realized that when the car felt as if it was losing power upon ignition, it was telling me the ignition coil was about to go, which is why the P0300 code popped up. Good thing I had a spare ignition coil in my car. I ended up changing the first coil. I think P0300 means it is the first coil from the left. So far the car starts much better and runs much better. Good thing I kept one ignition coil handy. Was late for work but at-least didn’t missed it nor did I have to run to the store to get one for $120 when I got mines online for $45 (Beck/Arnley). LOL. I still love this car. 100,000 more miles…
Seem like the problem has been solved. I had the check engine light checked again and new codes popped up. Not sure if it made the computer out of whack because I didn’t had the codes erased. The new codes now are: P0301, P0141, P1300, and P1315. I was told P1300 is twice a code, not sure what that means but it popped up 2x suggesting 2 problems in 1 code?
Are you saying P0141 and P0171 means I need to replace both O2 sensors? How do you switch from lean to rich conditions exactly? Isn’t P0300 about an ignition coil? I got that taken care of but the code is still on, car runs great. Is P0171 more about MAF than O2 sensor? Should I replace that as well? I had cleaned it before. I think I had it replaced actually but the mechanic was careless with his greasy hands which is probably why it got dirty too quick.
So what I need to get are 3 things?
1 – MAF
2 – O2 sensor downstream
3 – O2 sensor upstream[quote=”umbergbr” post=107137]The codes indicate P0300″Random/Multiple Misfire” and P0171 “Bank 1 System To Lean” if it is P0141 “O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1, Sensor 2)” If these codes have been going on for a long time it may lead to preformance issues. I would start addressing those by checking your O2 sensors. Check that they are responding to throttle inputs by switching from lean to rich conditions. Also Ohm out the heater circuit on the Sensors to see if it is Open. I had a similar experience and I had the following P0171 and P0141 and P0300 I had a bad o2 sensor on bank 1. Replacing that solved the Misfire and the P0141. Cleaning the MAF solved the p0171 system to Lean. There is plenty of info on this website and videos to help you solve those problems. Use the Search on the main page type in your codes and it will link to articles that show you how to test and replace if nessecary.[/quote]
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