I have a 1993 Toyota Camry LE with the 4 cylinder and when i start the car up after its warmed up a check engine light comes on and goes into limp mode for about 15 seconds then shuts off and my car idles like crap. I dont have any OBD1 error codes, i tried the brake cleaner method spraying around the vacuum lines and rpms didnt change and i dont have a smoke machine to see where leaks can be. Please answer if you have any ideas or recommendations because im trying to find a job and really need my car to work, or if theres potentially any other issues that could be causing the rough idle and limp mode situation please feel free to reply, thank you.
Given that the car is over 30 years old it could be any number of things, including internal engine problems.
Did you check your intake gasket for vacuum leaks? Fuel injection air intake? Cleaned throttle body? Checked MAP sensor and its vacuum line? Spark plugs? Distributor cap and rotor? Air and fuel filters? Fuel pressure? The possibilities are almost endless.
You can find a repair manual for that car in the link below:
@chucktobias Appreciate it, ill check on those and try to get them serviced soon, ive been doing a wild goose chase on google since i havent been able to find a manual for the past few days online.
@reggiefromoregon You might want to do a compression test to make sure you're not fighting internal engine problems. (Should be easy to do on a 4-cylinder engine.) If you don't have a compression gauge you can likely borrow one from a parts store like AutoZone. (If you find that you have a dead cylinder there's no sense looking any further for the source of the problem.)
Vacuum Leak Problem Solution for 1993 Camry
How do you know you have a vacuum leak?
I dont have any OBD1 error codes
that's unlikely since the check engine light is on. How did you check?
goes into limp mode
I don't think limp home mode was a thing in 1993. Please describe the exact symptoms you experienced.
the rough idle
There are many things that can cause rough idle. So start with the basics. An engine needs three things to run properly:
1. Fuel. Check your fuel pressure. Injection fuses, etc.
2. Air. make sure you have a fresh air filter, IAC valve is clean and working, throttle body and plate are clean, etc.
3. Spark. Check the spark plug condition. Visually confirm that they are firing.
@imperator All the symptoms I leads to a vacuum leak being the main issue especially since i resolved everything listed in error code 31, which i diagnosed using a paper clip and the steady constant blinking indicated there were no codes, so it is something physical with the car that the computer isnt reading. And just to reclarify the light isnt on all the time, it stays on for a bit after starting it up while its warm so it is temperature related. And limp mode was defenitely a thing in that era, with the light on my car doesnt rev past 3000rpm and cant go past 20 and has very poor power. I will check out those things that you listed down as it wouldnt hurt to change them out anyway considering the car has been sitting for a few years.
All the symptoms I leads to a vacuum leak being the main issue
do we get to know what they are, or is this a guessing game?
i resolved everything listed in error code 31,
If you did, then the light wouldn't come on, right?
code 31 isn't a vacuum leak. It's an electrical issue
it is something physical with the car that the computer isnt reading.
The code tells me that computer is detecting a problem.
it stays on for a bit after starting it up while its warm so it is temperature related.
That's very possible. You need to do some electrical troubleshooting. Toyota have provided a very easy to follow flowchart. You can find it in the manual Chuck posted.