Idle Problem

[olegf]

Our Lexus ES300/98 has intermittent idle problem. Once in a while engine stales immediately after it starts.

It take 5-6 tries to fully start the car.

Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.

[steviej]

with what little info that you give, it could be any number of problems.

Help us out by telling us the number of miles, has any major service been done.

As for your problems, several things to check are:

1. Is the engine getting fuel, have a garage check fuel pressure if you do not know how to do the quick check.

2. Are the cylinders getting spark....how old are the plugs, are they dirty, when where they last changed.

3. Is the engine getting air....when was the last time you changed the air filter. Is the one in there diry, clogged or just neglected.

4. Are the fuel injectors clogged, when was the last time the injectors got a good dose of a good cleaner?

5. Is the idle air control motor working properly or is it clogged with carbon.

6. Is the PCV valve clogged or crudded up.

7. Is the battery old?

8. Is the throttle body dirty or does it have a build up of carbon.

Most of all, when the car dies, is the check engine light coming on before it stalls. This could give you the code you need to find out what is failing. The sensor that elicits the stall will hold an answer.

You may have to leave with shop so that they can hook up a scan tool and read any codes on a cold startup.

steviej

[SKperformance]

if you press the gas does it keep the engine from dieing?

[olegf]

Thank you very much for quick replies.

I own this car for 3 month and it has 85,000 miles on it.

Service record indicates air filter was cleaned 7 month ago.

Battery is new, and car does not have other (visible) problems.

Cold startup problem occurred 3 times.

Answering question from skperformance:

“if you press the gas does it keep the engine from dieing?”

- Yes, If I press gas, it keeps engine from dieing.

I’ll make sure to go through all the checks posted by steviej .

[olegf]

Seems as problem fixed after my mechanic cleaned throttle body and injector.

It's already 3 weeks I do not have problem starting the car.

Thank you all for your advise.

Now it's a new problem :-(

"Check engine" light is on. I checked the gas tank cap, it's

tight.

My mechanic read error code - PO135 "HO2S Heater Circut

Malfunction, Bank 1 Sensor 1". It's $160 sensor + labor.

I wander if readings on non-Lexus equipment can be trusted or I need to go to Lexus dealer for diagnostics?

[steviej]

without telling your mechainc about the check engine light, ask him/her to show you what he cleaned the throttle body with. Tell hime you want to know so you can pick some up and have on hand. When he shows you the can of carberator cleaner, read the can thoroughly and see if it says "Safe For O2 Sensors" anywhere on it.

I'll wage a bet that the mechanic used regular everyday "GUNK" carberator cleaner on your throttle body and it wiped out one of your O2 sensors.

If the cleaner did not say safe for o2 sensors, then tell you mechanic about the check engine light and ask him to replace the O2 sensor he damaged.

If the cleaner was safe for O2 sensors, then you may just have a sensor that has crapped out. It happens and they are expensive.

Be careful of the $30 Bosch sensors at Autozone, sometimes they don't fit or don't clear the codes.

steviej