3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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I searched and went through 3 or 4 pages but couldn't find anyone with the same problem.
If its cold, it starts up fine. If you drive it, shut it off, and immediately re-start it, it will start fine. But if you drive it, stop for 5-15min then try to start it, it wont. It cranks, but it wont start unless you push the throttle just a tiny bit, then it will start and run fine thereafter. For clarification it will also start if you give it alot of throttle, but it only needs a tiny bit for it to start.
It's 98 Camry, 2.2, it has 205k on it. Plugs have 10k on them and the wires about 30k, timing belt and water pump about 20k... not that it matters because its been doing this as long as I've had it, but it has gotten a bit worse lately (perhaps the 90+ heat for the last 3 weeks?). Lately, on our hottest days (100+) it will sometimes do this even if its been sitting for hours. Again just a bit of throttle is all it takes to start it, and everything is fine from then.
First guess would be Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor is reading too cold, so it's trying to start with too rich of a mixture (giving it throttle gives it enough air to lean out and start). Easy to check -- next time she won't start, pull off the ECT connector (green two-wire connector up near the coolant outlet -- near where the driver's side radiator hose connects to the engine). Pulling the ECT causes the engine computer to fail-safe to "warmed up", so it should start if the ECT is the issue.
I was thinking the throttle body/IAC myself and your suggestion of the ECT being bad sounds spot on as well. I think i will go ahead and clean the IAC but if it wont start between now and then (or after) i will check the ECT sensor as you have suggested.
I forgot to mention something that could be an indication of something, as well. Sometimes i will fill up with regular at one station, drive 90% highway and get 28-29mpg. Sometimes i fill up at the same station, drive the same way, on the same roads, and get 32 mpg. Could this indicate wether it is ECT sensor or IAC?
Also i would like to thank and praise the people here, for keeping my 98 Camry and my 79/80/81 toyota truck running.
Sometimes i will fill up with regular at one station, drive 90% highway and get 28-29mpg. Sometimes i fill up at the same station, drive the same way, on the same roads, and get 32 mpg. Could this indicate wether it is ECT sensor or IAC?
IAC generally won't cause any symptoms at highway speeds -- the main throttle opening is so much larger than the IAC bypass, so that the IAC really doesn't come into play.
OTOH, the ECT indicating too cold (which is consistent with your hard start when warmed up) will cause the computer to bias the calculated fuel charge towards the "rich" end (causing gas mileage to go down). Even if that were the case, I'd expect the feedback from the oxygen sensors to trim that back. Possible, I suppose, that the ECT is reading so cold that the computer never goes closed-loop and so just ignores the oxygen sensors. If it's the ECT, it's only sorta-kinda bad, since a really duff ECT will trigger a P0115 or P0116 code, and you haven't mentioned your check-engine light being on.
Last edited by hill8570; 07-26-2011 at 11:29 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to hill8570 For This Useful Post:
I got lucky today though, if you can call it lucky. Since it doesn't do it every time, I worried that I would have a hard time getting it to happen, haha. But no, the wife drove it today, came home, I waited 15min and went and tried to start it. No go. I unplugged the the ECT like you said and still nothing. Gave it a bit of throttle though and it started.
Going to get some gaskets and sea foam tomorrow. Even if that doesn't fix it, it wont hurt - I'm sure its dirty in there.
Cleaned the IAC today. It was very cruddy, not sure if it was stuck because I hosed it with Deep Creep before I got it off. It wasn't stuck after that, though - hooked it to a battery and it did as it should. Don't know if it fixed the problem, wont know for awhile since it didn't do it all the time anyway.
But I already noticed one difference - when I started it the one time while it was hot, it started at 1200rpm and then slowed it down to normal. Before it'd just start and stay at the normal RPM (when it'd start, that is)
Them screws had to come off with vise grips. Replaced with M5x.08 bolts. I could only find 12mm long and 20mm long though, so I bought 20mm and cut them to length.
Also sea-foamed engine while I had that intake hose off (used the spray can into the throttle body method that's on their website)
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82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
Cleaned the IAC today. It was very cruddy, not sure if it was stuck because I hosed it with Deep Creep before I got it off. It wasn't stuck after that, though - hooked it to a battery and it did as it should. Don't know if it fixed the problem, wont know for awhile since it didn't do it all the time anyway.
But I already noticed one difference - when I started it the one time while it was hot, it started at 1200rpm and then slowed it down to normal. Before it'd just start and stay at the normal RPM (when it'd start, that is)
Them screws had to come off with vise grips. Replaced with M5x.08 bolts. I could only find 12mm long and 20mm long though, so I bought 20mm and cut them to length.
Also sea-foamed engine while I had that intake hose off (used the spray can into the throttle body method that's on their website)
That gasket is fer the V6.
Do a follow up if it does/doesn't do it again. Thanks!
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1998 T-100 SR5 2WD auto, Roadmaster Active Suspension, 6½" dropped front air dam, 4½" drop full belly pan, 4° rear diffuser, 11" side skirts, oil catch jar, AC mod, aero cap, 67% grill block = 26mpg highway!
Quote:
Originally Posted by n c t t o r a
You have used a censored word. Please remove this word.
Funny it shows that gasket even when I specifically selected the 2.2 4cyl.
Anybody need a IAC gasket for their V6? Shoot me a PM with your address and I'll throw it in an envelope and send it your way. It's opened but new.
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82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
Sweet, I'll be needing one soon. PM coming your way! Thanks.
Got you PM. Will stick it in the mailbox tomorrow.
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82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
The Following User Says Thank You to bolink654 For This Useful Post:
Just wanted to do a follow up and let everyone know that it has not done this anymore.
And It also fixed a problem that I wasn't trying to fix - The gas pedal would sometimes stick in the up position. Cleaning the throttle body appears to have fixed that.
Wondering if a squirt of deep creep into that IACV at every oil change would hurt? And of course some maintenance cleaning on the throttle body.
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82 Toyota Pickup, 22r, 5spd 4wd, Detroit locker, Warn 8274
1998 Toyota Camry - 5S-FE, Auto - 205k
82 Toyota pickup - 20r, 5spd, 4wd - SOLD
Just wanted to do a follow up and let everyone know that it has not done this anymore.
And It also fixed a problem that I wasn't trying to fix - The gas pedal would sometimes stick in the up position. Cleaning the throttle body appears to have fixed that.
Wondering if a squirt of deep creep into that IACV at every oil change would hurt? And of course some maintenance cleaning on the throttle body.
Glad to hear you got 'er fixed! Don't know about every oil change, but I give my IAC and TB a can of TB cleaner every air filter change (roughly every 15K miles). Doesn't seem to get all that gunky in between cleanings.
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98 wont start hot unless given a bit of throttle
1999 Toyota Avalon
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