Rx300 won't idle

[wjones885]

I have a 1999 Lexus RX300 with approximately 160,000 miles. In the recent past, on occasion, after starting the car, it would refuse to idle. After warming up it would be ok. Today, I started the car and it again refused to idle. I can keep the accelerator slightly depressed while my foot is on the brake and put the car in gear and it runs fine....as long as the accelerator is depressed. Any time I take my foot off of the accelerator, it dies - including when I am driving down the highway at 60 mph - foot off the accelerator, it dies. It now will not behave even after the car is warmed up.

There is NO check engine light on. Again, car runs fine, but will absolutely not idle.

Any ideas? Thanks for any input you can give.

[Eddie]

Idle air control valve

[wjones885]

Thank you for your response.

Is this a difficult item to replace? Do it yourself? Cost?

Any possibility of this is something as simple as a dirty throttle body?

Thanks again

[Eddie]

A little tight,but if you're mechanically inclined you can replace it yourself.
Don't know the cost,I just replace the parts,my service writers are in charge of pricing
You can try cleaning the throttle body first,but it would have to be very dirty to cause the vehicle not to idle.

[wjones885]

Just to close the loop on this. Since I had to go out of town and was tight on time, I took the car to a local mechanic. Turned out that all it needed was a throttle body cleaning.

Thanks for the input.

[Eddie]

Looks like you saved some $,good job

[soraya]

In keeping with the current topic: I have a RX 300 with 65K and about 2 to 3K miles ago it started to idle with a rumbling noise every 15 to 30 seconds. The tachometer does not show any movement during the brief rumbling; it just makes a slight rumbling noise for 2 seconds then goes back to a normal idle. I would swear the car 'lurches" at slower speeds, but I am not sure if it has always driven the same way.

I figured one of you "auto guru guys" have come across this conditon before. I'm at a complete disadvantge being a woman with no skill in these matters further complicated by the fact that this is my first Lexus. Soraya

[moya]

I'm having same idling problem. Can someone please send me a picture of idle air control valve, so I can see what I'm looking for or let me know where to look.
Also someone let me know that it could be the M.A.S ( mass air sensor). That it should be cleaned. Has anyone heard of this. Thanks, MOYA

[moya]

I cleaned the MAF sensor this morning and it's idling fine know. Got the info from Lexus Owners Club - The Lexus Community click UK home tab then knowledge tab then rx300 tab and go from there, has pics and very helpful info.
MOYA