91 Camry Stutters After Cleaning--Won't run, please advise

[TRDSleeper]

Hi everyone,

I just recently used Simple Green to degrease my 1991 Camry's engine bay. It had over 220,000 miles on the odometer and never been cleaned before so it was nasty. I covered the alternator, rotor cap, and removed the battery before doing so. I spray a generous amount of degreaser on the engine and hosed it off with a low pressure water stream. I also used an air compressor to spray off excess water in order to dry things quicker. After everything was done, the car started up normally and idled with no problem. However, when I stepped on the gas pedal to accelerate, the engine stuttered and sounds like it's choking on itself. I think this is called hesistation. Then the engine dies. Basically, I can only cruise around at 10 mph. Any faster and it chokes and dies. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

[Doctor J]

Possible areas to check:
spark plugs wells,
distributor internal for condensation on the ign coil
distributor rotor can arc on the rotor shaft [try new one]
water in TP sensor connector.
Check if any trouble codes present, before proceeding.

[mr354]

It is the intake air temp sensor. this used to happen to me all the time the only thing you can do is let it run at idle for a long time and it will basically clear up after the sensor completly dries. Also open up your air filter box as the temp sensor is part of the mass air flow meter.

It should clear up in a couple of hours.

Next time remove the intake pipe b4 you clean the engine

[TRDSleeper]

Thanks for both your responses. I checked the spark plug wells, inside the distributor cap, and air flow meter. They were all dry. I used a heat gun to try to dry the throttle posistion sensor and air flow meter. Then I started the car and left it idling for 10 minutes. The engine heat help dried everything a little more. After driving around local streets the car hesitated twice but it wasn't bad as before. I guess one more day in the sun will dry everything up so hopefully there will not be anymore hesistation. Oh yeah, I also used seafoam in the gas tank and brake booster line. It seemed to help reduce the hesitation too.