Engine stopped while a in red light - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Dhanu · 12-10-2010, 02:19 PM

Hi,
Few week ago when I took my 2000 Avalon XLS for an oil change dealer informed me that there's a very small transmission oil leak.
Yesterday while I was stopped in a red light my 'Check oil' and 'Check battery' lights came on and the engine stopped. But I was able to start the car again and came home. Few hours after I got home I checked the transmission fluid level ( there are only two dip sticks right? for engine oil and trans oil?) while the engine was cold and it looks like it has enough trans oil in it.
Anyone has any idea on what went wrong?
Thanks.

brainpause · 12-10-2010, 08:13 PM

Don't know why the engine died, but I bet the check oil and check battery lights came on BECAUSE the engine died.

has it happened again?

it will be difficult to tell if it is a rare occurrence.

Larry

Dhanu · 12-10-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainpause

Don't know why the engine died, but I bet the check oil and check battery lights came on BECAUSE the engine died.
has it happened again?
it will be difficult to tell if it is a rare occurrence.
Larry

Thanks for the reply :-)
Nop, It didn't happen again. I was just wondering if it has anything to do with trans oil

Tech1984 · 12-10-2010, 08:27 PM

The trans stick is on the drivers side. The engine should be running while checking this fluid level.
The engine oil stick is on the pass side. Engine not on for that.
Is this a high mileage car, D? What comes to my mind instantly about your car is the IAC (idle air control) valve. It controls the idle speed. Commonly they fail in high milage.
Fluids don't seem too important at this time. It was just in for service, right?

Dhanu · 12-10-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech1984

The trans stick is on the drivers side. The engine should be running while checking this fluid level.
The engine oil stick is on the pass side. Engine not on for that.
Is this a high mileage car, D? What comes to my mind instantly about your car is the IAC (idle air control) valve. It controls the idle speed. Commonly they fail in high milage.
Fluids don't seem too important at this time. It was just in for service, right?

Yes, currently it's around 135,000 miles.
I think the service was about 2 months back.

Tech1984 · 12-10-2010, 08:39 PM

Fine, not to worry then. Watch the rpm gauge and let us know when you see lower than normal engine rpm's. Like just 2 lines from the bottom.
When cold, it should flare up to around 1500 and settle down to 700 when warm and in gear.
This sounds like your Toyota is might be telling you something, and I'm thinking the IAC is starting to go bad.
The worst that will happen is what you already experienced.

ChiTDI · 12-15-2010, 08:55 AM

Symptoms sound similar to me, as does the mileage.
I replaced the IAC as tech said, and symptoms disappeared. The IAC motor/sensor failed on the electronic side, not the mechanical, so all the cleaning in the world wouldn't have done any good. It also threw no codes. Tough to diagnose.

eurobob1978 · 04-01-2011, 03:26 PM

Mine did the same thing. MAF was the problem. Had a cel on with a fuel trim lean code. Replaced the MAF and no issues.

***Tom in Tacoma*** · 04-01-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurobob1978

Mine did the same thing. MAF was the problem. Had a cel on with a fuel trim lean code. Replaced the MAF and no issues.

I don't think this is the same. Dhanu didn't report a CEL - it just stalled and was restarted without issue.

eurobob1978 · 04-01-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom in Tacoma

I don't think this is the same. Dhanu didn't report a CEL - it just stalled and was restarted without issue.

mine stalled and restarted as well without issue. Did you have any input to help the problem, or just want to nitpick because you're a moderator?

***Tom in Tacoma*** · 04-01-2011, 10:41 PM

Wow. Not sure how but it seems I must have upset you somehow. I thought I was being helpful by pointing out the lack of the CEL.

I'll let you to take care of it from here...

eurobob1978 · 04-01-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom in Tacoma

Wow. Not sure how but it seems I must have upset you somehow. I thought I was being helpful by pointing out the lack of the CEL.

I'll let you to take care of it from here...

I don't understand how you discounting a possible solution to a very similar problem is helpful. It doesn't upset me at all. I don't have the stalling issue pulling up to or stopping at a red light at all anymore after the part I fixed. It just gets a bit funny/annoying to hear people on forums chirp in with no information, bad information, or irrelevant blather. Let me know or better yet let Dhanu know if you have a solution. Maybe just post another useless post on my post.

brainpause · 04-02-2011, 05:40 AM

<chirp on>
Seemed like good information to me, since having or not having CEL could be a significant difference, even though symptoms are very similar.
<chirp off>

avalonshoe · 04-03-2011, 03:30 AM

My engine cut off while at a stop light back in nov. First time in over 165k mile. Just restarted it and it hasn't happened since. It could be any of the above

I did have the idle motor cleaned out around 130k.

eurobob1978 · 04-04-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainpause

<chirp on>
Seemed like good information to me, since having or not having CEL could be a significant difference, even though symptoms are very similar.
<chirp off>

So no information is better than something to look into? You people are a joke. That's why I hate getting onto a forum to research a problem. And so you can <chirp in> next time with this, my avalon stalled at red lights with and without the CEL on. The CEL went off after a while and the car still ran subpar making it tougher to find.