1999 RX300 - engine stops if i take my foot off accelerator

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P Adhia - 23 Jun 2006 21:13 GMT

Hello experts,

I cannot start my car any more. I am quite positive it's not battery,
since it's pretty new and I hear the engine cranking to start. I
noticed that engine runs if I also step on accelerator, but as soon as
I take my foot off accelerator, the engine just stops cold.

There were no prior signs of anything being wrong.

Any guesses?

Thanks

P Adhia

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Ray O - 23 Jun 2006 22:02 GMT

> Hello experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> P Adhia

It is usually more cost-effective to have your vehicle diagnosed by a
competent technician than trying guesses from strangers on the internet.
That said, I would check the idle air control valve, mass air flow sensor,
and check for cracks or holes in the intake between the mass air flow sensor
and the throttle body.

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Ray O
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P Adhia - 23 Jun 2006 23:34 GMT

> It is usually more cost-effective to have your vehicle diagnosed by a
> competent technician than trying guesses from strangers on the internet.

Point well taken. I was just looking to get my car started temporarily
so I can drive it to a mechanic, instead of having it towed.

> That said, I would check the idle air control valve, mass air flow sensor,
> and check for cracks or holes in the intake between the mass air flow sensor
> and the throttle body.

These things are already beyond my skills. But good to know, so I can
nod my head when I talk to mechanic instead of staring at him blankly

:).

I checked with one of the toyota dealer, one technician asked me to get
one of the solution that cleans fuel injection system and see if that
can get the car started just long enough for me to drive to the service
center. Do you see if this process will harm any parts of the car
anyway? Also, sorry to ask a dumb question, but is there anything
beyond adding the fuel injection cleaning solution to the gas tank?

Thanks for the response.

P Adhia

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Ray O - 24 Jun 2006 04:05 GMT

>> It is usually more cost-effective to have your vehicle diagnosed by a
>> competent technician than trying guesses from strangers on the internet.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> P Adhia

Chevron Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner is a good do-it-yourselfer product.
Follow the directions on the bottle, which in believe entails emptying the
contents of the bottle in a half-full gas tank and driving the vehicle
enough to use up the contents of the gas tank within a week. It should not
harm anything in the vehicle unless you let the stuff sit in the tank to
long, when it starts to eat hoses.

Good luck!

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Ray O
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jdoe - 23 Jun 2006 22:39 GMT

>Hello experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>There were no prior signs of anything being wrong.

I had a mitsubishi that did that, it was some solenoid that needed to
be replaced. There is no way around repairing it

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P Adhia - 23 Jun 2006 23:42 GMT

> I had a mitsubishi that did that, it was some solenoid that needed to
> be replaced. There is no way around repairing it

Thanks for the response. You are right. I was going to take it to a
mechanic anyway, but looks like I am going to have to pay the towing
company too :(

P Adhia

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P Adhia - 27 Jun 2006 22:13 GMT

> Hello experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> P Adhia

If anyone is interested:

This was caused by "dirty" fuel injection. After I poured a can of fuel
injection cleaning solution in the gas tank, I could start the car next
day. Just to be safe, I took my car to the dealer, who initially
suggested this might be cause, and had them perform the fuel injection
cleaning service.

Whew, I guess this could have been worse (though still keeping my
fingers crossed).

Thanks to everyone who responded.

P Adihia

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Ray O - 28 Jun 2006 04:32 GMT

>> Hello experts,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> P Adihia

Thank for reporting the results!

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