Crazy Classic Camry: Intermittent LIMP-HOME? (Part 1: P1300-Igniter Fault)

This MINT low-mile 1994 Toyota Camry V6 is rust-free, imported from the West Coast.
Customer says the legendary 1MZ-FE runs PERFECTLY...until it doesn't.
The Check Engine light has been coming on for a while, but recently the car had a fit of MISFIRING and severely cutting engine power above half throttle!
Time to fire up the Snap-On scanner, because this is pre-OBD2...
We run into an annoying problem during the diagnosis, where the car REFUSES to act up.
Runs like a DREAM!
IVAN'S PICO WAVEFORMS:
drive.google.c...
Enjoy!
Ivan

[@mmichaeldonavon]

Ivan, you are breaking my heart. You need to keep that seat belt on. I'm an old man, so I can say that to you, my friend. :-) Love it. Thanks Ivan.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

Private farm road

[@robmut1357]

Like insurance and motorcycle helmets, you only need it when you need it. And you never know when you need it.

[@fredmalito9869]

@@Michael-yi4mcwith DOT street signs? Nope. Public road.

[@_RiseAgainst]

I have never knewn anyone that died in a car crash with a seatbelt on. Just motorcycles and when not wearing a seatbelt. Including a coworker getting ejected from a jeep. I new an old highway patrolman that would throw the seatbelt ticket in the bodybag.

[@_RiseAgainst]

@@AAB371 there I fixed it.

[@CedroCron]

Gotta love these old Toyota's. Built to last forever. I wish they still made these. *Tear in eye*

[@waltdisnenycopyright8048]

At least it's not an ev so you can leave it in garage overnight, great work by the way 🇬🇧

[@Garth2011]

Oh my gosh...how clean is that under the hood !! Plus its a V6 ! Keep that car !

[@Sandmansa]

I'm so glad that you checked all the coil connectors. These cars are notorious for setting misleading codes. Misfire counters lie giving the right circumstances. We all saw it set a P0303 but cyl 2, 4 and 6 connectors are shot. And if any coil loses connection, it can set a P1300. Making you think coil #1 lost connection. I had one of these things melt my brain a few years ago for a similar problem.

[@truracer20]

P0303 is a cylinder 3 misfire, P1300 is a code set against generic ignition event feedback, it means the ECM commanded a coil to fire but didn't receive confirmation that it did. The 1 in P1300 does not reference cylinder number 1. Code setting criteria is important to know, most manufacturer derived service data contains this information.

[@Sandmansa]

@@truracer20 That is what had me confused when I started my diag. As I said before, the code descriptions are misleading. The #1 in the P1300 description suggested to me cylinder #1. I was doing coil swapping and wire integrity testing and all that good stuff. I couldn't find anything wrong with that circuit. But after digging around in Alldata, I found it was a generic code for any coil.

[@davidraezer5937]

Toyota and GM were the 2 companies that worked together to develop the OBD2 protocols. Reason why some Toyota and Saab models had the OBD2 connector before the mandate.

[@adotintheshark4848]

Don't let Scotty get his hands on that car!

[@pootthatbak2578]

Thats what im looking for..i was hoping scotty replied here

[@ricebike]

6:40😮 seatbelt for safety, can't lose a good diagnostic technician due to an accident

[@DANNYN224]

That’s a nice looking Camry clean

[@larryberry2436]

I owned a 94 Camry with the 4-cylinder 2.2lL. It had a distributor, cap, rotor, and one ignition coil. Amazing difference.

[@andrewhallett-patterson9778]

Still have a wide body Camry as a daily driver. SDV10R, 5S-FE engine, manual gearbox. Has 'only' done 410k kilometres. No oil usage. Ice cold air con. Much loved and cared for car. 👍👍🇦🇺

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

I have the same exact same care the 4 bangers are better than V-6 engines

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

I have the same exact same care the 4 bangers are better than V-6 engines

[@priyajakatdar3759]

I would guess it's a bad igniter. My 1999 V6 (191,000 miles, 3 coil waste spark) had the P1300 where it wouldn't start sometimes but would keep running if it did start. Turned out to be an igniter that was getting weak with time. I put a scope on the igniter and found that the 3 IGT signals from the ECM were fine, but the IGC signals from the igniter to the coils were fading and inconsistent. A $6 salvage yard igniter fixed it. I got a spare too just in case.

