Starting Problem. 97 Camry LE

Hi everyone. I just recently got a problem I had never run into before.

For the past week, every time I start up my car and its cold, it will turn and start but not rev at the correct RPMs. Usually a cold engine will rev at 2000 RPM until it gets fully warm and eventually gets down to about 600 RPM.

Now when I start it it will only rev at about 600-800 RPM for about a minute or two until it kicks up to the correct RPM. If I give it a little gas when its revving at the low speed it kicks up to the correct RPM as well.

It only does this when the engine is cold because when it has been driven recently it starts up fine.

Is there a rev limiter on the car that could be malfunctioning or does it have something to do with the temperature of the engine and not reading it properly?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You most likely have a dirty or defective idle air control valve. If it is just dirty, you can clean it yourself. With the engine off, remove the big black tubing leading to the throttle body. If you are not sure what I am talking about, do a search on this forum for "throttle body cleaning"; there should be a few posts with some pictures. Now get some spray throttle body cleaner or some oxygen sensor safe carb cleaner. Looking inside the throttle body on the bottom you will see a square or diamond shaped port. Spray the throttle body cleaner liberally into this port. This is the passage-way to the idle air control valve. Many times it get's a bit of dirt in there that hangs up a small piston. The spray should clean it out if it's only dirty. You may want to clean out the entire throttle body while you are in there with the spray cleaner. Read the cleaning article for detailed instructions. It's really very easy. When done put everything back together and start the car. It will be difficult to start but eventually will start. You may have to hold the pedal down to the floor to get it started. It will smoke a bit and run a bit rough due to this rich mixture caused by all the cleaner, but will eventually smooth itself out in a minute or two. Just keep the RPM's up a bit until it smooths out. If you have done the entire throttle body cleaning procedure, take the car for a ride for about 10 minutes. You will probably notice a smoother idle and smoother acceleration. If this doesn't cure the problem then take the car to a professional. The idle air control valve may need replacing or you may have a bad coolant temperature sensor. A professional can check these things.

Mike

Now when I start it it will only rev at about 600-800 RPM for about a minute or two until it kicks up to the correct RPM.
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The only thing I would add to Mike's answer is sometimes I've found Tri-Flow helpful.
It contains Teflon which seems to help lubricate that rotating drum inside the idle air control valve.
If you clean it and the problem returns, try the Tri-Flow to minimize sticking.