On 8/21/2018 10:47 AM, micky wrote:
> In alt.home.repair, on 21 Aug 2018 10:56:52 -0400,
> (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>
>
> You seem to know what I wish I knew. Pardon me for horning in on this
> thread.
>
>> The FIRST thing that I would do would be to swap the upstream sensors from
>> side to side and see if the readings move from side to side. If they do,
>
> So the sensors are easy enough to remove and insert to just swap them,
> instead of putting in new? Because they cost so much, about $125 (for
> Toyotas, a lot more for BMWs I supppose.) (Of course I have the same
> code on both banks so I guess I won't be swapping, but taking one out
> worried me.)
>
>> you have a bad oxygen sensor.
>
> I have a P0171 (Bank 1 too lean) and the same thing for Bank 2 (P017?)
> They tend to point to bad oxygen sensors
>
> 2005 Solara Camry Conv. with 3.3L
>
>> If they don't, you need to start looking on
>> the engine side for vacuum leaks and bad injectors.
>
> I've looked repeatedly and diligently for vacuum leaks. I've sprayed
> starter fluid into every crack. I've checked every hose.
>
> I've cleaned using the special cleaner and then replaced the "filter" in
> the air cleaner tube. I've checked the air cleaner and it's clean.
>
> I think I once made the codes disappear for 2 or 3 hours** apparently
> after I sprayed Liquid Wrench on the upper 02 sensor behind the
> radiator, when I was planning to change the sensor, but I couldn't
> reproduce that by spraying again. Still, it makes me think there is a
> leak there, in the threads?, that won't be fixed by merely replacing the
> sensor.
>
> **Usually the codes reappear 15 minutes after being cleared manually.
>
> I don't know how to check injectors, but since it's both sides and the
> car runs evenly, maybe they aren't the problem?
>
> The two symptoms are two lights** on the dashboard and the fact that it
> usually stumbles, hesitates, when starting from a dead start, unless I
> press the acc just right. **VSC and what I read followed from VSC,
> trac off.
>
> From reading I did months ago, I'm thinking the upper 02 sensors are
> more likely the problem than the lower ones, and I should replace the
> one that is easy to reach.
>
> Or I could diagnose it the way you suggest, but the scan tool I bought
> didn't work completely and I returned it. I could buy another.
>
>> You can put a new converter onto this, but it won't stay good for very long
>> until you sort out the mixture problems.
>
> So I could be ruining my cat converter?
>
> I'm hoping it's not that bad because I get 31 mpg on the highway, 1 or 2
> mpg higher than what Toyota claims for the highway for a 2005 Solara
> convertible with 3.3L engine.
>
> It's quite a bit lower in the city and I'm figuring I waste a bunch of
> gas every time I leave a stop sign and it stumbles.
>
>> --scott
>

I ran into this recently. Just a thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5icTmYItwiE