2001 Toyota sienna starting problem

I have recently noticed when I start my van, it takes a few moments before it begins to idol normal. Is seems that it could die due not getting enough gas and air? I have to apply gas just to keep it started and stop it from dying.

Heard about two possible problems? The oxygen sensor? the air to fuel ratio sensor, or a clogged fuel injector.

Just a month ago I had the fuel injector serviced and that is when problem got much worse.

Any advice is appreciated, cant afford to misdiagnose problem.

I guess you would say if you had a “check engine light”

Monkey72… I would first check the Idle Air Control… (IAC). :Your description is exactly what a dirty or malfunctioning IAC indicates.

I don;t have any advice, however my Sienna has a similar problem.

It’s a 2001 XLE with about 125K miles on it. When the engine is started, if the key is not held long enough so that the engine RPMs go past approx. 1000 - 1500, then the engine will die as soon as the key is released. Once this happens, when I try to restart the engine it will die as soon as the key is released even if I rev the engine so the RPMs go to 2000 or 3000 RPM. To get past the problem, I have to keep the gas pedal pressed to hold the RPM at approx. 2000 for a minute or two. Or, I have to keep the gas pedal pressed for approx. 1000 or 1500 rpm while shifting into gear. If there is a load on the engine, there does not seem to be a problem.

The problem is intermitant and does not seem to happen if the key is held long enough in the start position so that the engine can rev up past 1000 - 1500 RPM.

It definetly seems like a fuel releated problem, as if the engine gets flooded when started and then has a hard time of clearing out the excess fuel. After the engine has been run for a while at higher RPMs or with a load, what ever the problem was gets cleared out and the engine runs normally.

This problem only started happening about 6 months ago. We bought the car used from CarMax about 2 years and 25K miles ago. I took it into to CarMax twice to have this problem looked at, but of course the problem would not occur and CarMax did not know what to do. Conviently for CarMax, my limited warenty has now expired…

No check engine light comes on. I don’t know about the Idle Air Control, but I’m ready to buy the Haynes manual and see if I can fix or replace the IAC or the oxygen sensor.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi Dre-Dog I have a 2001 Sienna that does the same its very fustrating. Just changed all the plugs Filters & had throtle assambly cleaned 300 dollars later still dies out. Changed both oxygen sensors about 1 1/2 years ago that cost 260 dollars. There is no check engine light on? Can anyone Please HELP!!!