Car idles high when turned on

Tiny
JLSFGA
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
I have a 1999 Toyota Camry, with about 120,000 miles on it. Every time I turn the car on regardless the temperature, it starts up idling at about at 1900 RPMs and bounces up and down from there to about 1000. It goes down when I put it into gear. Even if I drive it later in the day after I have driven it for awhile it does the same thing. What can I do?
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 AT 3:57 PM

27 Replies

Tiny
CAMRY98
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Have you fixed this problem yet? Does the car also turn off?

This video shows whats wrong and how to fix it

https://youtu.be/XMB16Gg-qNg

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Friday, October 17th, 2008 AT 11:32 PM
Tiny
JLSFGA
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No I have not. The car also does not turn off.
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Saturday, October 18th, 2008 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
RICHLADYT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 252,500 MILES
I have a 1998 Toyota Camry 252,000 miles. When I crank the car it hesitates to start, when parked it revs up to 4 or 5 RPM by itself, then has a very slow, hesitate, sluggish take off. If I come to a complete stop it shuts off I practical have to drive with both feet to keep it started and be ready to go when light changes. If I'll driving on a straight stretch it drives fine, but once I start to slow down or come to complete stop it shuts off. I've had the catalytic converter replaced & ignition throttle. Never was my problem. It also makes a loud noise that sounds like its coming from the motor, but no ones seems to know for sure. Tired of putting out money in useless places to get this vehicle repaired. Do you have any suggestions.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you have a check engine light and when was the last tune-up.

Could be the coolant temperature sensor, idle air control valve, throttle position sensor, PCV and EGR valves.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RICHLADYT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My check engine light is not on and I had a basic tune up about 2 mos. Ago. Someone suggested I may need a thorough tune up to change coil packs, could this be the problem and is it very expensive.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DUKESILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 205,000 MILES
97 Toyota Camry LE 4cyl 2.2L. First of all I am the 2nd owner of the vehicle. 1st owner took excellent care of the vehicle as do I. I have owned over year and half and have only had 1 problem ( split fuel fixture on top of fuel pump). The car has been driving excellent til 3 days ago. DAY1- ran out of gas, and tried driving it up a hill to get to gas station on other side. No probs rest of day. DAY2- drove wife to work at 6:45 am and did some light driving throughout that day. Then around 4pm I started the car and went to store when it mad weird sputter as I started it. I drove it 2 blocks to the store and it was acting like it was low on gas again so I put in $10 gasoline. When I drove it home it sputtered and loped so I immediately parked it. When I started it to try and hear any problems the idle would go up and down from 1000 to 2000 on the Tach. I also noticed a cracked air intake hose and did some research online. DAY3- I ran OBD to find only 1 code ( P0303) which is 3rd cylinder misfire. So I went to store and bought & installed brand new Air Intake hose, ThrottlePositioningSensor, Vacuum Hoses, EGR hose, and EGR valve ( EGR is the only thing I haven't installed), and 4 new Spark plugs. Everything but the EGR valve has been installed. When I start the car now it idles around 1.5-2 and if I give any gas, there's little hesitation and if I do it fast enough sometimes ill hear a pop or hiccup from engine. Not as much sputtering. But if I try and drive it, there's constant sputtering and hesitation. Plz I HAVE to get the car running asap, its how me, my wife get to work and my son get to school. I tried to be as accurate and detailed as to what probs I hear/see and what ive done to fix it. Please anyone
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,117 POSTS
Has the same trouble code come back? Since you were so low on gas, there is a change the fuel filter may be plugged. Also, many times I have seen the fuel pump go bad after running out of gas. Have you checked fuel pump pressure?

Finally, the looping or idle issue is usually caused by a bad Idle Air Control valve (IAC). Have you checked that? Have you checked for vacuum leaks?
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DUKESILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Have 3 codes P0303- misfire 3rd cylinder.P0120- TPS, but I replaced it and I tested the harness that connects to TPS with a voltmeter and it read 5V, just like the haynes manual said. And the 3rd code is a pending P0303, which I don't know what that means because I replaced the spark plugs. And about 10 months ago I had a bad (nipple) on the top of my fuel pump, so I replaced the fuel pump. How do I check the fuel pump pressure? And Ive thought about the IAC, but because its so expensive Id like to narrow it down to that before I go and but it and "hope" it works. As of now, I have replaced the air intake hose, vacuum hoses, TPS, spark plugs, and I have tested the EGR, MAP, and TPS and they all tested perfect. I also pulled the ECT while the car was running and it got worse. Plz, anymore suggestions?
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DUKESILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Also is there a way to check the (IAC) without replacing it?
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,117 POSTS
The pending 303 just indicates the code has been there. The problem is still related to the same cylinder. As far as the IAC, if you remove it and have someone cycle the key on and off, you should see the pintel move.