[@ashercohen4739]

First of all, thanks for the videos, I want to share with you a problem I had with a car that also drove me crazy. The cylinder doesn't work anymore and the problem is the alternator. It happened to me at least 3-4 times as a car mechanic for 35 years. No Strings Attached!

[@stephenbrown7815]

My tech teacher had a fun way of deciphering the acronyms for Toyota ignition systems IGT - got timing IGF- I got fire Brung back memories.

[@davidturner4639]

Nice car and good video, can't wait for part 2. No matter the problem, a good look at coils and plugs might be a good thing to do. Keeping them in good order goes a long way in protecting the expensive ignitor.

[@davidstleon8388]

From what I recall back in 94, if the engine was a new design for MY 94, the car had to have an OBD2 type connector with OBD2 type codes but it's not fully OBD2 compliant.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Beautiful car, superbly cared for! When you unplugged the #3 coil and got the same code, I had more doubts than before - could be coil or connection problem (plugs, or wires, or gremlins). Interesting case, Ivan! Can't wait for Part 2 🙂

[@80SWoods]

To me, this is a perfectly balanced car. Toyota/Lexus quality and reliability without all of the bells and whistles that tend to break over time.

[@АлексейДовженко-ю5ъ]

👏🏻excellent diagnostics 👨🏻‍🔧 Ivan, not wearing a seat belt, looks like a Terminator with cool glasses)))... Hasta la vista, baby... Take care of yourself 🤞🏻....

[@OnyedireChukwu-wt6ee]

Am happy with you sir to still repair this tough old model cars

[@abitofeverything1234]

For some reasons I think this car need a complete throttle cleaning, I am not a mechanic, but I watch all of your videos.

[@richlikeg3722]

I have a 99 Avalon with the 1MZ still today. Almost at 400k. Though mind doesn’t look as nice as this Camry, still drive I hard every day.

[@petepeabody8905]

As your minds process different possible scenarios it always impresses me how quickly you move towards the final decision

[@baldricksimson]

i bet he doesn't film the " thinking time "

[@joesmo4749]

Being 43 years old it's crazy calling 1994 anything classic! Man time flys.

[@tedsmith6137]

I'm 70. 1994 was just the other day!

[@CALVINLNIKONT]

Who is 43 years old? 2024 - 1993 = 31 years.

[@MattyEngland]

​@@CALVINLNIKONTLucky you're better at math than you are at reading 😂

[@calholli]

It may have not set a p0303 because the service data said something about needing 6 consecutive failures first. So maybe it has a certain tolerance. Maybe it takes two trips?

[@MrPitatom]

Hi Ivan. I was at Toyota back in the early 90's (not an employee, but as a pc tech from a 3rd party). I remember when Toyota was developing this very car, I was not allowed to go certain areas due to privacy nature of any potential leaks about the car.

[@fredautos]

Interesting Old time Machine. Let me grab a pop. 🍿 And wait for part 2!

[@agostinodibella9939]

Interesting video so far Ivan. Looking forward to part two.

[@greggc8088]

As you probably know and can see in many Community cases in Alldata, a good wiggle test and load test of the wiring to the igniter and coils is a good idea. Those usually get toasted and rotted pretty good through the years. Especially where the pins attach,

[@jongonegone1262]

when you saw those pins full of dielectric grease------- you had to know !!! broken tabs even worse, somebody abused the connectors, i bet it doesnt act up ever again after cleaning the connectors, or using new ones with proper lock tabs. very good video, nice car, those were the days.

[@johnt.848]

Oh yeah, another PHAD video drops, I love them.

