Engine Failure 2003 Toyota Camry

My father owns a 2003 Toyota Camry with a 2.4L 4 cylinder motor. There is an oil baffle under the valve cover that protrudes under the oil fill cap in the valve cover. The baffle can break off under the valve cover and become lodged between the camshaft gear and the timing chain, causing the motor timing to fail. As this is a zero tolerance interference motor, engine failure can result. A proper action from Toyota would be to recall all 2.4L 4 cylinder motors from '02-'04 to repair the oil baffle. A service bulletin should be issued to check for this condition in the event of premature engine failure.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Toyota Recall
• Toyota Engine Failure
• Toyota Camry Timing chain
• Camry timing chain
• Uncontrolled acceleration

[hatchbw]

WOW, you are lucky!!!!! One bump or pothole and you could have lost the top end of your motor!!!!

[MrRichierich1990]

Is this a problem with the yaris?

[hatchbw]

@MrRichierich1990 Check if this motor came in the yaris. If you take the valve cover off inspect the baffle

[Andrew38ful]

Is there a way to remove that piece before it could be broken off ?

[hatchbw]

@Andrew38ful Yes, remove the valve cover. Remove the baffle section under the filler cap OR re enforce it to prevent it from floating into the engine

[500hpsi]

@acgmark there are no problem with the Toyota products. the problem is the person doing the oil change job. That is why it's better to have it serviced at a Toyota dealership.

[500hpsi]

@S13ALLDAY if do your own oil change; and, than yes it's your fault.

[500hpsi]

Sorry to say that this is not a designed flaw in any way. This more like a error/mistake made by the person doing the oil change. This is one of the reason why it's better take your vehicle to a Toyota dealership vs. to a quick lube place or an independent shop that does not know Toyota product. you said your self a "very aggressive technician bent the baffle " how is that Toyota's fault?

[jjeffbarnes]

I am in the middle of exactly the same problem with a 2006 Toytota Rav4. The dealer is now telling me they need to pull the engine, take off the front, and find the pieces of the baffle. They already pulled the oil pan and took some out, but didn't find all of it. This has effected the Oil Control Valves as well... damn, this is going to be expensive... Any ideas?

[S13ALLDAY]

In the process of changing the valve cover gasket as I speak. Much to my suprise I found that exact piece laying between the cams right next to the gears and timing chain!!! I thought it was may fault until I saw this video. Thanks

[chillis211]

My car broke down last night and this sounds about right.

[ranago123]

This EXACT thing happened to me. I have a picture of the baffle stuck in the timing chain to prove it. What now? It is jammed up in there. I have 160k on mine, but was running just find and all the sudden, plow, dapple jammed and took forever to diagnose. The car still ran, but started missing on different cylinders randomly, then eventually died on idle. I'm glad I found the problem, but this is an expensive repair now!