Camry V6 Stall/Rough Idle after starting

[Don Melcher]

My wife's 2001 Camry Solara Convertable (I posted here thinking that since there are more Camrys and the problem is likely not unique to the Solara) with a V6 & Automatic. Around 91K miles and all factory services have been performed by Toyota dealership.

It has begun running roughly after starting - either after sitting overnight OR for an hour or so. On a couple of occasions, it would quit and when restarted, would not idle properly unless the accelerator was depressed and the idle brought up to 1500 RPM or so for a breif period (30 seconds or less). The idle is at 400 RPM - which seems low to me but I am not sure what it should be and the accuracy of the tach. I plugged in a code reader and no codes came up.

I read elsewhere about a dirty idle control valve in the throttle body with essentially the same symptoms on a 1999 Camry - but it didn't state which engine.

I als had a similar rough idle problem with her previous car that was the result of an electrically actuated engine damper/mount - but that would not explain the stalling - so I DON'T think that is it and I am not sure the Camry even has one.

So - anybody experienced this or have any ideas?

[WestIndy]

Hi Don,

My wife's 98 Camry V6 with 97k miles has been having intermittent idle problems for a couple years.

Now very frequent, no stalls thankfully.

Toyota Dealer has cleaned the induction and injection systems. This did not remedy the problem.

I am looking at the EGR system myself and testing per OEM manual. Unhooked vacuum to EGR valve an 80 mile trip today in 95 degree heat and the problem went away.

Hope this helps.

[Don Melcher]

OK - my problem is ONLY at start-up. After a minute or even less the problem is gone. Is this how yours is?

Doesn't seem to matter:
if it is cold or hot outside
not been run since the day before or within the last hour.

My first thought was dirty injectors. What has me baffled is no error codes.

[WestIndy]

Hi Don,

My Camry has the idle problem after the car has been on the road a while. Runs fine at start-up.

[DFBonnett]

OP,
Not sure if your Camry has an IAC (Idle Air Cortrol) valve or not. This is a common source of this kind of problem. If it is so equipped, try hosing it out good with carb cleaner.

[Don Melcher]

Thanks -- someone else suggested that (it does have air) - now I just have to find it

[tr19688]

It is the IAC valve.

I have had exactly the same problem with my 94 camry I4 before 3-year manufacturer warranty expired. Dealer fixed it few times, blaiming bad intake valve, carbon buid up and claim cleaned carbon. Each time they tell a different story. And each time the problem came back after the repair warranty was over. So I took the mater in my own hand.

After a lot of research on internet, I found out the problem is caused by the dirty IAC valve. I sprayed carbon cleaner into the valve and fixed the problem.

Then the problem cameback after a year. And came back more frequently after each carbon clean. A more recent fix just lasted for a few days. But I'm too cheap to buy a new valve and too lazy to take out the IAC because you have to take out the intake manifold first.

Again, thanks for the information technology, I found on internet that you can take out the actuator of the IAC very easily.

After I removed the actuator, yes I can felt the stick valve. Not very bad, just enough to cause problem. I filled valve with carbon cleaner and keeps turning the the rotor back and forth especially arround the sticking position.

Problem fixed. The engine runs very smooth and the frequent lit check engine light is gone too. It has been a month still runs good.

I would like to thank for everyone who posted information and their experience on the internet. And I wanted to help others too. Here you go. I see your post and hope this will help you and others with the same problem. Please help to let as many people know this as possible. Many people paid a lot money to the dealer like I did before but can't have it fixed.

[Don Melcher]

Thanks - so I guess it is on the exhaust manifold somewhere?

Events like you experienced are the reason I coined the saying:

"If I wanted it done wrong, I would have done it myself!"

[DFBonnett]

The IAC will be on the throttle body.

[tr19688]

Now you know I am not an auto expert. You're right. It is under the throttle body.

[WolfpackRon]

This is a dated post, but where exactly is the "throttle body?" I have a 2004 4-cylinder Camry with an idle problem. I have a "vacuum hose routing" diagram posted on the inside of the hood showing a picture of the "throttle body," but I still am not sure where it is located. I do see vacuum hoses on the back of the engine near the air filter box that has a device with wires going to it. Thanks in advance, WolfpackRon.