TOYOTA TACOMA CAMMED LS SWAP IDLE PROBLEMS DIAGNOSIS

In todays case study we have a 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with a 6.0 Lq4 engine from a 2001 Cheverolet Silverado 2500 HD. The engine has been highly modified and has an aftermarket performance camshaft installed. The truck is used for off road, baja and rock climbing applications. The customer is complaining of a rough idle and stalling. Follow along as I take you step by step through my troubleshooting and diagnostic process to figure out what is wrong with this vehicle. In this lesson we will go over camshaft design and how lift, duration and lobe separation angle (LSA) affect idle quality. Also we will discuss what to look for when choosing an aftermarket performance camshaft for your application. Whether its going into a daily driver street car or a straight up race car, knowing how to choose the correct camshaft is a must.
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[@chadhendrix6026]

That video turned into something I didn’t expect, a lesson on cam shafts. I learned more from this video than watching a dozen other videos on cams. Great explanation!

[@Brittonbadog]

Christ, you're both a God at diagnostics and a Saint to your customers. It broke my heart when I watched the video of your shop. You're possibly the best diag tech on KZbin. You and Car Wizard always, always, always do right by your customers at verifying issues. Thank you for all the info you've provided this backyard mechanic with.

[@marksternall4680]

Best explanation I have ever had on explaining Camshaft specifications, and how they effect engine performance, something I don't think enough people understand. Once again your teaching is excellent.

[@JoseFernandez-zt5xs]

Eres muy buen mechanico aprendo mucho con Tus classes gracias.

[@diymisfit_Mechanic_UDX404]

We built a 383 stroker using a 243/251 .600 lift with a LSA of 106* That is 35* of overlap. We are running aftermarket ported heads and getting around 575 hp n/a Our engine doesn't shake like that thing. That looks like it may have a fueling problem. They might of put too large of injectors in that thing. Or didn't tune it properly. They might of maxed the iac to compensate for the extra fuel. We have our IAC counts within factory specs. We did go larger size injectors but only about 14lbs larger than the original 350 called for. There should be part number on the injectors. Im betting they are too large of injector for setup. I see a lot of people installing too large of injectors, thinking more power, only to bite them in the rear. When installing larger injectors there are base parameters that need changed in the pcm to calculate the pulse width of the injector. I hope just changing the cam doesn't bite you on this. Another great video and explanation of the cam operation. Keep em coming.

[@diymisfit_Mechanic_UDX404]

@arnulford66 Glad you replied, you had me question myself. I went back and double checked, it is only 110 LSA. But still, that LS is not right, to be shaking like that. Ours doesn't shake at all. Yes it's a grumpy idle, but the engine is rotating smoothly.

[@diymisfit_Mechanic_UDX404]

That thing will never go into closed loop, to allow the pcm to control the fuel, because it looks like the o2 aren't responding. Also that thing should have a higher stall TC with that cam.

[@diymisfit_Mechanic_UDX404]

@@broke_dongle The stock LS ecm can easily handle what's needed, as long as all parts are matched for the build. HP Tuners can easily modify the stock ecm. The guy that tuned it might of forced it to run in a speed density tune which is not ideal, because it is just a set of parameters, and adjustments can't be made when needed. It can't learn what the engine is doing. It takes a lot of tuning by trial and error to get it right in that mode.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thanks for your input! I also convinced the customer to let us install an AFR sensor and gauge on this vehicle, so that we can see if we might have a fueling issue. He told me that the guy who did the tune couldn't tune it properly because the shop that did the engine swap screwed up one of the O2 sensor ports, so the engine only has 1 Oxygen sensor. We are still going to replace the camshaft because he wants one that is a better fit for his application. But in the next episode we are going to install the AFR gauge and see if we have an underlying problem. Stay tuned!

[@khrazy_one6472]

Awesome content as always! I am learning a lot ever since I discovered your channel. Keep up the good and honest work man. The car world needs more technicians like you.

[@PaulyD0859]

I see this being a multi-part series. You’ll be really lucky to cure it completely with a cam swap. I’m anticipating testing and possibly replacing injectors and an ECM reprogram. Maybe more. The place that built the engine didn’t do this guy any favors.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Yes! In the next episode we are going to install an AFR gauge and see if we have any other underlying issues. Thanks for watching!

[@LSmiata]

Agree. No favors from the builder. This cam is for top end performance in a rock crawler! I would also be worried about available vacuum for braking at low speed.

[@OzFrog48Z]

I've seen a lot of GM engines that will not operate properly with an aftermarket air cleaner. The GM air cleaner and induction duct work is designed to create a specific vortec air flow across the MAF, especially at idle. It might be worth it to bolt on the OE air intake system and see what happens. I know people who have spent days chasing this problem (myself included), only to find out this is the problem.

