I have a 1987 Camry, 4 cylinder, auto.with an attitude. Some times the car will run great and other times it will literally buck like it is starving for fuel, and then there are the times it will shut completly off. This usually occurs at low rpms while in gear (usually starts right back up). The car willrun forever idling in the driveway in park. And the worst are the times it shuts off and will not start back up for several hours. The only thing that has been done since the problem started is the fuel filter has been replaced (under hood). Any suggestions?

 

Your problem could also be a faulty coil. They behave like that when hot and under load. The next time it shuts off and will not start I would check the operation of the fuel system to confirm a fuel problem.

 

i concur. It does sound like a bad coil problem.. Im having the same problem with my 02 f250. Except i have 8 coils to figure out which isnt working. No check engine light...So no help there. Once i figure it out im gonna replace that coil and also change plugs. I thought it was a fuel problem too. But im being told its a coil. Also on another note. Could possible be a Iac valve or pcv valve. Not sure if your car is equipped with either or but its a good step as well in the right direction.

Is there a way to check the coils by voltage??

 

Not without a tester. I have an old analog tester as well as a new digital one that I can just place on the wires. For most people just removing a plug and grounding it on the engine to look for a blue spark is good enough.