Alright, so here's the deal:

For the past couple weeks my '96 Celica GT (manual trans, 10K on rebuilt motor), started bucking/hesitating during driving (mainly highway @ 65-70 mph). It would do this here and there and even when at a constant speed but mainly during speed gain and especially over 3K rpm.

About 2 and 1/2 weeks ago I heard a rapid clicking in my engine bay and found the #4 wire connector-to-dist. cap partially disconnected. I guess it was arching or something. Anyway, I pushed it in all the way and then the bucking and hesitation came on. SO...gave my car a new set of wires, plugs, cap, and rotor. Started it up and it ran good for about 3 minutes at idle and THEN DIED!! The intake which is a SRI intake kept cutting out (its hissing kept stopping) before it died. What is going on??? Check engine light came on to (first time in months).

UPDATE: I just went out to re-check the wires and order which is confirmed, all good. BUT, I started the engine and then I heard a strange clicking noise near the t-belt and I decided to open the valve cover cap and the tone changed (engine sounded deeper inside the head (with the cap off) and oil was sputtering on my hand like spray.

No clue what's up here...

This post has been edited by 6G96GT: Aug 5, 2011 - 7:44 PM

recheck the timing. it could be out

All set now guys, I re-checked all connections, which were fine but finally was able to start my car and then held it at 2K rpm for about 2 minutes, took it on the highway and back (15 min run), and she's running good as new now - don't get it but problem's gone now.

Well, scratch that last post!! My car is back to running like sh*t again. This time the intake chokes up and won't suck in air to get the car started so it just continues to turn and turn. I have to floor the gas pedal and then it'll catch and then keep it floored till it stops back firing like a mother effer and then it'll run once I force it to run by driving it. What is this crap?? Anyway it's in the shop.

Any ideas????

Massive vacuum leak?

sounds like timing off. is the cel stayin on? u may have a bad dizzy or crank sensor

Yea the cell is staying on. What symptoms would the crank sensor put out?

my cam position sensor went out, and it started off as a random misfire, then got worse and worse to the point it would hardly start and run. the cam position sensor is in the dizzy and you have to replace the whole unit. iirc the 96+ has a crank sensor that does some of the work of the cam sensor. def check the codes and see what it pops up. might lead u straight to the issue

Just ran that past my mechanic, thanks man!