[@bertbccfu9564]

Had similar issues with a Saab

[@DylanRabier]

Very interesting. Well explained as always Eric. Thanks for sharing! Look forward to part 2 👍

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Thank you for the description of 1. Duration, 2. Lift, 3. LSA. Even for me it was obvious the cam that's in it is not designed for the street! Throw in a lot of mix-n-match items and I say, "good luck!" Thank you for that great description ! ! Unless this vehicle has "Portal Axles" putting the IFS higher into the frame, I didn't see anything indicating a 4X4 vehicle. Also no 4WD controls in the cab. If your up for a challenge, this vehicle is it. Otherwise, RUN! Don't walk away from it!

[@faustogonzalez8397]

Thanks for the explanation of the Cams, I like the illustrations made better sense as you were explaining it!! Keep up the great work.

[@andrameda1]

modifications over looks the unseen fore sight dims when spot light focus in on modifing., thank you. The lessons are enriching.

[@nv1493]

Great objective analysis, well done. I always enjoy your diagnosis process.

[@robertoruiz7069]

Reminds me of my last girlfriend lobe lift separation ,duration.I almost got hard ! I used to do this stuff and miss it.You have such a good grasp of how engines work and also with the scan tool.in this case what's needed is more sensors of a hot rodding type to allow you to see on the scope what the fuel trims and air is doing also when you mention duration and overlap that's what makes the idle.I put a solid lifter cam in my 65 mustang,with big duration,great for the strip but hell on the street.To big of a cam on the cars of today ,not really made for the street.A dash-pot on the throttle butterfly could solve it.dash-pots are simply a valve that springs out a plunger against the throttle lever and when you let off on the gas quickly it slows the closing of the throttle to keep the motor from dying.it works by slowly letting the throttle close.You make great knowledgeable video's.This was right on the money

[@johnnym4220]

Camshaft and torque converter selection is often confusing and misunderstood. Excellent explanation.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you!

[@spelunkerd]

Brilliant explanation. Now that the cam is in, I wonder if adding a supercharger would offer better air delivery at idle.

[@MrKidd1551]

Happy New Year!! Wow great explanation and illustration of what all these numbers for a camdhaft mean. Good job on explaining in detail in all of your videos.

[@igotstoknow2]

Don't try to start the engine when it is running. 2:13

[@gillgetter3004]

Great explanation on cam shaft choices

[@MrIluxaS]

Man, I feel like I can build a rocket after your videos :) . Love it!

[@roxanneabbott8424]

Awesome video Eric, great explanations! Cant wait to see Part 2!!!

[@themechanic6117]

Nice work. Huge opportunity for someone to shoot the parts canon at it. Looking forward to a cam swap video

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Coming soon! Thanks for watching!

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Great info Eric. I hope you get to videotape the cam removal and install. Have a good one buddy. Artie 👍👍👍

[@markeastwood954]

Thank you for the cam shaft lesson and I'm liking the fun side of you already. "Come on Eleanor don't do this to me". Love it. Work dose not have to be serious all the time. A bit of laughter in life is what makes life.. Thanks mark

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you!

[@Wolfsv]

Very good explanation. I learned something today.i dream of one day doing an ls swap ony 🌮

[@ze_german2921]

Needs a BTR Truck stage 2 cam for a 6.0 if you want any daily drivability

[@zxdr2]

thanks for the explanation very informative!

[@matthewmoran1271]

Lmfao you said it’s a 4x4 rock crawler yet it has no CV axles or 4x4 selector switch. Definitely a 2wd desert truck, not a rock crawler.

[@jlinkhart]

Matthew Moran exactly!

[@evansautomotive307]

Didnt even notice that. I was more confused by the use of IFS on a "rock crawler" lmao

[@matthewmoran1271]

Logic Hurts Idiots i mean how do you expect to rock crawl without 4x4 lmao

[@Mikesullin]

Matthew Moran if you can afford good ifs all the way around, it’s better than solid axle in a lot of situations. Lord of the hammers guys have ifs on all four tires

[@on-site4094]

Great troubleshooting and diagnosing thanks for sharing 👍

[@prmayner]

very interesting, can't wait for more on this. thanks

[@thebudman67]

This seems more like a tuning issue over anything else... Now you are correct that the cam thats in it isn't appropriate for its "application" but when working on tuned cars its hard to try to figure out what the problem is when the tune very obviously is out of factory spec for IAC counts, fuel trims being disabled, and its in open loop at operating temperature. But this is basically monday morning quaterbacking at best. I would check the MAF it seems suspect.

[@HandymanHobo]

Great info! Thanks for sharing.

[@gregjones8501]

I would’ve turned this guy down at the door!🤦🏽‍♂️ I’m still working on my stock diagnostics!😂 How did you learn all of this stuff bro!? You’re like a younger version of Bernie Thompson without an escope.🤦🏽‍♂️ Good stuff and honestly if I worked with you I’d feel like I could do anything man!

