03 starts then dies - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

SmellyCat · 02-17-2011, 06:39 PM

Hello all! Ive had Toyovans and 2 Previa's. I have a 03 Sienna now!. Great van. Today... it starts and dies. if I press the pedal it will run. Let off the pedal it dies. Anybody got a answer? It seems weird to drive great one day .. today act up. SC

***arabianobsession*** · 02-17-2011, 07:14 PM

^so you're saying if you keep giving it gas it will stay running, and if you let off, it automatically dies?

I had this issue in my 2000 Maxima, manual transmission. As long as I kept revving it, it would run. The second I would push in the clutch, it would die. It turned out to be the MAF (mass air flow) sensor. Another guess, IAC (idle air control) valve.

By the way....Welcome to TN!

wiswind · 02-17-2011, 07:26 PM

I'm voting for the Idle Air Control valve in the throttle body.
In this picture, from my 2003 Sienna, the right hand throttle body, closest to the passenger compartment has a small hole in the bottom.
This is the air passage INTO the Idle Air Control valve......spray some fuel injector cleaner into this hole to clean out the IAC.
I vote for this because it is a very likely cause of the problem....and the easiest/cheapest to try.

Black Sunshine · 02-17-2011, 10:23 PM

I'd check the IAC, then the MAF, and possibly the throttle position sensor(TPS).

SmellyCat · 02-18-2011, 05:02 PM

Wow. how cool and easy. unhooked all the unhookies. sprayed away, then dripped some oil in it for good luck. Ran like a yugo for about 20 seconds and kept on running Waaaawhooo! Thanks everyone. I was dreading this weekend. SC

wisconsinguy · 09-27-2011, 05:04 PM

2001 Toyota Sienna would start and die and stop. Printed out the IAC (Idle Air Control) information from the website and took it to my mechanic. $60 later, Toyota Sienna start and die and stop problem was solved by cleaning the carbon.

zumvoll · 12-27-2011, 11:31 PM

My 01 Sienna was doing the same thing and I followed WisWind's guidance above about the Idle Air Control Valve. When I finally got it off, it was completely caked with carbon. A little carb cleaner and a tooth brush later and It was shinny and clean. After reassembling, the Van started on the first try like a NEW van and has been running GREAT. That was definately the problem!!!! Thanks WisWind!

bleevernHim · 03-23-2012, 08:00 PM

Ok I went to the autoparts store to buy the fuel injector spray but only found the type you pour in your gas tank during a fill up. They said I would need carb cleaner, and a MAF sensor cleaner.

In the end I purchased carb cleaner, MAF sensor cleaner, throttle body/ air intake cleaner and some fresh rags.

What should I do? No fuel injector spray. Should I just clean the TB as zumvoll said in the last post? I want to do this tomorrow before the rain comes.

Help? Thanks