Stupid Sludge...

[Loss4wrds]

I was planning on only pulling the upper manifold/plenum. So you think I should clean out the upper manifold while I have it off? Is it typically pretty dirty? I was hoping that I could just pull the upper to get to the rear cover and not pull the lower so that I didn't have to drain the coolant.
I didn't know if I would need to pull and clean the EGR or anything else while I had the upper manifold off.

[Loss4wrds]

Well I have a stupid check engine light now. Autozone pulled a P0135 on lunch. I'll hook up my reader tonight and see what I pull and clear the codes.
I called Toyota to see if they could tell me from my VIN if I was Cali-Spec or not since the price of the sensors is pretty steep. They said it was 48 state emissions which is what I was thinking. My exhausrt mainfolds connect to a Y-pipe that is more like a T then there is a flex pipe and then connects to the CAT and looks like a couple resonators after that before you get to the muffler. But the sticker under the hood was confusing me.



I don't know if you can read it but it says :
This vehicle conforms to the U.S. EPA and state of California emissions applicapable to gasoline fueled 1999 Model year new passenger cars.

The toyota dealer quoted me $140 for Bank #1 Sensor #1 for my VIN that sounds like the cheaper O2 sensor and not the more expensive A/F sensor for Cali cars to me.

Anyway what do you guys think? I'd hate to install the wrong sensor and get screwed because most places don't take back sensors if they have been installed.
Thanks,
Brian

[Loss4wrds]

I called a 2nd dealer just to check and to see if they had a plenum gasket in stock. They told me the same that it was 48 state emission and to get the O2 sensor not the A/F sensor. So I guess I am going to order a couple Denso 234-4622 sensors.

[Loss4wrds]

Well I broke out the tools over the weekend and replaced the rear vlave cover gasket. What a PIA. I think it took me about 8 hours to do it start to finish. (actually took 2 full days but I had my 2 little boys "helping" me and that slowed me down allot they are 1 and 2.5 years old) I think I got all the vacume hoses and electrical connections back in the right places. I also swapped out both upstream O2 sensors. So far so good no check engine lights. But I am getting the oil light flicker again.
Guess I will have to drop the oil pan again this weekend and clean the pick-up screen again. Swapped out the oil filter on lunch and that seemed to help the oil light flicker, won't know for sure till I drive home from work. When I checked the oil on lunch I could see little flakes of trash/sludge in the oil on the dip stick. I am running the oversized M1-209 mobile 1 oil filter and didn't think that it would clog up with the extra filter media but the new filter seemed to help so we'll see how it goes.
I used 6-8 cans of carb spray to clean out the manifold while I had it off and still didn't get it as clean as I would have liked but it was much better than it was.
I do have to say that the sludge was considerably less under the rear cover than the front. I am hoping that that is a sign the seafaom in the crankcase is doing its job.
Anyway that is my current update in my ongoing battle against sludge.

[Loss4wrds]

Ok I got a stupid check engine light on the way home P0171
This is a new code for me. I am going to double check all the vacume hoses and re-torque the plenum bolts. Does anyone have the torque specs for these bolts? What else should I check?

[Loss4wrds]

Well I checked all my vacume lines, all seem to be connected correctly. I found one that was backed off a little but I don't think it was enough to cause a leak. I am a little concerned about the spring clamps that hold some of the lines on may change to standard screw type hose clamps to make sure.
I retorqued the plenum to the manifold, don't know if that will help.
I also remembered that when taking the throttle body off the plenum the metal gasket got slightly bent, but I reused it anyway. I will go pick up a new one today on lunch and change that this weekend. I've got to drop the oil pan and clean the screen on the pick-up again so an extra 30min to change the throttle body gasket shouldn't be that bad.
I drove about 40mi to work this morning and so far no check engine light. But it took closer to 60mi before I got the light last time.

[Midias]

I would clean the MAF while you are at it.

[Loss4wrds]

not 100% sure of the MAF location on this car. New to Solara. Is that the sensor located in the air intake ducting between the air box and throttle body?

[Midias]

Yes it is the black rectangle. I would buy some maf cleaner and spray some in there. I usually use the stuff form CRC at advance auto parts.

[Loss4wrds]

I picked up a throttle body gasket today on lunch and installed it. Also picked up some MAF cleaner and I'm gonna do that tonight if I have time. Didn't have my laptop with me on lunch so I didn't reset the check engine light. I guess i will do that when I leave work today. If those don't fix it I guess I will go get some screw type hose clamps and replace all the spring clips.

[Loss4wrds]

Woot! Got over 80mi so far and no CEL! I am pretty sure I was getting the P0171 from the throttle body gasket. But I went ahead and cleaned the MAF last night also. The CEL had ben coming on at about 50-60mi. So I hope it is gone for good now.
Going to change oil and clean the pick-up screen this weekend and with any luck I will be good to go for a while. I have done allot of work on this thing since I got it a couple months ago and really want to just drive it with no worries for a while. The only maintenance items I have left on the to do list is plug wires, timing belt, and clutch. Going to order plug wires today and I am going to wait till the other 2 go out before I address them.