[@Ranalla651]

Love this video as i love hp and building aftermarket builds. One question, oem pcm learn and adjust fuel and that is fuel trim data. When showing the data on this truck it was blank and you said thats normal due to the tune taking control. Are you sayimg when tuning a pcm they cannot learn and adjust? Thanks!

[@happy543210]

entertaining and educational......big thumbs up!

[@isalmankhan1]

Very informative video, thanks for sharing your work & experience👍

[@JasonSpiffy]

Great video! Is there an update video of this truck?

[@bertbccfu9564]

Holy crap I haven't bought a camshaft since the early 2000s I cannot believe how expensive they are now same as the other day I looked up an alternator for a car I'm working on 278 for a simple alternator

[@pablolopez973]

Thank you for sharing your experience and your videos.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you for watching!

[@LSXperts72]

I remember when I made the mistake of getting a 109 lsa cam for my daily truck and godamn I ended up selling the engine for someone who wanted it aggressive, vacuum sucked and drivability just sucked lol

[@tylerparker3024]

Cause that's definitely how you treat a customer's vehicle.. I'm glad you closed your shop

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

It was a friends vehicle. We were just trying to make the video a little more exciting.

[@mikeanthony3986]

Thank you, great explanation.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you for watching!

[@coollasice4175]

Great job, E. Keep up the great vids.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you!

[@ericjudd3137]

Thanks for that video learned alot great video

[@herni187]

Always excited to see a diag on your channel man! Keep them coming please!

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you!

[@joea505]

I love this video. I learned a ton. Thank you.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you for watching!

[@TheShop10]

Wonder if the shop put the appropriate torque converter in? A cam that big probably needs a Yank 4000. If it still has the stock converter it's going to stall and try to push you.

[@fernandomoran5979]

Waooo perfect explanation 👌 👏

[@jeffreygoss8109]

What about a heavier flex plate? Is that what Harley does?

[@kevinbarry71]

I think an LS crate motor would've worked much better. Lighter, likely more powerful, and certainly more durable Not to mention an electronic throttle which is usually easier to fit into a different vehicle

[@victoriousvictor7978]

Yea...and like 4 times the cost.

[@lafosh7234]

How much is LS CRATE AND INSTALL

[@thetommantom]

Can you explain that suspension?

[@twadam5218]

Oil pressure gauge (14.2!) It does say oil pressure, sure seems like AFR to me.

[@lornaz1975]

You're great! You teach!

[@oldschool0072]

Great video I learned a lot

[@hassanissa9741]

Great explanations, thx alot

[@samrugtiv3839]

Well said my friend Sam

[@imfloridano5448]

Well done

[@shaunmac983]

The IAC being maxed out tells you immediately what the issue is. The idle screw needs to be turned in until those IAC value get down to around 40. Or you can drill a small hole in the butterfly valve. Regardless the engine is starving for air, and it's trying to give it as much as it can through the IAC. He spent half the video talking about the cam but that's not really the issue, the idle just needs to get properly set.

[@edwunmartinez7720]

Good job boss tanks for the video

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thanks for watching!

[@Bias_Prineus]

curious to see the vacuum after replacement

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

I'll be sure to include that. Thanks for watching!

[@Bias_Prineus]

@@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTOThanks a lot

[@albi2k88]

I would check AFR, maybe besides agressive cam, engine run to reach or too lean because bad tune. I sometimes tune aftermarket ECUs and I know how bad fuel quantity can ruin idle. Maybe drilling hole in throttle or making additional bypass to let in more air to mainfold will help decrees IAC opening and ECU wil have more room to fight RPM drop.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Yes! We are installing an AFR gauge in the next episode! Stay tuned!

[@garysgarage3669]

Great video!

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thank you!

[@chrisjensen6213]

What transmission is in this

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

Good call , I would select 210-218 on int duration And 220 to 228on exhuast with LSA 114 Just me

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Thanks for the input!

[@stevewarren3051]

Interesting video but, no explanation why the warm engine stalled on acceleration. Also, no explanation why cold engine stalled at idle. No proof of diagnosis. What if a different cam does the same thing?

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Stay tuned for the next episode! We will go further into that.

[@ramcummins7879]

Well explain

[@mustardman5366]

"Let's have some fun"! In someone's vehicle who left it with you to repair. Good way to lose customers. I'm going to bet this customer didnt leave their vehicle for you to have fun in.. SMH

[@Hernandez530]

Officer MustardMan 100% agree. This guy just smashing on accelerator lol

[@jawadelatrach809]

The transmission is v8?

[@jdtractorman7445]

As a tech I strongly dislike anything that is modified, I just think it introduces a whole slew of problems, some that may not be able to be cured.

[@keithfork8663]

When you get tired of wrenching you can become a technical college instructor

[@williedee5051]

Yo your video don't make sen's if i have my tacoma with a tacoma engine right?!