[@SpiKSpaN-ei6zq]

Beautiful car and it even has leather seats. I hope they take good care of it.❤❤

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

I agree to fix the obvious first and then move on! Thanks Ivan!

[@BroadcastBuddy]

Yesss, another awesome Pine Hollow diag!!

[@Bagom80]

That is a clean engine bay

[@neilcook4710]

Remember when ignition and injector drivers were separate modules from the PCM? Pepperidge farms remembers..

[@cullenmiller8170]

If you suspected heat soaking on the igniter module couldn’t you just a heat gun and warm it slowly to see if that would cause it? Fixing the bad connectors is definitely a good start of eliminating problems.

[@pootthatbak2578]

Heat soaking a good idea. I havent seen ivan use that, ever. It is a common trick with electronics techs since the first semiconductors were used. It can be destructive, caution needed. as ivan said, that module is practically unobtanium due to cost.

[@nhzxboi]

Let me guess...capacitor failure somewhere??? The scenery is summer. Winter blues here...ice and snow. Nice to see the greenery on the road test.

[@carloserazo1286]

Thank u for ur content, we need more please

[@aidanh4550]

Never seen a car just give up like that in limp mode haha

[@braddofner]

Love your vids, super clean looking car. Another great video. Love to see you Ivan, always something interesting. Hope your new year is going well!

[@peugeotplanet7553]

Nice one... Watching from Nigeria

[@Garth2011]

Time to get the window tint replaced too.

[@advancedleveldiagnostics]

Wow that's a nice Camry! Thanks for Sharing!

[@jamespn]

No turkeys were harmed in the making of this video.

[@jimburgess9205]

Such a beautiful automobile.

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

Laaadiiees and Gentlemen, Place your Bets! I have no real clue, but I would check the coil and ignitor harness for crusties and wire integrity. I could be wrong, and probably am.😁

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Ya gotta love intermittents. I've seen on a scope and the Ford IDS that just moving the connector left and right slightly would cause a misfire. When the weather pack is missing from the connector's inside, that sets up a misfire condition. That car needs new connectors for a start. May still need the igniter. Further diagnosis may confirm that.

[@berrywin]

Why not use a heat blower and a laser pointing temp meter to controllable warm up the part in question?

[@kevink8481]

What a beautiful vehicle

[@additudeobx]

How to destroy a classic example of a 1994 California driven Toyota Camery? Bring it to Pennsylvania for a few years of winterizing....

[@zx8401ztv]

Runs Perfectly...until it doesn't Ha ha :-D. You should be a Politician, they are experts in jibberish 😀 Dam connectors.

[@ricebike]

Pretty advanced for a coil over plug design for a 1994... plus an obd2 connector along with 2 data link connectors, one in the engine bay 17:15 😮 Other vehicles in that obd1 era were mostly distributor, cap, rotor, wires (well, German cars had a head start with coil over plug design too)

[@daviddelle774]

5 gobblers together! Love it!

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

That car is awesome

[@Michael-yi4mc]

I remember my new 1989 Buick LeSarbe limped when I press the pedal. It would misfire. Was still under warranty, I need my car so I fixed it myself by counting the flashes. The flash code pointed to a bad EGR valve. That was easy.

[@natepeterson7145]

Ivan, why did the turkeys cross the road.

[@lvsqcsl]

That car looks to be in a bit better shape that your Carmy, Ivan. However, I attribute the issues you have to the previous owner. Toyotas like their maintenance just like any other car. So, time to trade the old Mercurys for Toyotas. GREAT VIDEO!

[@thogevoll]

How can that be a confirmation that thespark occurred? Neither the rise nor the fall line up with when the coil was fired. The start of the dwell time might line up with the fall of the confirmation pulse.

[@nima20031]

Havent watched the video yet but i can tell you it's the ECU capacitors

[@juanrodriguez-ry6yt]

ck.out how the engine cooling fan works . driven by the p/s pump works great.

