cold start issue any input/advice/suggestions would be appreciated..

[xxpanipuri]

I have a 2000 camry LE v6 with 147k miles on the clock i bought her new with 200 miles.

anyways i was leaving work yesterday and i started her up (she'd been sittin in the lot all day so the engine was cold)

so normally i start the car up when its cold and she revs a bit high until the engine warms up then the revs drop to between 600-1000 and all is well...

but yesterday i started her up cold and she dropped down to 0rpm and stalled
and kept doing that even though i had kept it reving at 2500 rpm for a few mins then put her into reverse...and i pulled her out of the spot and she stalled again

got her started revved to 2500 rpm again let off the throttle and threw her into drive and was fine till i slowed down to pull out of the lot into the main road and she stalled again...

then i started her backup and got on the main road drove for about 1/2 mile at 50mph and then stopped at a light and she was fine....and then she ran fine and started fine this morning too

now this happened once last saturday...

i change the oil every 5k miles (synthetic)
just replaced the fuel filter and plugs
going to recharge my air filter (Which i did when i replace the plugs about 10k miles ago)
and clean the throttle body tonight


now i have aproblem on warm starts when i start the car and it drops down to 300 rpm and if i put her into gear she stalls.....so before i put her into gear i rev her to 2500 rpm and she's fine...

i read some posts regarding a coolant temp sensor and a Idle Air control valve

i'm going to do some reading in my manual tonight about these two.

but any other suggestions and has anyone else had any issues like this??

i also put some berryman's in the fuel tank which i do once every month or 2...

any other suggestions/ideas would be helpful

no check engine light either yet!! but i'm going to still hook up my obd 2 reader to see if she's throwing out any codes...

thanks in advance!

[BlackCamSe]

IAC or idle are control valves are a commen problem on the 5-SFE engine or the i4 because of where they are possissioned on the botom of the intake manafold. Also check your fuel pump and fuel pressure and fule trim.

[xxpanipuri]

should i clean/lubricate it the IAC or just replace it??

[xxpanipuri]

i think i'm going to take the throttle body out and the IAC

replace both gaskets and clean both when they are out of the car and then replace em!

can't hurt right....

[BlackCamSe]

Just make sure the cleaner you use is safe for sensors. It should say it on the can.

[xxpanipuri]

Originally Posted by Camralon2343

Just make sure the cleaner you use is safe for sensors. It should say it on the can.

throttle body cleaner should be safe for sensors right?? i'll check into it!

[97&02camryleI4]

I had the same problems but my car only stalled during cold starts. I just replaced the IACV today and now my car idles at near 2000 rpm cold start. I have been starting the car with my foot on the throttle every morning for the past year and had enough of it so I finally replaced it. Be careful of the mounting screws for the IACV to the throttle body. They are very soft and strip easily. I had to use vise grips on two of those screws in order to get them off and had to buy new ones at $1.30 each. The IACV cost $230 and also there's a IACV gasket that is needed which costs around $6. Look for deals from your Toyota parts dealer because they gave me a 20% discount. Good luck.

[xxpanipuri]

Originally Posted by 97&02camryleI4

I had the same problems but my car only stalled during cold starts. I just replaced the IACV today and now my car idles at near 2000 rpm cold start. I have been starting the car with my foot on the throttle every morning for the past year and had enough of it so I finally replaced it. Be careful of the mounting screws for the IACV to the throttle body. They are very soft and strip easily. I had to use vise grips on two of those screws in order to get them off and had to buy new ones at $1.30 each. The IACV cost $230 and also there's a IACV gasket that is needed which costs around $6. Look for deals from your Toyota parts dealer because they gave me a 20% discount. Good luck.

i'm going to take it apart this weekend.

but first i'll try to just clean it and put it back

if the problem continues then i'll replace it..

thanks for the update

[TeddyD]

My 2000 camry had the same symptoms of which you speak. At first, once in a while, when I tried to start the 2.2L 4-cyl, the engine would barely catch, cough a bit, sputter and die out. Upon second try, the engine would start OK. As time went on, the engine would do this every time I tried to start it. In desperation, I checked everything I could get my hands (or meter) on. Oxygen sensors, temperature sensors .... no relief. I then decided to clean the IAC valve with some Gum Out carburator cleaner. Just like magic, the problem immediately was resolved. The procedure is really simple and the IAC valve is easily accessible through the opening of the throttle body. A few squirts and the problem was solved. Since the IAC influences idle speed, that might be a good place for you to start. Since the procedure is so simple (just Google "cleaning Camry IAC valve" and you can get simple instructions), you may want to give it a try.