Car will die once turned over in cold weather, low idle, fluctuating idle, high idle

[SubaruWRXMike]

Hey everyone, I have a few days to try to figure out the car before school starts. Here is everything that is going on with the car.

The biggest problem I encounter is when the weather is cold, and I start the car, the car turns over but immediately dies unless I rev the car and warm up the engine. Once I rev/hold the RPMs at around 2k-3k for a few minutes, the idle will drop back down to around 500 and I can drive normally. The idle stays at around 500 rpm and feels a little low. If I turn the AC on, the idle will bounce slightly below 500, to around 400 then back to 500 then to 400 and I can hear a clicking sound.

Before the 500 idle, and before I disconnected/reconnected the battery because the car sat for 2 weeks when I was on vacation, the engine would do something else. Same cold start problem but from time to time, the car would idle at around 1800-2000 rpm. If I put the car in neutral, the car idles at 1800-2000 rpm, and sometimes if I drive it for a while it will go back to normal but most of the time it idles there. If I put it in drive, the idle stays at around 1,100 and 1,200 rpm. Other times, the car would rev on its own, and fluctuate between 1200-1800 rpm and keep bouncing the needle.

I read in another forum that I frequent with someone else having the same problem, and wanted to try some things first.

http://i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224931

I was going to buy MAF cleaner but I couldn't locate the MAF sensor. Does my 1996 Camry have a MAF? If not, should I try cleaning the throttle body with throttle body/intake cleaner? In order to clean the throttle body, do I just need to disconnect the intake hose to the throttle body and spray the cleaner on? I'll read the directions on the bottle, just wanted to get an idea.

Also, the person at Advance Auto Parts took a look under the hood since he was outside helping another customer, and said I should set the idle higher by adjusting the idle screw but not sure if that's the problem. Thank you so much for any help. This forum has been so great in helping me with my problems.

[zythr]

Hey: What year is your Camry?

[SubaruWRXMike]

Originally Posted by zythr

hey: What year is your camry?

1996

[SubaruWRXMike]

Hmm read the IAC cleaning thread and would love to be that thorough but I don't have all the proper tools and a garage, I will just try running either sea foam or throttle body cleaner through and see if it helps any, but I have a feeling the IAC valve is very gunky like in those pictures and cleaners will adequately clean the grime out.

[JohnGD]

Check also the engine coolant temperature sensor (not gauge sender) and thermo-vacuum valve.

[Mike Gerber]

Yes, definitely start by cleaning the throttle body and paying particular attention to spraying the cleaner liberally down in to the hole leading to the idle air control valve, where your problem may exist. Here's a DIY tutotial with some good pictures on how to do it on the later generation 4 cylinder 5SFE engine. You don't say which engine your car has.

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

Mike

[AmericanAirFan]

Might sound like a dumb question, but are you sure you have all your vacuum lines attached? Maybe one has disconnected? When I rebuilt the engine in my car I had similar issues and it was caused due to a vacuum line slipping off the MAP sensor... Had to take it to the mechanic to figure that one out... Make sure all your vacuum lines are connected. Could be as simple as that, you never know...

[Mister_Perkins]

If you want to confirm a vacuum leak, spray some starting fluid around the throttle body. If it idles up you have a leak.

It sounds to me like the IAC is culprit. Its probably full of carbon and stuck open causing it to idle rough until its at normal operating temperature.

[coffee-3000]

Maybe the butterfly valve in the throttle body is stuck in the open position. It can never hurt to clean the throttle body. It's a simple procedure that can never hurt. If the throttle body butterfly valve is sticking in the open postion, you'll be getting too much air which would probably cause your idle to increase.

Pull off the cover to the air filter.
This will give the air intake hose some wiggle room so you can
pull it off the throttle body.
Once you see the throttle body, spray the hell out of it.
Make sure to spary the little pins of the left and the right of the butterfly valve. You need to remove any carbon build in this area.
Also spray down the little hole on the botton of the throttle body. The IAC valve is down there.
Also make sure to open the butterfly value and spray the other side.
You can have someone push the gas peddle to open it.
It's easy. Give it a try.