Estima starting issues

My 2017 Toyota Estima hybrid is giving me grief. It's got about 195k km on the clock. Lately, it's been a nightmare to start, stalls at idle sometimes, and the check engine light is on. I'm suspecting the camshaft sensor. Could it be the encoder wheel on the camshafts playing up? Anyone else run into this?

4 comment(s)

I had similar issues with my Estima. Is it throwing any codes related to ignition timing or engine misfire? Could also be worth checking the crankshaft sensor as well. Sensor failure can cause all sorts of weirdness.

Thanks for the quick reply! Ignition timing and engine misfire, you say? I'll check the error codes, but how would I diagnose a faulty encoder wheel, short of just replacing it?

Diagnosing the encoder wheel itself is tricky without specialized tools. If the sensor is good, but the symptoms persist, and the codes point to timing issues, it's highly suspect. I'd advise getting a mechanic to take a look. I ended up having to do just that. It's not worth chasing ghosts and potentially causing more damage. The repair cost me around 700€.

Appreciate the insight! Sounds like a trip to the workshop is in order. Thanks for confirming my suspicions; I'll post what the issue was once I get it sorted.

Join the discussion now: