Car will start good, but only moves in reverse. Stalls in forward

I agree it sounds like a trans problem but if its been developing over a year something doesn't add up

traditionally, when the torque converter locks up it stalls the engine since it is similar to trying to start the car in 5th gear

a trans problem is more likely to be that the engine revs high but the car won't move


let me know if there is anything else I can do in order to gain a 4 thumbs-up rating
Sean






I agree it sounds like a trans problem but if its been developing over a year something doesn't add up

traditionally, when the torque converter locks up it stalls the engine since it is similar to trying to start the car in 5th gear

a trans problem is more likely to be that the engine revs high but the car won't move


let me know if there is anything else I can do in order to gain a 4 thumbs-up rating
Sean

Car starts and runs perfect in park. Car runs in reverse perfectly. Engine runs rough when put in any forward gear (auto trans) and loses power. May move forward some and then stalls or stalls immediatly when put in gear. Cannot rev engine in forward gears, dies right away. Previous owner took it to Toyota garage several times, when problem started to appear. eg: poor excelaration when leaving stop sign at times. Problem became worst and worst. They continued to say nothing was wrong. If they only gave it a floor test in Park or neutral, they would find nothing. Previous owner did say that problem stared after the Toyota dealer did a tune up. Before that ran perfect. Maybe coincidence. 110,000 km on car. Perfect shape. Car starts and runs perfect in park. Car runs in reverse perfectly. Engine runs rough when put in any forward gear (auto trans) and loses power. May move forward some and then stalls or stalls immediatly when put in gear. Cannot rev engine in forward gears, dies right away. Previous owner took it to Toyota garage several times, when problem started to appear. eg: poor excelaration when leaving stop sign at times. Problem became worst and worst. They continued to say nothing was wrong. If they only gave it a floor test in Park or neutral, they would find nothing. Previous owner did say that problem stared after the Toyota dealer did a tune up. Before that ran perfect. Maybe coincidence. 110,000 km on car. Perfect shape.

I am going to stick with my first guess which is the torque converter unless you can tell me front wheels spin in the grass/gravel

Good luck and keep us posted
Since I am #3 on your list I'll assume you have better answers
but let me know if you need anything else

Sean


I am going to stick with my first guess which is the torque converter unless you can tell me front wheels spin in the grass/gravel

Good luck and keep us posted
Since I am #3 on your list I'll assume you have better answers
but let me know if you need anything else

Sean

Thanks for your reply's. No, the front wheels will not spin on the grass. The engine runs rough and moves some or stalls. But will a siezed tourque converter allow it to run well in reverse? This is what confuses me. When I first bought the car, I could drive it, although it some what acted up. Now it is not driveable.

Is there a computer in the car that does not allow the engine to run if there is a trany problem.

Again, thanks for your time on this. Thanks for your reply's. No, the front wheels will not spin on the grass. The engine runs rough and moves some or stalls. But will a siezed tourque converter allow it to run well in reverse? This is what confuses me. When I first bought the car, I could drive it, although it some what acted up. Now it is not driveable.
Is there a computer in the car that does not allow the engine to run if there is a trany problem.
Again, thanks for your time on this.

alright...
got my tranny book out

this is direct from Toyota for Camry that will not move in any FORWARD gear...

Check forward clutch


No. 2 one-way clutch


1st and reverse brake


2nd coast brake


2nd brake and direct clutch

Tranny guy can remember anything specific but feels fairly sure on an 87 Camry we can rule out the converter

However, he did remind me about some bad engine/trans mounts on that vehicle
The mounts would cause the engine to rock so far forward in gear that it would actually totally pinch off the air snorkel and stall the car... kind of like the old days when you would smoother the carb with a rag

to confirm... pop the hood and watch the engine as you move the shifter from reverse to drive

you should see some movement but not much difference forward/reverse








Tranny guy can remember anything specific but feels fairly sure on an 87 Camry we can rule out the converter

However, he did remind me about some bad engine/trans mounts on that vehicle
The mounts would cause the engine to rock so far forward in gear that it would actually totally pinch off the air snorkel and stall the car... kind of like the old days when you would smoother the carb with a rag

to confirm... pop the hood and watch the engine as you move the shifter from reverse to drive

you should see some movement but not much difference forward/reverse

Ok. You might have something here. This solution was suggested a year ago. But I was to look for a loose wire or devise that was opening when engine rocked in forward, but not in reverse. Could not find anything, so discounted advise. But yours makes more sense and would account for all symptons, including the fact that it will sometimes move forward, but realy slow and rough.. Lets hope you are right. A lot cheaper fix than a trany problem. Tomorrow, after work, I will check it out and let you know. Thanks Ok. You might have something here. This solution was suggested a year ago. But I was to look for a loose wire or devise that was opening when engine rocked in forward, but not in reverse. Could not find anything, so discounted advise. But yours makes more sense and would account for all symptons, including the fact that it will sometimes move forward, but realy slow and rough.. Lets hope you are right. A lot cheaper fix than a trany problem. Tomorrow, after work, I will check it out and let you know. Thanks

Car only has 110,000 km (65000 miles) on oddometer. I suspect trany. Sometimes car will go forward very poorly, but the engine does not run well at any time that it is in forward gears, and sometimes it justs quits as soon as put in to a forward gear. Engine runs very rough. You cannot apply brakes and rev engine, as if trany is slipping. Any application of gas, stalls engine. Reverse is great. Car only has 110,000 km (65000 miles) on oddometer. I suspect trany. Sometimes car will go forward very poorly, but the engine does not run well at any time that it is in forward gears, and sometimes it justs quits as soon as put in to a forward gear. Engine runs very rough. You cannot apply brakes and rev engine, as if trany is slipping. Any application of gas, stalls engine. Reverse is great.

Yeah this is an internal problem with the transmission,have it overhauled to repair the problem. Yeah this is an internal problem with the transmission,have it overhauled to repair the problem.

yes yes

If it has been a year doing this has a tune up with a fuel filter change been done? You will need to check for a bent fuel line too. You know if a fuel line is restricted by a bent line or a clogged filter it will run better without a load on the engine. The transmission when in gear is consider putting a load on the engine as well If it has been a year doing this has a tune up with a fuel filter change been done? You will need to check for a bent fuel line too. You know if a fuel line is restricted by a bent line or a clogged filter it will run better without a load on the engine. The transmission when in gear is consider putting a load on the engine as well