Drove to the park half a mile away. After a hour I come back to the car. Went to start it up (it sat for 1 hour) and it started then died about 2 seconds later. Repeated this about 3 times. On the 4th try I decided to give it some gas to see if it would keep going, engine revved but as soon as I let off car died.
Had it towed home. Sat for 1 day then tried to start it again, same thing happened except now when revving it produced a very light smoke from engine and a squealing so I let off and stopped.
Next day (2 days after problem) I hooked up a OBD reader and it said
P0135
Air Fuel Sensor 1 (Bank 1 Sensor 1) Heater Circuit Malfunction
Replace Oxygen Sensor(s) (02S)
I did not replace it yet because many readers always alert for a sensor and often times it isn’t the main problem.
Oil level fine. Coolant level fine. Gas level fine.
I tried one last time and it cranked for 5 seconds but would not turn over to start.
Car repair shop wants to charge $928 to replace Idle control valve and throttle body base gasket
Run away from this shop
That's what I thought. It appears most people can clean up their throttle body pretty good on their own and replace the Idle Control Valve and gasket pretty easily. Is there a reason to replace both throttle bodies or maybe that's just how they do it to give you news ones and also upcharge 400%?
I've never heard of two throttle bodies. What engine is this?
I don't think the O2 sensor would prevent the car from starting either.
Go ahead and clean up the throttle body and then try measuring fuel pressure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWCKvU2FmDc
There's also more no-start troubleshooting in our FAQ
That V6 was a 1MZ-FE 2 engine with one throttle body. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcdn_0eiZQY
About the 1 minute mark it shows dual. This is exactly what mine looks like. I can only assume the shop wants to physically replace both throttle bodies which I'm guessing I could clean up good and they would work just fine.
well I'll be dipped.
I can't believe it, but I have to, because I'm looking at two throttle bodies.
Anyway it looks easy enough to do. I doubt the TB's themselves need to be replaced. There's not much to break on them. If anything, it's just the idle air controllers.
I would just get in there, disassemble things, clean them up well and then put them back together, and see what happens. Don't forget to replace all the gaskets.
I honestly had no idea either until I popped the hood about a week ago. Ok, I'll clean it up, buy a new idle air controller just in case, and see if it will start driving again. Thanks!
Wow, this is a surprise. Dual throttle bodies? Owned a 2003 Avalon and cleaned the TB before giving it to a family member last fall. This video is about a 2000 model but obviously if you have 2 TBs then clean them both. The extra effort put into cleaning them will likely be well worth it as mine was slightly pitted also, but it ran as 'smooth as silk' after cleaning.
I have searched youtube and google trying to find someone with dual throttle bodies and cleaning / repairing them. I don't know if mine being an Avalon XLS makes a difference or not with single or dual throttle bodies but that is what mine is- 2003 Avalon XLS dual throttles. The only video I could find on Youtube about this was the video above. When I popped the hood to inspect I was quite surprised to see 2
Toyota obviously had different configurations for the XLS that year(mine was an XLS). Regardless those are solid cars with solid engines. I know another Avalon owner who bought 3 in succession, she got over 300K miles on all three and never had 1 single issue. Early this year she bought a Highlander but I still call her "Avalon". My old car is still running fine and it's in excellent condition. Of the 4 cars I mentioned here, there's been a total of 2 timing chains replaced. But the replacements were preventative measures. Cleaning that throttle body should significantly improve the cars performance.
**Not 300K each, but well over 300K. ~ 600K combined.
Yep.... my 04 Avalon XLS has the dual or twin throttle bodies. When I was cleaning them a couple of years ago, I was also researching about the IAC valve and found this video. Although it pertains to a 1997 Camry 4 cylinder, the throttle body and associated IAC valve matches the right throttle body on your Avalon. He demonstrates how to clean the IAC valve without removing it or the throttle body. You could try this first to see if it helps, although it may need replacing. After watching up to minute 5:45 on the video you can skip to 8:45 for further visual of the IAC valve and how it operates.
Just google: #372 Better repair method Toyota Camry idle air control valve
I'm not sure that is your problem, but you seem focused in on that at this time.
As @kon5 advised the problem could be related to a fuel pump/fuel filter issue and as @imperator advised, have the fuel pressure checked.
While you are at it (cleaning the throttle bodies and IAC valve) it would be a good time to clean the mass air flow sensor (with MAF sensor cleaner only) and also clean or replace the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve.
Also, I have seen many videos on how to clean a throttle body but when I clean mine, I used a toothbrush wrapped with a microfiber rag (single layer) and sprayed the TB cleaner onto the area of the rag where the bristles of the toothbrush are and it worked very well. It provides much better cleaning than trying to use your finger and the microfiber cloth absorbs the dissolved deposits. As that area of the cloth gets dirty you can re-position the cloth to a clean spot, spray more cleaner and go to town on it.
Sounds like a possible fuel pump/fuel filter issue. O2 sensor wont cause it to not start. Also a bad catalytic converter that blocked can cause it to not start also. I would start with the cheap route, get some throttle body cleaner open the throttle body spray it down and clean it out and see what happens.
Car repair shop wants to charge $928 to replace Idle control valve and throttle body base gasket. The car is 20 years old but I wonder if it really needs replaced or if I can replace the Idle control valve and gasket and clean the throttle body myself. Said because it's dual that makes it cost more.
Is it common to replace the entire throttle body if parts are corroded?