Strange Idle Speed

[terrynham]

Hi,
I have noticed over the last few months that my Camry's idle speed is very strange.......

when I stop at the lights the idle speed stays at 800rpm and you feel a strong vibration. If you wait a little while or switch into neutral, the speed will go to 1,000rpm, the vibrations lessen considerably, but after about 10seconds the idle speed returns to 800rpm and the annoying vibrations return

Also when I put the car into reverse, and move out of my driveway (i dont touch the gas pedal), the engine remains at idle (780rpm), the vibrations become extremely eratic and car is fully shaking .........feels like an earthquake or something

What could this problem be? I have heard that the Gen3 Camry has an idle problem, but i havent been able to get a clear answer about what exactly causes it........
some people have told me it might be the engine or transmission mounts, I have got them check and they are prefectly fine, I also suspect the previous owner has had whole new set of them replaced.

[Calvin327]

Try checking your ISC valve (Idle Speed Control Valve), also check your tubes under your head, check to see if your spark plugs are soaked in oil or something. If that's the case, you have a bad leak, and will require you to replace the tube seals and gasket.
By the way does it sometimes just die all of a sudden, like shut off by itself sometimes? If it does this, check your temperature sensor in your car. I have came upon problems very similar to yours. Let me know how it goes.

Calvin

[terrynham]

It hasnt died all of a sudden for me yet , I also suspected the ISC valve......ill get them to check this area at my next service.

so what did you do to fix the problem in your car?

[MenaceSQL]

Check your distributor cap + rotor and see if they're ok. Maybe check your spark plugs and wires too.

[Calvin327]

For me, it was running fine until one day it just died and when I was waiting for a parking spot. Then I immediately turn it back on and it was running normal so I didn't pay attention to it. Couple days later it did that again, and again. Then to make matters worst the idle started to go crazy. Let's say I just drove home and was about to leave again in like 5 mins, the idle speed when I turned on the car would go up to like 2000 rpm and stay there for like I don't know how long but long. If you try to put it in gear the car would shut off. When you do finally get it running and stop at a stop light it feels like the car is about to die because it is idling so low. I finally took it to toyota and they said it was the ISC, and also the tubes were soak in oil as well as the spark plugs because I was misfiring. So I got that fixed and guess what, that shit still happened. I went back to toyota and they recheck the car and finally found out that it was my temperature sensor. Replaced that and nothing ever happened again, and this was like 4 months ago. Not that long of time. Hopefully its nothing like my problem. Good Luck.

Calvin