2001 Solara RPM Fluctuation - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

toyosol2001 · 06-21-2006, 12:58 AM

Hello, I really hope you can help me - I am kind of stressing.

I have a 2001 V6 Solara with 115,000 miles and it has been giving me trouble for about 3 months now. To start with, the battery completely died one day with NO warning, NO light, NO nothing. So I had it towed to a Toyota repair shop and they replaced the battery and changed the air filter because it had never been changed. Everything was fine but then the car started to idle weird. The RPMs would fluctuation between 0 & 1 on the tac when I was sitting at a red light. Took it to the shop again and they said nothing was wrong that it was probably bad gasoline. Well tonight the RPMs started jumping again and I didn't think I was going to make it home. Would could be the issue or problem?

Thank you in advance for your help. It is a great car that has gotten me thru college and I don't want to have to sell it in order to get something dependable.

jhbhatia · 06-21-2006, 10:00 AM

You have a dependable car. Go to autozone and have them recheck your battery again. I'm presuming a bad alternator is eating away your battery juice. Meaning, you have a bad alternator, you can keep replacing your battery, but your not solving your problem.

If autozone works out great, then it could be faulty idle-sensor. could be MAF. read about them in "SEARCH".

toyosol2001 · 07-08-2006, 10:53 PM

No it is not the alternator because not battery lights are coming on. Well no idiot lights at all so the computer is not recording the problem. It could be the idle air control valve. Maybe it needs to be cleaned or replaced. Anyone with a better solution to my ongoing problem, please post a reply. Thanks a million.

mh808 · 07-09-2006, 04:29 AM

if the fluctuations only happen at idle, really sounds like a problem with your fuel system .... clogged/bad injectors, clogged fuel filter, etc. may also be the symptoms of your computer starting to fail.

as for your battery, have someone check the alternator output .. should be putting out approximately 13.7 volts. if not, your new battery will be overworked and will die on you in due time. the battery is normally used only to start the engine and once running, the alternator should be carrying the load AND recharging the battery.