After changing alternator, my Camry 2009 LE no longer has optimum RPM. Help, please?

Thang N · 26 Jul 2011, 02:09 pm

At 35.6K miles, the alternator is dead (shame shame shame shame on Toyota for this), but the warranty is out, so I went to a shop to change it. I notice afterward, my car is no longer at optimum RPM. Before the change, I usually have it idle at 750-800 rpm (love that), and also when I drive, I have a habit of shifting gear to N, letting the car running on momentum, approaching a red light, or coming to a stop. Immediately after shifting, doesn't matter when traveling at 50 mph or 5 mph, the RPM always dropped down to around 800 rpm. However, now, sometime it's in 900rpm range, sometime it's around 1400. So my question, what can I do? Also, does my Camry has a computer somewhere (I suspect there is, have no idea where though), and how can mess around w/ it? I've heard that the solenoid is the controlling mechanism of the idle RPM, but by the look of it, I think it's best not to mess around with that. Any suggestion? Thanks for reading my question

wondering · 26 Jul 2011, 02:24 pm

It is possible that the old one was bad but still operative and was dragging down the idle speed, see if your MPG improves or not now.

Also if you have an automatic transmission shifting between neutral and drive (or reverse) while stopped always causes wear on the clutches and sometimes is required but shifting to N at 50 and waiting till you are completely stopped before putting it back in gear will cause extra wear. When I drive I try to avoid shifts in and out of gear while stopped. At one place I go to the end of the driveway is on a hill, so i put it in reverse and back out then shift to N while still moving, let the car roll to a stop and start rolling forward down the hill then at 5 or 15 MPH I shift into drive, this "rev matches" the engine to the wheels so the clutches engage with both sides turning about the same speed, instead of one turning and the other stopped. If I put it in drive at 15 it goes directly to 2nd gear and avoids a 1-2 shift altogether.

Your Camry also has ETC (electronic throttle control) AKA drive-by-wire or throttle-by-wire so it may not even have an idle speed control motor or solenoid at all.

Michael · 26 Jul 2011, 02:39 pm

I recommend letting it ride for a week or two. The ECU was undoubtedly powered down when the alternator was replaced and it may just be learning how to behave again.

After changing alternator, my Camry 2009 LE no longer has optimum RPM. Help, please?

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