98 Camry Idling Issue

[adversecyn]

I have a 1998 Toyota Camry 4cl, automatic with 240K that has an idling issue. When I come to a complete stop, at random my car will start doing this:

You Tube

You Tube

(this is not my video, I just have the same issue) except my RPMs usually jump back and forth from 500 to 1,800. It has also happened when I am driving at very low speeds. I haven't driven on the highway since it started happening so I don't know if it would do it then. The only way to get it to stop is to turn off the car completely then restart it.

Does anybody have any idea what might be causing this?

I don't know if this also matters but it just had the valve cover gasket replaced twice prior to this incident because the first person who did it messed up.

Thank you!!!

[Mike Gerber]

Clean your throttle body using this DIY. Pay particular attention to spraying the cleaner liberally down in to the hole in the base of the throttle body that leads to the Idle Air Control Valve, where you problem may exist. They get dirty and cause problems like you are describing.

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

Mike