Help me out with a car problem

[Rickten]

Well my dad's 99 toyota camry is starting to get this annoying problem. AFter it sits for a long time epsecially in the cold overnight it has a lot of trouble starting. The starter is working fine the car has no problem getting started it just doesn't stay on. I turn the key and it starts up and as the rpms come down from the initial start it will get to about 1000 rpms, where is should stop and begin to idle, but the whole car starts to sputter and the enigine dies. So I have to start it up and immediately hit the gas keeping the rpms somewhere around 2000 for a good 20 seconds before I can let off the gas and allow the car to idle on its own without having the engine die. And as I am holding the holding the rpms at 2000 to help it warm up tons of smoke will come out of the tail pipe. After the car is warmed up it never has a problem again. Runs good and starts up fine with no smoke and no problem idleing after the initial warm up. Any thoughts on what this could be? I know its hard to diagnose car problems on an internet forum but I would like some theories possibly.

 

[eplebnista]

IMO, It could either be a dirty fuel filter or a sticking PCV valve.

hth,
eplebnista

 

[777joee]

You could also check the Air Filter. Dirty filter could be keeping the fuel mixture too rich.

 

[TypeXenon]

Could be the ox. sensor unit.

They can cause alot of funky things. My mom's dynasty used to just cut out, or run real rich in humid weather. Turned out to be the $30 sensor .

Might be worth a shot.

 

[d33pt]

it's under warranty..bring it in..

 

[supesman]

I had a problem like that in my car. Turned out that there was a hole in one of the rubber pipe thingy. Anyway, i gave the mechanic $5 and he put in a new pipe and the problem was solved. The pipe was in the front near the fan area to the center of the engine. Check that out, otherwise let a mechanic diagnose it.

 

[Rickten]

we will probably take it in but I was wondering if there were some things I could just go check out myself real quick to save the trip to the dealer. So you guys don't think its anything serious though? Because my dad seems to think that it started doing this after I drove it last week and he's trying to blame me.