[@brianw8963]

Cool! More Toyota stuff. You’re going to give Car Care Nut a run for His Money! That’s a beautiful Camry btw. Just My opinion, but one of the best cars ever produced. 👍👍🇺🇸

[@fredmalito9869]

That’s not an opinion, it’s fact. That generation Camry is legendary for a reason.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

The owner is really lucky he found such a gem 😉

[@TheOriginalDaveJ]

Broken connectors. . Anyone would think Rainman Ray had been at it😂

[@pootthatbak2578]

Say what you want..rainman is the greatest at air conditioning repair..replaces those leaky shraeder valves at the hi/ lo ports automatically

[@RussellBooth1977]

The P0303 code sounds like it's an OBD2 code to me,I know that the pre CAN Japanese cars & the Chryslers used an ISO9141 OBD2 protocol which includes the Toyotas. I know that my dads 3.8 litre Buick L36 V6 powered Holden VX Commodore still runs the OBD1 PCM although it has the OBD1.5 protocol in Australia because of its OBD2 port, once Holden started building their own V6 engines in 2004 they went to the ISO15765 OBD2 protocol in the series 1 VZ Commodore. They still ran the SAEJ1850 VPW protocol in the 5.7 litre Chevrolet LS1 V8 powered VZ Commodores up until 2006 when they went CAN OBD2 in the series 2 VZ Commodores for both the V6 & V8 cars, also after they bolted the 6 litre Chevrolet L76 V8 engine into that car . My dads still can flash codes through the check engine light or an OBD1 tool will read it as being a 2 digit fault code !

[@baxrok2.]

Thanks Ivan!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

You're welcome John! 😊

[@thogevoll]

Instead of running the car can you use a heat gun to warm up the igniter box.

[@NextLevelAutoDiagnostics]

If the ECM cuts injector pulse when fault is detected, why is customer smelling raw fuel?

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I mean it completely stalls the engine if you go above half throttle 😂 1994 didn't have smart cylinder specific injector disabling stategy!

[@NextLevelAutoDiagnostics]

Got it! LOL

[@fatplumber3887]

In my professional opinion as a Plumber I say it's definitely a sparkelator issue 😂

[@MattExzy]

Odd design choice on the igniter box. I'm curious now if it's possible to somehow 'convert' or transmit signals from the ECU to the more traditional coil-on-plug with built-in igniters.

[@mike-yp1uk]

Great video. Get the parts cannon warmed up. Lol

[@usashaz]

Merch suggestion "I break for turkeys!" bumper stickers? edit: er… “brake” lol not break.

[@berrywin]

I have a 1999 4-cyl camry, and I love this car. Failed me only once; bad battery! They don't make them like this anymore!

[@peterlworth]

Lets hope that new cars can start to reach for the lifspan of older cars

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Not a chance. Proprietary discontinued modules will make them obsolete rather quickly lol

[@peterlworth]

Would be great if industry could work together and make generic modules that can be used in most suitations

[@scottpollard3270]

It will take an international culture change to get rid of planned obsolescence and disposable society.

[@porky7753]

🤓🍿 for part 2.

[@arthurmccarron4379]

Looks. Newer. Than. It. Is

[@careyautorepairs]

Cool video brother.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

My 2000 Sienna has an igniter mounted on the firewall on the right side. Original from 205thousand miles

[@zodiatti1825]

Ivan What do you think about Xtool A30m device? Any alternative budget tool with ecu coding and lifetime free update?

[@bobsmith1101]

No replacement connectors/ pigtails available?

[@GregoryGlessnerViolin]

That is a nice car!

[@nct9466]

Did you spot the other diag port on intake manifold too??

[@dustcommander100]

My wife's '97 had that port - for the ABS. You could short 2 of the pins and count the flashes of the ABS light to troubleshoot it.

