90 Camry tries to stall - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

paulcalif · 08-22-2007, 07:14 PM

Ok guys (and gals), here is the problem I need your help with.

1990 Camry 4 cyl.
Every Morning and only the first run of the day, this car (my daugher's) just gets warmed up, temp needle just gets to normal and the car tries to die. My daugher pushes the accellerator pedal really fast several times and usually it will keep going. Most of the time it happens when she takes off from a light, but can also happen on the freeway. I am guessing that it is temperature related. If the car does die, then it is really difficult to get it started again. She says the car will run bad for several minutes, then run fine for the rest of the day never doing it again.

We don't know the history on the car other than it was really clean inside and out with original paint and dents, scratches or even dings. So, it appeared to have been well taken care of. The car has about 130K miles on it.

She spent the night at home this weekend (she lives on her own), and was anxious to show me the problem. We went out on the cars first drive of the day. I was around 11AM and was already warm out. The car did not do it this time. I of course accused her of making the whole thing up just to get attention (kidding of course). I thought that maybe because it was warmer that it didn't get cold enough to cause the problem, just guessing.

She called just now to tell me that the car has done it every day since she went back home. Note that she lives close to the beach and I live at a slightly higher and warmer elevation.

So, there is the challange. We really need your help, I can can any parts, but not being very familiar with the car, I don't know what to look for other than maybe some water temp sensor or temp sensitive sensor of some sort. She has a young daughter and I would really hate to see her get stranded somewhere.

Thanks in advance!!!

fredk · 08-22-2007, 09:56 PM

check the big intake hose for being loose or cracking

paulcalif · 08-23-2007, 12:04 AM

Will do! Any idea why that might cause these symptoms?

atobe · 08-23-2007, 12:38 AM

try cleaning out the air idle valve?

paulcalif · 08-23-2007, 09:32 AM

I will look at that too. Any idea why that may be causing the problem?

Mike Gerber · 08-23-2007, 05:10 PM

I have to agree that the most likely problem is a sticking idle air control valve. It can cause problems when the car is cold. I would try a simple cleaning of the valve first by removing the large tube leading to the throttle body and spraying throttle body cleaner or O2 safe carb cleaner in through the port in the throttle body. There is a square or diamond shaped port in the base of the throttle body that leads to the idle air control valve. Spray the cleaner liberally in to this port and let it saok for a few minutes. While you are waiting, clean the rest of the inside of the throttle body, paying particular attention to the back side of the butterfly valve in there and also the area where that butterfly valve seats inside the throttle body. Then reattach the big hose and try to start the car. It will be difficult to start, as you are running all the cleaner throught the intake plenum causing a rich mixture, but it will eventually start. You may have to hold the gas pedal down to the floor as if you are starting a flooded engine. Then take the car for a ride for about 10 to 15 minutes to run all the cleaner out of the system. Check the car's cold running behavior the next couple of days and report the results back here.

Mike

paulcalif · 08-23-2007, 05:53 PM

I will do exactly that and report back, thanks!

monito · 08-23-2007, 06:43 PM

sounds like the car is just having trouble breathing. i've had similar problems earlier this year, and the guys above have helped me out a lot. follow their steps/suggestions,
and i'm sure your problems will get solved. you may also want to get the Check Engine Light [CEL] codes from the diagnostic port.

paulcalif · 08-23-2007, 07:30 PM

Check engine light has not come on, but thanks for the reply.

Doctor J · 08-24-2007, 08:05 AM

Make sure that TP sensor is working correctly.

wiccanferret · 08-24-2007, 09:20 AM

Make sure you bring all the maintenance stuff up to date while you're under the hood. It's impossible to troubleshoot a problem if your maintenance parts are old. Air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, wires+cap, and rotor. Who knows, you might find something while you're under there.

paulcalif · 08-24-2007, 11:05 AM

LOL, you are right for sure, but this is my POOR, daughter. I don't mind doing the work, and because I love her I would buy the parts too, but I won't as a matter of principle. So, unless she can pay for the parts, they are not going to get changed. The car runs perfectly except when it is almost totally warmed up, then bad for a few mins. then fine for the rest of the day. I really don't think that it's a regular maintenance issue, but agree with you that all of the tune up stuff needs to be done. She also needs to have both front axels replaced. I know where I can get them wholesale rebuilt for about $50 each and she can't even afford that. She really can't afford to have a car. I loaned her the money for this one and she is slowly paying me back.

I'll probably change my mind and just buy the parts and add the cost to her loan, I'm a push over as dads usually are for their little girls....

paulcalif · 08-26-2007, 01:36 PM

My daughter came by today and I cleaned out the throttle body and the I think I sprayed carb cleaner into the idle control port. That port is described as square or diamond shaped but on this car the port in the location shown in the picture was round. I sprayed the crap out of it, and a lot of dirt came out. There were also a couple of other ports so I sprayed them as well. While I was at it I also sprayed elec cleaner on what I think is the MAF sensor. Note that none of these things looked very dirty. I didn't get any smoke out of the tail pipe, but then I used carb cleaner. It was a little hard to start, but finally did.

As far as the tune up stuff goes, it looks like someone has already changed all of that. The wires look new and so does the air cleaner. We have only had the car a few months and it has been doing this since we got it. So I am assuming that the previous owner, who lied about the car, probably tried the tune up stuff to fix it.

I'll know in a few days if this did any good.

Thanks for the advice guys...