Celica Forums General Discussion Engine and Performance CEL, shuddering, shutting off after driving a while

I have a 2001 GT-S, 6 speed. I was talked into purchasing this car by my room-mate because it had the least miles on it and appeared to be in decent shape. When I left the dealership, I got less than 10 miles when it started shuddering violently, CEL blinking, then it went dead in traffic. Will turn over but not start. They took the car back, said it was a bad fuel pump, delivered the car to my door after fixing.

I made a store run, and as I was leaving the parking lot, it did it again. Same thing. CEL blinking, violent shuddering, then dead as a hammer. I call my mechanic, he sends one of his guys out, and it pulls the camshaft position sensor code. They take it to the shop, replace it. I got it back today.

Drove it home. It drives really good. It's fun. Well, when it runs, because it happened again in my driveway. I had parked it, and was going to swap the Sirius XM from my old car into this one, and when I cranked it up ... yep, CEL flashing, shudder, dead. I cranked it up, and it will sort of run if I keep my foot on the accelerator, but it runs ragged. Wants to stall out and die, shaking and not exactly backfiring but making not good noises. No way is it driveable. So, my mechanic came and got it again.

I've done a ton of research and came up with: bad fuel pump, IACV, MAF, vacuum switching purge valve, air intake manifold, ignition coil ...

It only does it when it gets hot and has been driven at least 5-10 miles. I'm really frustrated with this car right now. My old car has issues - I can still sort of drive it, but not far or fast, so that was why I got a newer car. I'm hoping that someone here can help pinpoint what to check since there are so freaking many things it could be.

Sounds like you need a new mechanic. If they're just gonna keep throwing parts at it, you could just save the money and throw parts at it yourself. But really, what kind of diagnostic work are they doing before they attempt repairs? Have you had any other codes? Have you communicated with the dealer at all?

While the information you've provided is a good start, no one here can help with just that. Need fuel trims, O2 sensor readings, MAF readings, fuel pressure, etc. If you don't want to keep throwing money at it, do some serious diagnostic work and get those readings, check for continuity throughout wiring, check resistance on related electronics, pull spark plugs, check your filters, etc etc etc.

The used car lot was the one who supposedly changed the fuel pump. I'm doubtful that they actually did though. The mechanic I'm using is one that I used for my 92 Celica - I've used him for several years now. This was the only code it pulled when it was hooked to the reader - the tech showed me the whole process.

It's a fuel/air issue somewhere. My room-mate is a mechanic but doesn't have the lift or diagnostic tools, and he said it's like it's trying to vapor lock (not possible on this car, but he says it's acting like that). Once it gets hot and has been driven 5-10 miles, it does this. I have to go by my mechanic's place today anyhow on my way to pick up mice for the snakes I keep, so I'm going to stop by and have a talk with him.

Whatever happens, it's ultimately the roomie's decision on the car (fix or go to arbitration over it) since he paid cash for it (I'm paying him back, as I'm on SSDI). He doesn't think it's anything major, so ... I'm just trying to get ideas here. Everything on the car works, it just shuts off like this after 5-10 miles driving it. Which is really inconvenient. I'm thankful my mechanic is willing to work with me and hasn't charged me to come get it either time. I can still drive the 92 ST, but there's a drain on the battery I'm trying to troubleshoot and the entire front end needs rebuilding basically (struts, lower control arms, two motor mounts, the roomie stated it wasn't worth putting more money into which is why I have the GTS).

Without getting in to your domestic drama, why not take it to another trusted mechanic for a second opinion, and possibly to have it fixed, since your first mechanic is having difficulties diagnosing the issues to repair..

Because it's not my decision. The roomie wants to use the same mechanic because the first two I tried here screwed me over bad. This is a relatively small area where I live and mechanics here are kinda slim pickings.

It isn't that he's having trouble diagnosing it. The only code it pulled was for the camshaft position sensor. That's been an issue for others, so it was easy to believe that was the problem. Since it isn't, he'll have to get in there and do some diagnostics on it. I'm the one who came in here to ask to see if anyone else had this exact problem to get an idea of what it could be. I did this on my own because I'm curious. I trust my mechanic - he kept my 92 on the road for a long time, after all.

Best of luck to you.

I second.