[@ishmaelpatel893]

Is that a mercruiser camshaft out of a boat?

[@ishmaelpatel893]

🤦‍♂️

[@bajaaddict]

Where is part 2?

[@mikecronis]

If you want an LS engine, ie. LS1, 2, 3, etc. Buy a truck with an LS engine.

[@kevincampbell8298]

Looks like they way over modded. Wonder what else is just too radical for intended usage! :-)

[@drewsharpe7484]

Seeing those o2 mv barely jumping around tells a lot....

[@alecbryantalledo]

This thing is sick tho

[@Hammy1TV]

Of course it's having problems. Its a Chevy engine in a Tacoma!

[@andym1223]

The LS was a very reliable engine.

[@draculaS2k]

Well crap! Now everyone is LS swapping their Tacoma... I have a LS 5.3 swap btr stage 4 in my 2011 tacoma 🤘

[@DylanL69]

Sounds like a lean condition

[@aymenmohamed1134]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🌷

[@JOHNPHUFNAGEL]

The tuner has no idea what he is doing! If they were a good tuner first off it would be in closed loop, it wouldn't stall. Everything about the way the engine runs and idles can be tuned so it idles good and has good performance, and will go into closed loop. Right now the computer is in a default strategy running from what is programed into the ecm. If it were tuned correctly it would be in closed loop and have complete control of fuel trims and IAC. I am a beginner user of HP Tuner and have engines with radical cams idle a hell of a lot better than that. I agree that the cam is wrong for what the customer wants, you will see with the other cam it probably will run a little better but it still needs someone that knows what there doing to tune it. I hope that guy didn't pay to have that engine swap done!! A shop that knows what there doing will have NO PROBLEM getting the chev ecm wired into the instrument cluster so the factory gauges work. Great explanation on the cam, you did a awesome job! Looking forward to part 2. Have the truck programmed at Fasterproms in FL. Jeremy does excellent work!!

[@wallacegardner5090]

Good Job A+ Ice Cream

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

🍦

[@ishmaelpatel893]

Chevy YES!!

[@ernestochavez5106]

my 1996 monte carlo was a nightmare and my 2003 monte carlo caught on fire in my garage after i came home and sat down to eat dinner. Fuck GM, fuck chevy, I will never own a GM. Buy toyota or honda.

[@davidcraven277]

Any shop worth it's beans would ask the correct questions this is no shop but a hack shop

[@canoeshoe]

NO follow up vide argh...

[@A________]

Oil pressure is really low.

[@emiramon7913]

🤗

[@ousmanesarr7287]

Dude the truck is too tall or you are short? Just kidding nice vid

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Both lol

[@HyPex808-2]

How the hell does that car pass emissions?

[@danbusey]

Depending on where it is registered, it may not have to.

[@elora2525]

It will not pass in Houston. Either : 1. He must register the truck in a different county . 2. He doesn't do any state inspections 3. He found a corrupt, not too smart state inspector and both are not been caught yet

[@HyPex808-2]

Wow man that’s crazy. Chicago IL they plug into you OBD2 and check the computer, 1995 and older you can swap to your hearts content

[@gm1258001]

@@HyPex808-2 Same here in Texas but... There are inspectors which will work with you. Most will go the shops in the 'hood if their vehicle won't pass. There's always someone who can pull the ''guarantee to pass..'' deal..

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

🤐

[@ishmaelpatel893]

You gotta call the tuners lol live

[@orencomputerelectronics8751]

how to fix it: as we see, in idel engine load 4% (it ok) and 760RPM-840RPM with jump) you can program the ecu with: 1) increase the RPM to 840RPM in idel. (in 4% engine load) the owner said , when the engine hot , the problem not appears. that say, when the engine hot, the RPM more stable. i dont know in what RPM you said that the throttle is via cable (not electronic with resistance Ohm unit) it very simple to tune it with screwdriver only. what happend with this car?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@makaynchealhalibbealkhooo9673]

Oren computer & electronics don’t hurt ur lil brain 🧠

[@johnhoff101]

That's a shop u dont go to let's destroy the customers truck or crash it

[@draculaS2k]

Sound like he need a TC.

[@fredsalter1915]

23:30 Is you Windows legit? :-P

[@garrettstevensen2467]

First!

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Congrats!

[@feeneysmechanical6215]

No you didn't ? Calling that truck Eleanor lol.

[@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO]

Haha! Sorry

[@feeneysmechanical6215]

@@ADVANCEDLEVELAUTO I am just kidding with ya. Lol

[@michaelsanteler2746]

Driving your customers truck like a asshole. Don’t bring anything to this guy.

[@bucthai]

Rock climbing hahaha. You mean rock crawling.

[@Bigdawgsr20]

Wrong engine of choice!