Need help; running out of ideas

[ComputersAndBaseball]

My '90 Camry Dx has a 3SF-E, and has been having problems. Upon warming up, it begins to idle really rough, quickly getting to the point of stalling when I come to a stop. The problem only really exists at lower RPMs. Once this problem happens and I turn it off (or it does that on it's own), it's very hard to get it to restart until it's cooled down quite a bit. It will turn over for a second or two, and it'll only stay on if I rev it up really quick. A lot of the time, I don't even have enough time to even do that before it stalls out again. Upon accelerating, there's an odd kinda clicking/clanking noise that speeds up with the engine, but only in a low RPM range.

I've put a new EGR sensor in it, checked the distributor cap and rotor (worn but runnable), put in new oil, air filter, fuel filter, thermostat (old one was stuck closed), spark plugs, battery, and ignition coil (the old coil was waaaaay cracked), and unplugged the O2 sensor and tried running it, all to no avail. Anyone have any ideas? I'm gonna try and get some codes from it tomorrow.

No Check Engine light or anything. And, according to the gauge on the dash, the temperature isn't running any higher than it should be. I'm gonna replace the distributor cap and rotor when my tax refund comes in, but I really don't think that's the problem.

[Rubicon327]

Have you looked at the coil?

[Mike Gerber]

Try cleaning the throttle body, paying particular attention to spraying the cleaner liberally down in to the port that leads to the idle air control valve. Your idle air control valve may be very dirty and not funtioning properly. Here is a good post on how to do it on a later model Camry. Your car should be similiar:

How to: Cleaning Throttle Body -4 Cylinder Engines- With Pictures

Mike

[Doctor J]

I would wait until codes come out;
If no codes are present, will suggest compression /valve timing check

[ComputersAndBaseball]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Try cleaning the throttle body, paying particular attention to spraying the cleaner liberally down in to the port that leads to the idle air control valve. Your idle air control valve may be very dirty and not funtioning properly. Here is a good post on how to do it on a later model Camry. Your car should be similiar:

How to: Cleaning Throttle Body -4 Cylinder Engines- With Pictures

Mike

I did a little cleaning of the throttle body, but nothing extensive. Is the IAC port before or after the butterfly valve?

I'm still gonna try to take some codes from it today.

[atobe]

should be before the butterly it's an oddly shaped hole u can't miss it

[ComputersAndBaseball]

Thanks guys. I bought some Deep Creep and will be doing some cleaning when I get home from lunch. But, how do I check the compression? I have a compression gauge, but the spark plugs are set too deep into the block on the 3SF-E for the gauge to reach.

[ComputersAndBaseball]

OK, I cleaned out the IAC and it seems to have helped, but I haven't taken it on a long enough drive to be able to tell.

By the way, while I had the intake partially taken off, I installed my first real mod: