Engine Timing chain/belt gone bad?

Timing chain/belt gone bad?

How do you know if the timing chain has gone bad? The car has 166,2xx miles on it and only recently (last month or so) it has started showing these symptoms. When on a hill, the car stutters a little or shakes slightly. Almost kind of like when you downshift and feel the RPM's rise but this happens very quickly but not so rough that the car jerks heavily. It is noticable though.

Also, yesterday the car basically felt like it dropped a gear and when you hit the accelerator, it acceled but very slightly and felt like it was in a lower gear. I would hit the accelerator half way and the car wouldn't pick up speed like usual.

What could be the problem with this car? We have done all the tuneups and services since the car was bought in Decemeber 1993 (original owner).

Thanks in advance

sounds like a tranny problem...

that was my 2nd guess and was hoping it wasn't

the "O/D off" light sometimes flashes on my gauge cluster so I just leave it off whenever it does that. I was crossing my fingers and hoping it wasn't my transmission setting that off.

My gauge cluster is all fux0r3d up though. The speedo only works after 40mph or so..but when I hit 40 it goes to 60mph and then never goes higher than 67mph. Also, the engine temperature gauge never reaches normal, stays a little over halfway between normal and cold.

I really doubt it has anything to do with your timing belt. Only real way to know if it went bad is if it breaks, you could take off the cover and look at its condition though.

Sounds like tranny to me but I don't know much about that stuff.

Thanks for the quick responses. I was just hoping it wasn't transmission but suspected it. Someone said maybe timing belt so that sort of lifted my spirits since that is not as big as a tranny rebuild.

maybe 5spd swap? hmm.. lol

Check your tranny fluid level. It could be internals, but could also be the fluid or something that's not adjusted right (like the kickdown cable). Also, if the timing belt were off, it would affect shifting. It could have jumped some teeth.

The speedometer - that could be the speedometer cable. Check the cable - my 1990 Camry did the same thing and as it turned out, the speedometer cable was broken and frayed - it was an easy fix.

Late,
Trav

If your O/D OFF light is flashing, there's a transmission problem. The flashing O/D OFF light indicates that something's wrong with the transmission, and a diagnostic trouble code has been stored in the PCM. I can tell you how to retrieve the DTC to shed some light on the problem if you'd like...

how can the timing belt have anything to do with the shifting? My 98 corolla did the same thing with shifting and I adjusted the transmission valve cable and its fine now. But I think that the 97 and earlier corollas use the vacumm modulator or whatever its called.

Shifting involves spark timing. The ECU momentarily retards spark timing when the automatic shifts gears to reduce the friction on the clutch packs. There's other stuff it does with timing also. Incorrect spark timing can definitely affect shifting in an automatic tranny.

Go to www.autoshop101.com and select "Technical articles" on the left.

Loads of Toyota specific stuff there to help you.

Late,
Trav

when your timing belt snaps, your engine dies so you will definitely know!

ive blown my timing chain. engine only had 26,710 miles on it, i was redline in 3rd and downshifted to 2nd. weeeelllllll....lets just say, Toyota wasnt too happy to do an engine swap for me

could the problem that I have where when i have a hard downshift from 3rd to second in my 98 be related to the timing chain.........

I really doubt your timing chain has anything to do with this.

i agree, its not the timing belt at all, proally transmission, im not familiar with automatics, but for manual tansmission, if cases in your car happens such as in your case, its usuall clutch lining....

possibly spark plug problem? Before my plugs went, I was having that problem.

change your tranny fluid....number one cause of hard shifting.

Trav

Hey, sorryabout the late late reply

Where is the speedo cable located and what does it look like? Thanks in advance.

I'm not certain on the Corolla. On the Camry, it was just a black cable that ran from the top of the transmission (connects right on top of the differential) and runs to the firewall on the driver's side.

Trav

So where would be the best place to find a new cable? How long should the install take for a n00b?

It's a simple install. If it is a cable, it simply has a cap that screws onto both ends. I replaced it in 15 minutes.

Trav

if your belt just jumps a tooth youll prolly have a very very bad rough running engine. also. it Toyota..they are non interference engine. there is a less of a chance of beaking a valve cuz of the noninterference. sounds like more of a tranny or engine performance problem. than anything else.

Is the 1ZZ-FE non-interference? There's been some debate since it's chained.

Trav

Yes It Is A Noninterfence Engine.

well, it can't be the timing belt...as many people have established, sorry to add. did you ever get your belt changed? it should have been changed around 100k. anyways, check your wires too. if your engine is running rough, it might be timing, go grab the strobe light. hey, what the hell, run some seafoam though the intake and some seafoam tranny cleaner and change the fluid...couldn't hurt, just a little bit of work to keep you busy. hope all comes out well