[@nct9466]

@@dustcommander100 think you’ll find it does check engine codes too, my mate does Lexus V8 of this era n I’m sure it’s the same enough etc

[@zakyum]

💙 that car 👍

[@andrewbaird509]

Thanks

[@georgebell3964]

👍

[@castinn]

If fuel is shut off when the computer doesn't get a spark confirmation signal, why was the customer smelling raw fuel?

[@pootthatbak2578]

The fuel still comes maybe? Its limited maybe, not cut off, limp mode, does this car control injector pulse width, or on duty time?

[@castinn]

@@pootthatbak2578 I believe it is pulse width. I seem to recall Ivan mentioning the pulse width showing as one of the four channels on the scope.

[@wimphilipsen2651]

Don’t forget to buckle-up. Bad habit?

[@Michael-yi4mc]

He is on the farm.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Yes and I should also quit motorcycling, mountain bike racing, and powered paragliding 😜

[@wimphilipsen2651]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics You are F&@ing right you are. I mind my own business.

[@richardnilsen5]

P1300 no igf signal to the pcm Pcm cuts injectors

[@LesReeves]

This may sound a bit out there but have the plugs been changed & the leads ?

[@_RiseAgainst]

Has coil on plug and my 6 year newer truck has an electrified peice of metal spinning around in circles.

[@dangleebols]

Did not realise in some states in the USA, you do not need to put on your seat belt?

[@wimphilipsen2651]

Ivan, can’t you use a hairdryer of some sort te head the box up?

[@sierrahixom]

Hmm you’ve had a bunch of Toyotas lately thought those were supposed to be reliable?

[@johndoyle4723]

Beautiful car, low mileage,130000 ?, I suppose these Toyotas with proper care will go on for 250000, maybe more. Thanks for the video, I am sure you will solve it.

[@promastersonly1419]

I have this weird hunch that the fact that it’s pre OBD is going to play a part. Like, on any post 1996 car unplugging a coil would log misfires, both as a code and in the counters. This hunch includes the Snap On being an issue as well, maybe it doesnt speak pre OBD Toyota very well. Just because the thing has a 16 pin port, doesnt necessarily mean it’s going to parse the data like a real OBDII car. If you cant trust the scan data, it’s back to old school diag which may include some parts cannon, unfortunately. Luckily, on this car, replacing every part in it probably costs $109!

[@Loulito]

My God, that puts MY 97' Camry to absolute shame SMH.

[@reneneron2971]

Actually, this car IS equipped with OBDII. The 1994 Camry V6 was one of the first Toyotas to be equipped with OBDII. OBDII was required on all passenger vehicles from 1996 onward. A great car; have the same with over 300,000 miles, but the paint is not nearly as nice as this red one.

[@reneneron2971]

Referring to the factory service manual, the P0303 is detected by comparing the crankshaft position sensor to the camshaft position sensor. Code is set after 200 or more revolutions of misfire is detected on a given cylinder. The speed rate of change for a given cylinder is different if a coil consistently does not fire. The coils do not have misfire detection on the coils themselves, as they are only 2 wire coils…modern coils have 4 wires per coil (hot, ground, signal, and misfire). 1994 is an early generation coil on plug design for Toyota; the 4 cylinder Camry with the 5SFE still used waste fire through 2000 or so.

[@reneneron2971]

Toyota goes into limp mode with misfires quickly as you are dumping raw fuel into a given cylinder, resulting in a very rich condition that can cause the catalyst to overheat. The CEL will start flashing.

[@marty0715yt]

So the excessive fuel smell can't be if the ECM kills the injector pulse. Hmmm.

[@NextLevelAutoDiagnostics]

Just what I thought too

[@peter-pg5yc]

Like my 2003 rolla zero rust looks new, original exhaust..

[@CALVINLNIKONT]

Did you ever swap the #! and #3 coils like you said you were going to do/

[@ricebike]

Probably on part 2... That's what a DIYer would do if we don't have those diagnosis tools

[@smrtnz5995]

Part 2?

[@charlemagne1162]

Ive had to remove covers to examine drivers with a magnifying lense.