1994 Camry 4Cyl won't stay running for first 90 seconds - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Microman · 01-22-2008, 07:37 AM

This car runs great. Only problem is when it sits all night, or I come home from work in the afternoon, and start it up, it will not stay idling without the gas being depressed. If I lift off the gas to put the foot on the brake it will stall. If I use two feet to keep it going (One on the gas, and one on the brake) , I can get it out of the drive way, and by the first stop it stays running, and is perfect.

Guy at one shop had me clean throttle body entrance, and remove that device below the throttle body with two screws. Had a little nub inside that would turn clockwise, and seemed to be tacky substance on with two screws.

Did that, but havent deteremined if that helped yet.

What would cause this 94 Toyota Camry with 4 Cyl to not stay running during first 90 seconds?

Thanks.

Kep · 01-22-2008, 11:21 AM

Between the throttlebody and the firewall is the EGR valve. Clean that. Also, when you remove it look down the tube that it is mounted on and make sure that it is not completely blocked.

Kep

yoheidiho · 01-22-2008, 04:04 PM

I've had that problem off and on for the past few years. I've just lived with it. It happens mostly in the winter when it is cold.

jsroller · 01-22-2008, 09:09 PM

check the coolant temp sensor, it controls the idle when it is cold.

jesstutoyota · 08-29-2008, 03:19 AM

It just started, but it has happened before earlier in the year.
I drove the car home with no trouble. Had to re-park it so I went to start it and couldn't get it out of Park before the car would die. Tried starting it, pressing gas, kept it going, tried to pull out of park but still wouldn't budge. If I don't press the gas constantly it will stall.
Not sure what to do, just had a ton of things replaced ($1000 of work) 2 months ago.

Mike Gerber · 08-30-2008, 12:14 PM

In the future it would be best to include the mileage on your car and what "specific things were recently replaced". That said, assuming that your car runs fine when it is warm, then most likely it's one of the 2 things mentioned above. First I would check the engine coolant temperature sensor. It's the one under the green plastic connector. Toyota calls this the ECT sensor in their manuals. It may be out of range and may not be telling the computer the engine is cold. You will need a digital volt/ohmeter and the specs from any manual for this test. The second thing is a dirty idle air control valve. You will need to clean the throttle throttle body paying particular attention to spraying the cleaner liberally in the square or diamond shaped port at the base of the throttle body. That port leads to the idle air control valve. Spray the cleaner in to that valve and then go on to clean the rest of the throttle body while you are in there, as the cleaner soaks in to the idle air control valve. Then put everything back together and start the car. It will be difficult to restart but it will eventually start. Take it for a 10 minute ride to run all of the cleaner out of the system. There are a few good threads on this subject, some with pictures, so do a search for "throttle body cleaning."

Mike

Microman · 09-01-2008, 04:58 PM

My 94 Camry (Daughters actually) does not do this any longer. I start it when its cold or hot, and it stays running.

The only thing I did and it did not fix it a couple of months ago, was to pull out the Idle Control Valve thingy, or what I was told would cause that symptom. Located on the Carb towards bottom on the drivers side. Cleaned, and now better after months of driving.