Rough idle when starting

[20solara02]

Hi everyone,

My parents just bought a 2002 avalon. It has rough idles and almost dies, sometimes does, when first starting it. If you keep on the gas a little to keep the rpms up it will eventually hold on its own and be fine. once the car is moving it idles and runs fine. Anybody have any clues on what could be the problem?

I was going to change the spark plugs with ngk iridiums, hoping that might help, but i'm not sure if that could be causing the problems. I did pull one plug to look at it and the tip was rather white. There are no CEL on and the car runs strong. It only happens during warm up.

any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Michael

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted by 20solara02

Hi everyone,

My parents just bought a 2002 avalon. It has rough idles and almost dies, sometimes does, when first starting it. If you keep on the gas a little to keep the rpms up it will eventually hold on its own and be fine. once the car is moving it idles and runs fine. Anybody have any clues on what could be the problem?

I was going to change the spark plugs with ngk iridiums, hoping that might help, but i'm not sure if that could be causing the problems. I did pull one plug to look at it and the tip was rather white. There are no CEL on and the car runs strong. It only happens during warm up.

any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Michael

Get a manual, library or purchase, clean the AIC - air idle control motor and go from there.

[ed_camry]

I have a similar problem w/ 99 Camry. New spark plugs and new Idle motor didn't help.
Any other possibilities?

Thanks.
Ed.

[toyomoho]

Engine idles rough when cold but OK when hot.

There is a fuel enhancement system that turns on when the coolant is cold. Might be the coolant temp sensor.

[TMack409]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Engine idles rough when cold but OK when hot.

There is a fuel enhancement system that turns on when the coolant is cold. Might be the coolant temp sensor.

/\/\/\ What he said, but have you cleaned the throttle body butterfly?

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted by ed_camry

I have a similar problem w/ 99 Camry. New spark plugs and new Idle motor didn't help.
Any other possibilities?

Thanks.
Ed.

Welcome to the club. Rough idle can be AIC or dirty throttle butterfly as stated. Or could be electronic, you could have a bad coil, wire, but the infrequent shut offs? Does the engine just quit? Restart difficult?
Describe what goes on, maybe they're related.

[avalonshoe]

apart from the idle controller, check the throttle body fins, mine were stuck before due to carbon build up.

[ChiTDI]

ed and solara - what worked?

toyomoho - sorry, I misread and didn't see the cold rough idle. ETC sensor was the right call. Your input is always appreciated.

[ed_camry]

Thanks all for contributing.

I ended up at the dialership and they told me that the coolant temp sensor
had a bad spot and as temperature reached let say... 100-110 Deg., the engine would not hold the idle speed and shuts off.
That would also explain why car would not start while the engine is still worm.