chuck99

I have a 99 rx300 AWD and i am having staring issues. Primarily on cold starts and when engine is being started after a long period of time the engine will not start. What happens is the first time the key is turned the engine turns over gets to about 1000 RPM and dies. Then you have to pull the key out completely and put it back in. Once its in you have to hold the gas once the engine has turned over. You have to hold the gas otherwise it'll die. You have to repeat this process about 3-4 times in order for the engine to stay on by itself and do it's normal thang. i am very frustrated with this issue and i can not seem to solve the problem. The dealer nor local shops give me a solid answer. If anyone can give me some advice of what to do or what they think it is would be great.

Thanks,
Chuck

chuck99

p.s. it has about 77k miles on it.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

I have a problem on my 99 RX300 (70,000 miles) with the car stalling when starting or when taking off from a start. The dealer diagnosed the problem as an air handler motor/valve assembly and charged $600 to replace it. Anybody have a similar experience and does this repair sound right - the car is still behaving a little strange (different - I think they increased the idle speed) but the problem wasn't consistent so I may have to wait a day or so to reproduce it.

Thanks

Keith

HarrierAWD

I am guessing the fuel pump relay.

Try this for your next cold start: Turn the key to "run" but don't start the engine. Wait a few seconds, then turn to "start." Don't step on gas. If the engine starts, then it's the fuel pump relay. Otherwise I have no clue.

RXSF

Sorry for bringing back this old thead. My friend who has a 99 Rx is experiencing the same problem.

RXSF

after additional research, the concensus seems to be that its the IACV that needs to be cleaned. Do mechanics to this regularly?

99rx

iTrader: (6)

If i may also add, i have seen many a car start and stop for an immobilizer issue. So make sure you are unlocking the car with a master key and with the remote unlock buttons. Just my 2cents. It could be something completely different.

carguy07

Yep, common problem on lots of cars.

rfakinbile

After initial start, can you raise the car to higher RPM? If no then you could check the air flowmeter on top of the air cleaner otherwise cleaning the IACV could do the magic.
Other things to check is the fuel pump if stalling or jerking. Dirty injector nozzles could also cause the problem.
For Chuk, clean IACV followed by injector nozzles if the first does not solve the problem.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

After over $800 spent on my original problem (see post 3) it turned out to be a $25 throttle position sensor. Yes, I threw a fit at them!

minhblvd

I have a 2000 model (RX300, 4wd) ~100k miles. The idle is really low after started. However, if I turn on the air conditioner and run for awhile, the idle gets higher and engine stays on. I have not tried the suggested fixes above yet (don't know much about car). Do you have suggestions / pictures of where things are? Thanks.

salimshah

Look for IACV with search or in the sticky DIY.

There may be other source of problem(s) too, but IACV is the most likely. If you are not handy with tools, undoing the phillips screws is not easy.

Salim

anbfit

Dec. 2010 Reply to ALL the above:

Had same problems listed above with my car when I bought it. I have a 99', 175k miles.

Cleaned MAF sensor in the Air Filter; replaced O2 sensor; cleaned throttle body and IACV; bought new seals; replaced spark plugs and seals; then replaced exhaust manifold seals.
Car ran EXCELLENT afterward and it only took me four times to tear it apart and figured out it was the last three steps I needed before it would finally work correctly.
In other words, it turned out to be the O2 sensor and spark plugs.
Word of advice, mark all wires (especially ground), with a color coded system and take pictures of each step BEFORE taking the part or parts off.
If you have large arms and hands, leave this WHOLE thing to to some fly by night mechanic willing to come to your house because it's HARD work!

You need to have small arms and hands to do all of this without having to remove more than you're willing to remove.