Car starts then stalls... please help

[Camry LE 94]

It was running fine all day. I delivered pizza 4-11. Went to start it again about 20 minutes after I got home and it just stalls and wont stay on. The plugs are new, the wires are fairly new... I don't know what it could be. Thanks.

UPDATE:

After sitting over-night, I attempted to start the car this morning and it started right up! It did not stall this time. I also sprayed some Deep Creep down the IAC hole in the TB to see if there were any effects afterward. So, I was running the car for several hours last night, turning it on and off.
I go to start it again for the however many-eth times, and it stalls and wont start. The car sits overnight, and it starts right back up in the morning.

Does anyone have any ideas on this? Thanks.

[Nervous]

Engine is 5sfe (4cyl, 2.2L) I assume?
So, it starts, but stalls? How fast it stalls?
Actually, it can be anything. It can be water in the tank, for example (put some alcohol and top off the fuel tank). Can be bad fuel pump. Can be clogged fuel filter. Can be bad ignition (wires, ignitor, probably distributor). Can be bad timing. I bet this is not a complete list of possible reasons.

[toyotatech671]

you may want to try to clean your idle air control valve, may be sticky. when you start it give it a quick rev when it starts and if it stays running after that you know it will be a sticky iac valve. hope this helps.

[Camry LE 94]

Originally Posted by Nervous

Engine is 5sfe (4cyl, 2.2L) I assume?
So, it starts, but stalls? How fast it stalls?
Actually, it can be anything. It can be water in the tank, for example (put some alcohol and top off the fuel tank). Can be bad fuel pump. Can be clogged fuel filter. Can be bad ignition (wires, ignitor, probably distributor). Can be bad timing. I bet this is not a complete list of possible reasons.

It runs for a split second then stalls. If I go to start it again right away, it doesn't even run. The fuel filter is fairly new and as for the timing, I'm having that done pretty soon because of a noise coming from the timing belt area. I don't know how to make sure it's not the fuel pump. What kind of alcohol should I use and where can I get some?

[Camry LE 94]

Originally Posted by toyotatech671

you may want to try to clean your idle air control valve, may be sticky. when you start it give it a quick rev when it starts and if it stays running after that you know it will be a sticky iac valve. hope this helps.

The IAC is under the TB on the driver-side correct? Yeah, if I start it and keep on the gas, the vehicle still runs and will not stall.

[toyotatech671]

yeah you have a sticky IAC valve, carbon build up. 2 ways of cleaning it. quick way may work by removing intake boot and spraying carb spray inside where the valve is or remove the tbody. if you remove the tbody you will need to remove boot, throttle cables 2 of em and electrical connectors, remove four 12 mm bolts 3 hoses that connect to IAC valve, 2 coolant 1 air. then remove IAC valve from tbody and will expose the door that controls air volume. 1st before you do this make sure you get a new rubber gasket that goes between IAC and tbody. cheap part. second once the IAC valve is removed from tbody get some carb spray or something that will eat the carbon build up and scrub it with a toothbrush- non metal. clean your tbody inside also and pull the EFI fuse to reset the ECM so it will reset the computer(ECM). p.s try not round the head of the phillips screws that connects the IAC valve to the tbody.

[Camry LE 94]

Can I get this gasket at Auto Zone or Advance Auto? Or is it dealer only?

I called the dealer and they said it's an o ring? If that's the one, they don't have it. They said Toyota did away with it?

[Camry LE 94]

UPDATE:

After sitting over-night, I attempted to start the car this morning and it started right up! It did not stall this time. I also sprayed some Deep Creep down the IAC hole in the TB to see if there were any effects afterward. So, I was running the car for several hours last night, turning it on and off.
I go to start it again for the however many-eth times, and it stalls and wont start. The car sits overnight, and it starts right back up in the morning.

Does anyone have any ideas on this? Thanks.

[Mike Gerber]

Clean the throttle body/idle air control valve as toyotatech671 suggested. Here's a link to a DIY on how to do it. It's for the later generation 5SFE engine, but everything should be the same. Pay particular attention to spraying the cleaner liberally down in to the port lead to the idle air control valve. Let it soak for 15 or 20 minutes while you go on to clean the rest of the throttle body:

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

If that doesn't solve the problem, I would next check your coil (inside the distributor) for being out of range and for for hairline cracks. You will need a digital volt/ohmeter to so this and the specs from any manual. If you don't have a manual you can download one for free at the top of the Camry forum over at AutomotiveForums.com. Download the generation 3 manual.

Mike

[Owner_of_2_Camrys]

Inspect the Ignition Rotor. How does the copper look?? If it looks as worn as mine was, then it might be the cause of your troubles. It's only a $4 piece at autozone.

[toovira]

Any engine error code? Put the car in diagnostic mode, start the engine......then read the error code.

[Camry LE 94]

Originally Posted by toovira

Any engine error code? Put the car in diagnostic mode, start the engine......then read the error code.

I'm not sure because my CEL has been on for a while now due to the Shift Solenoid "E". I had to leave my car and go on my Annual Training with the Navy so I wont be able to check until I get back. I'm also not sure what you mean by diagnostic mode.

[Mike Gerber]

If the car is a 94 5SFE (like in your screen name) you can use a paperclip or a piece of wire to check the codes. You will need the codes from any manual. If you dont have one, you can download one for free at the top of the Camry forum, over at AutomotiveForums.com. Download the generation 3 manual. It will have the procedure and what the codes mean. If it is a 96 5SFE engine, then it's OBDII, so you will need a code reader to get the codes. Autozone and many other suto parts stores will read the OBDII codes for you for free. Call around to auto parts stores in your area and ask if they offer this free service.

Mike

[Camry LE 94]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

If the car is a 94 5SFE (like in your screan name) you can use a paperclip or a piece of wire to check the codes. You will need the codes from any manual. If you dont have one, you can download one for free at the top of the Camry forum, over at AutomotiveForums.com. Download the generation 3 manual. It will have the procedure and what the codes mean. If it is a 96 5SFE engine, then it's OBDII, so you will need a code reader to get the codes. Autozone and many other suto parts stores will read the OBDII codes for you for free. Call around to auto parts stores in your area and ask if they offer this free service.

Mike

It's the 96 5SFE... I just never made another account after my 94 LE died because I wanted to keep the original. And yes I was confused because he told me to put the car in diagnostic mode, but I know the '96+ codes are read by the OBDII reader. What I was telling him is that the CEL has been on for a long time now due to the Shift Solenoid "E" error, so if it threw a new code is beyond me. I will be checking it out however when I get back home in 2 weeks. Thanks.

[chimivee]

Did you ever resolve this? Were you able to find the IACV to throttle body o-ring? My GF just called me, explaining similar symptoms with her 93. I don't know anything about Toyotas, but am going to start troubleshooting...

James