'97 Camry turns off immediately after start

[djstylze]

Help!!

I have a 1997 Toyota Camry with about 145K miles on it and the car drove fine up until this morning. The car starts but turns off the moment it runs. I tried twice and on the 3rd time tried to give it gas as it started - no luck.

Oh, its an automatic as well.


Thank you
Mike

[Stillrunning]

Could be as simple as a worn ignition key cylinder. When it starts on, "Start" position and you release it to "Run" position try wiggling and pushing it in that position and see if it trys to stay running.

[djstylze]

Thanks for the ideas! I'll try them when I get home.

[Eye8Pussies]

Originally Posted by JJJJJJ

one of your electrical sensors like MAF is unplugged or your EFI fuse is blown.

I'm going with that

[toyomoho]

If MAF sensor try pressing on the gas pedal when starting and see if it runs.

[djstylze]

Ok, you guys are good! I held the gas and it stayed on this time. After a good 30 seconds of 1k rpm's.. the car stayed at a very low idle (~800rpms).

After driving it around, it turned on ok, but again with the low rpms. So does that mean there's a blown EFI fuse or do I need to replace the MAF sensor?

Thank you again!!

Mike

edit: The fuse is good.

[toyomoho]

Around 800 rpm is normal when engine warm. Is the RPM lower then this, say 500 rpm? How does the car drive when not at idle? If OK, check the IAC valve, might need cleaning.. If the car has A/C, turn it on with engine at idle. See if the idle picks up to 1000-1200 rpm. If A/C is running OK, but idle is low might be idle up system.

[Eye8Pussies]

if the car runs, then it's not an efi fuse problem

check your iacv as toyomoho said, and it wouldn't hurt to clean your maf while you're at it as well

[MIC0417]

Don't forget that a bad idle could also be a dirty TB.

[Unco]

methinks IAC valve too. if it's running fine apart from idle, that's usually the culprit. try cleaning it out, there's a good guide in the forums somewhere, just do a search for IAC. also, as MIC0417 mentioned, take a quick look at your TB, it only takes a minute to undo the hose clamps. maybe clean that out first and see if you notice any difference, then go for the IAC valve.

[djstylze]

I'll try both today after work - you guys are great!!

[upsgalaxy]

i have an automatic '97 camry (120K miles) with the same issue as well (low rpm and engine dies at startup).
it happens about once almost every two weeks.

the idle at startup is not even at 500 rpm.
and sometimes when i hit on the gas, it dies...need to restart again, and took maybe about 3 times.

i haven't tried any of the recommendation mentioned before, since I don't a lot of the short terms being used (MAF, EFI, TB, etc)
Can someone explain each of the terms used?

I'm going to try turning on the A/C first.
Hope that will work.

Thanks.

[Mike Gerber]

"i haven't tried any of the recommendation mentioned before, since I don't a lot of the short terms being used (MAF, EFI, TB, etc)
Can someone explain each of the terms used?"


MAF = mass airflow sensor
EFI = electronic fuel injection
TB = throttle body (can also be used for timing belt)

Mike