Car overheating, rocking while idle and heater stopped working. 2000 Toyota Camry.
I have a 2000 Toyota Camry from Carhop and I've had it less than 3 months. A month ago, the engine blew and the water pump and timing belt was replaced (at least to my knowledge.) Last night, I slowed to a stop while at a toll booth and my car started to rock and shake. When I pulled off, it stopped. When I made it home, my car overheated – really, really quickly – and stalled. The next morning, I went to the gas station, less than two blocks from my house, and my heater stopped working. An hour later, it was fine. My fiancé checked the coolant levels and everything was fine. My car conti
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there:
Anytime there is major damage done to an engine; the risk of having a mechanical failure in the future is very likely. It’s very possible, if your engine is overheating, but not leaking coolant and the engine stopped running that the head gasket may be damaged. However, without being there to physically inspect your vehicle; that’s simply a guess. I’d suggest that you contact a local mobile mechanic to complete a car is overheating inspection first; so they can determine what is causing this issue you’re having; and recommend the right repairs.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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The most common reasons a Toyota Camry is overheating are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat.
The most common reasons a Toyota Camry heater isn`t working are a broken heater blower motor, a problem with the thermostat, or a failed heater blower motor resistor.
There`s an issue with the radiator: Radiator issues, including blockages, fan issues, and leaks all could cause a car to overheat.
One common reason engines overheat while idling is a faulty or broken cooling system. This could include problems with the radiator, water pump, or fan belt. If any part of your car`s cooling system is not functioning properly, your engine may be at risk of overheating.
If your coolant level is a-okay, but your car heater is blowing cold air and your engine is overheating, then you have a clog in your cooling system. Conversely, if your engine temperatures are unrealistically low after a drive, your thermostat is likely the culprit.
One of the most common issues with a heating system not functioning is dirty air filters. If your air filters are extremely dirty, then the airflow can be blocked. Check for clean air filters, vents, and registers. Make sure there are no rugs or furniture blocking vents or registers as well.
How long can a car overheat before damage occurs? It only takes 30-60 seconds of overheating for permanent damage to infiltrate a vehicle. As soon as you notice signs of overheating, you need to act. Failure to do so might result in troubles like coolant leaks, damaged radiator caps, and a faulty cooling fan.
A Broken Radiator Fan
If your car begins to overheat when idling, but the temperature gauge moves back down once you get going, it`s most likely due to a broken radiator fan. When the coolant goes to the radiator, it`s spread over a large surface area to cool it down.
Pull over and shut off the car. Allow the engine to cool for at least 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge, as it should move back to a normal range as the engine cools. While you`re waiting (and watching the gauge), put together a plan to get your overheated engine checked out.
Wait until the gauge moves back to the normal range or the light extinguishes before you open the hood. DON`T wait for it to get better on its own. An overheating engine won`t repair itself, and you should bring your car in to Jiffy Lube as soon as you can.
Repeated overheating can be a sign of serious engine damage. Repeated use of an overheated engine can accelerate that damage rapidly. In extreme heat, core parts of the vehicle`s engine can crack, warp, and fail — resulting in instant death to your vehicle`s powerplant.
One way to check for proper coolant circulation is to check the upper and lower radiator hoses. The upper radiator hose should be hot, around 190–200 °F. (The safest and most accurate way to get this temperature reading is with an infrared thermometer.)
A blocked heater core might restrict coolant circulation, causing the engine to overheat. In any case, keep an eye on the temperature monitor if you decide to drive with a blocked heater core.
If an engine “feels” cold, or “normal” but the dash gauge shows overheating, you could have a faulty temperature sensor and/or gauge. No cabin heat could be due to low coolant, blocked passages, faulty heater control valve and/or faulty blend door(s) in the dash ventilation network.
A malfunctioning thermostat can make your heater or air conditioner unable to turn on. In most cases, this indicates the wiring has failed. Normally, electrical wires transmit messages from the thermostat to the HVAC unit, such as telling it when to turn on and what temperature to make your house feel.
If your heater doesn`t start, chances are the problem stems from having a dirty furnace. Having dirt on your blower motor or flamer sensor could render your furnace unable to perform. When the blower motor is too dirty, it won`t pass enough cool air to the heat exchanger, leading to equipment failure.
If you think the cause for your car heating not working is related to the blower fuse, be sure to replace it with one of the same amperage. The fuse may have blown due to age, or it may suggest an underlying problem. If the replacement fuse (of the same amperage) does not blow, you may well have identified the problem.
The heater core in your car works like a radiator to move hot air through your car`s vents. Damage to your heater core will have some telltale signs. Excessive condensation on the inside of your windows tends to indicate a leak. Your heater will also only give off lukewarm or cold air if your core has a problem.
Leaks are the #1 reason a vehicle begins to overheat. Leaks in hoses, the radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, heater core, head gasket, freeze plugs and a few other things can all lead to problems with the vehicle`s cooling system.
Frequent fault symptoms are: Higher idle speed. Increased fuel consumption. Poor starting behaviour.
Loud popping, knocking, and stuttering noises from the hood of your vehicle are cause for concern, and could be a sign of major engine damage.
If the water pump in your engine isn`t doing its job, you`ll likely notice the car overheating when idling or headed down the road. The water pump does just what you would expect by pumping coolant through the system.
Overheating and a rough idle that happen at the same time can be caused by a blown head gasket. A blown head gasket means that the cylinder is not sealed, so the compression from the bad cylinder leaks into the cooling system. This causes a rough idle because the cylinder is not working properly.
Driving your car when it`s overheating can cause serious – and sometimes permanent – damage to your engine, so it`s best to stop driving as soon as possible. Pull over and away from oncoming traffic, then turn off the engine. Open your hood (or call for help).
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car overheating, rocking while idle and heater stopped working. 2000 Toyota Camry.
ANSWER : Hi there:
Anytime there is major damage done to an engine; the risk of having a mechanical failure in the future is very likely. It’s very possible, if your engine is overheating, but not leaking coolant and the engine stopped running that the head gasket may be damaged. However, without being there to physically inspect your vehicle; that’s simply a guess. I’d suggest that you contact a local mobile mechanic to complete a car is overheating inspection first; so they can determine what is causing this issue you’re having; and recommend the right repairs.
My heat in my car stopped working two days ago and now my car is overheating. I put antifreeze in my car and it’s still overheating 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
ANSWER : Hi there – you may have 2 related events here, a coolant leak, and a problem with the heater system. The current issue may be air inside the cooling system, which can cause overheating, and a lack of heater function. The lack of heater function could have 5 causes: the engine is not getting up to correct temperature (center of the gauge) due to a malfunctioning thermostat, the heater control valve is not letting hot coolant into the heater core, there is a restriction in the heater system that is preventing adequate hot coolant flow through the heater core, the heater fan is not working to transfer heat from the heater core to warm air for the passenger compartment, or the air blend doors inside the heater are not working properly to route warm air to the desired vents. I would recommend a heater system inspection](https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection) by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Windshield wipers stopped working. They’ll suddenly stop working then suddenly start working again. Has been happening for a week.
ANSWER : The problem you are describing likely stems from an intermittent electrical fault in the wiper circuit. The windshield wiper system uses a small electric motor to move the wiper arms that you see on the windshield. That electric motor is controlled through a switch, relay, fuse, and wiring. One, or more, of those electrical components has failed although it is also possible that the mechanical arms are binding (seized, if the lubricant has dried out) thus causing the electric circuit to the motor to overload. Regardless of the underlying fault, if you request a non functioning wiper diagnostic/repair, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
I have a 2002 toyota camry LE engine wich i want to use on a 2004 toyota camry XLE .is my 02 toyota camry engine compatible ?
ANSWER : Hi there. Assuming that both engines are the same size, the compatibility of "fitting" should be OK. However, since this is a service we don’t offer, we’re not best suited to provide the best advice on this. I can tell you that a common problem have with replacing motors is communication with the ECU. In most cases, it will require reprogramming by a specialist in order for all the systems to work correctly.
My car is idling very rough.
ANSWER : The idle air control valve is common for causing a rough idle in many cars, but it sounds like you have already corrected that. Another thing you may also want to check is the crankshaft position sensor. A crankshaft position sensor monitors the position or rotational speed of the crankshaft. This information is used by engine management systems to control the fuel injection or the ignition system timing and other engine parameters. When this is faulty or not working properly, this will cause problems with the ignition system and generating spark transmission to the spark plugs resulting in starting problems, rough idling and other performance issues. You may also want to check the fuel pressure as low fuel pressure can also cause rough or poor idling if the fuel pattern being sprayed from the injectors is not consistent. This can also happen in the case of having dirty fuel injectors which may also interrupt the spray pattern of the injectors. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your car.
When I stop at the stop light or a stop sign my car shuts off.
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. This valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer and will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. This is also an important function when starting the motor as it allows the motor to run and idle on it’s own once the motor fires. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed with the help of the idle air control valve making the transition from a higher RPM back down to idle speed while adjusting the air/fuel ratio constantly to allow this to happen smoothly. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of about ~800 RPM, this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
My car has a rough idle when I start my car, when I stop at a light my car turns off. Is it the purge sensor?
ANSWER : This may be a result of a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. Since this valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer, it will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed with the help of the idle air control valve making the transition from a higher RPM back down to idle speed. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of about ~800 RPM, this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your idle air control valve.
2002 Toyota Camry V4. My car started over heating and the inside heater also stopped working.
ANSWER : If the radiator has been leaking, adding coolant to the overflow tank might not actually fill the cooling system. Sometimes you have to take measures to bleed the cooling system to insure there are no air pockets hanging out in the engine. If there are air pockets, the coolant will boil. When the coolant gets so hot that it boils, the heater core fills with steam and you don’t get any heat. That’s a good indication that you need to stop driving the car. When it gets that hot, for whatever reason, continuing to run the engine will do a lot of damage. It’s time to have a professional look at this car to help you sort out the problem. You can have that done at your convenience by contacting Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out your overheating problem and let you know just what it is going to take to solve it.