Since the code is still the same, you have replaced many parts including plugs, I question the following:

Plug wires
coil
fuel injector
cylinder 3 compression
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DUKESILVER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I finally got the small 1" piece of boot that was stuck on top of cylinder 1 spark plug. So I changed cylinder 1 spark plug and replaced the EGR modulator. Also noticed spark in the wires last night so I replaced the spark plug wires too. After this the car finally is back to semi-normal. There is no more loping or sputtering but the idle was still pretty high, around 2000rpm. I drove it down the block and back and it seemed to go away, however when the car is in Neutral the car idles little higher, around 1300rpm. And also if I turn the a/c on, and the car is in Neutral it will idle higher too, around 1300-1500rpm. Any suggestions on the high idle? And by the way, I really appreciate the help and suggestions, you guys have been a tremendous help and my wife and I cant thank you enough.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JON_TRU
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
My 97 camry idles really high, about 2,000 RPM. No check engine light on.I took it into a shop, they ran a diagnostic on it, nothing turned up. But they found that the spark plugs were in desperate need of being replaced, so he replaced them. The car ran fine for about 2 weeks. Now the same problem happens again. Also when I put it in park, it idles really high, so when turning the car off at high idle it runs a little then shuts off. So when trying to start it back up again, it wont right away, once it does, the car idles high, it sputters, then when I put it in gear, it shuts off, and it happens constantly. I went and bought fuel injector cleaner as well as gas treatment fluid. This was two days ago, let car run for 20 minutes, no effect. What do I do? I would appreciate your input. Thanks.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Too fast an idle speed. If an engine without computerized idle speed control is idling too fast and refuses to come down to a normal idle speed despite your best efforts to back off the carburetor idle speed screw or air bypass adjustment screw (fuel injection), air is getting past the throttle somewhere. Common leak paths include the carburetor and throttle body gaskets, carburetor insulator spacers, intake manifold gaskets, and of course, any of the engine's vacuum fittings, hoses and accessories. It is even possible that leaky O-rings around the fuel injectors are allowing air to leak past the seals. Another overlooked item can be a worn throttle shaft and a defective idle speed speed control motor/valve stuck in the extended (high idle speed) position/throttle position sensor. Also the throttle plate could be binding in its bore and kinked accelerator cable, coolant temperature sensor might not be operating properly misleading the computer that the engine is still cold and computer throwing fuel at it raising the idle speed.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,117 POSTS
Hi:
I'm glad to help. If you were seeing sparks from the plug wires, they were bad. As far as the idle, double check for vacuum leaks and again the idle air control valve.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JON_TRU
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi there, thanks for the input. Let me tell you what I have done so far. I replaced the TPS(throttle position sensor) still high idle. As well as replacing the PCV Valve, same thing still going on. I'm kind of starting to narrow it down a little, so thats good! But, I did find that what I think to believe might be doing it is the idle speed control motor/valve. The tip does not interact with the throttle, I beleive? The round thing connected to the gas pedal cable. They do not touch, it only touches when the car is off. Also I noticed that after I replaced the TPS and PCV valve, it smells pretty foul, like a rotten egg mixed with gas fumes, what can that be? I'd appreciate more input, I just wanna get the small things squared away before I move on to the big things. Thank you guys.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the TPS closed and WOT voltages
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,542 POSTS
  • 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY
Its a 2L camry when the car starts up it idle, but when u rev it up it take long to rev up or the engine stalls. We replaced the spark wires, spark plugs and new feul pump.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you have a check engine light nad last tune -up?

Clean the idle air control valve and Inspect and test the TPS and MAF sensors-to include the exhaust system for restriction, also refer to this link: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-hesitates
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MUKESHRANJAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 149,000 MILES
I have a 96 model camry that I bought when it had 96K miles on it. Now it has 149K. Sad but true, I have never serviced it. After four years of just pouring gas and timely oil change, my oldie has now started giving problems.

It tends to stall at signal. To stop it from not doing I have to put extra pressure on the gas pedal. When I park it and change the gear to "P", engine suddenly revs upto 2500 rpm. I cant see it crying so loud so I turn I off.

Well, I see that this website has lot of experts. Do you think I should go for a repair or simply see the slow death. If I go for repair, what should I be telling to the mechanic because I dont want a grocery list of items. I know it is a old vehicle and might be having 1000 of old parts in it. I want to fix only the part that will fix this problem. Everything else works great in the vehicle.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BALKY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have this exact problem with my Camry. And I have looked on this forum and found 3 others with same post. But no solid solution.

Best response I have found is it may be the distributor coil.

I replaced mine and it didn't seem to fix the problem. However, I bought a used one and didn't replace the small o-ring which is required per repair instructions. I may have replaced my problem with another problem. I don't want to go through this again if this isn't the cause of the issue.

Hopefully an answer will arise on these threads soon.
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Saturday, April 11th, 2020 AT 1:15 PM (Merged)

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