ciao917

Once or twice a week when I start the car the engine starts & then stalls out immediately. I have to step on the accelerator to give it gas and that is how I pull out of my garage or parking spot. Once I put it in drive the engine runs fine. Sounds as if the choke is not working, if the 99 ES300 had a choke. Thats the best way I can describe the problem. Any ideas of what this problem might be would be helpful and appreciated.

hypervish

Clean the IACV.
The DIY listed below is for an RX300, but it's very similar to the ES300, almost exactly the same.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-write-up.html

gtstcactus

I find I have the same problem, or something that sounds very similar to what your describing with my 1992 Windom/ES300 - 3VZ-FE...

I spoke to a chap at the Lexus/Toyota dealership and he said that as the problem seems recent and as I'd recently changed the oil which clearly hadn't been done in a long time it was possible / likely that the detergents in the clean oil had possibly caused build up/ carbon/ crud/ etc to loosen & dirty the spark plugs. He suggested I start with the spark plugs first and replace them.
I'd been thinking about doing the plugs anyway, the OEM plugs are expensive in NZ $28 each, but I see them on amazon & ebay for as little as $5 each, so I'll grab them online...

I've replaced the air filter already.

I was thinking the possibilities could be fuel filter, or spark plugs....

The problem is as described by the OP.. First start up some days the car chokes and splutters and dies, sometimes if I give it gas it recovers without cutting off, but sometimes just cuts out I restart it and it goes just fine on the second attempt. Sometimes the spluttering and choking can go on for 3-4 seconds before cutting out. It only happens on the 1st cold start of the day, and not everyday. Certainly feels like something you'd pull the choke out for if you had a manual choke, but I could be way off on that one...

It doesn't get very cold here, it's summer... rarely would it drop below zero even in winter.

So aside from plugs, is the fuel filter worth looking at for this? I've got no idea if it's ever been done so I figure it's probably worth doing..

What else should I look at, and in what order should I prioritise things?

Does the suggestion in the 2nd post for the RX300 apply to the 3VZ-FE and how? Is it the same, or a little different?

I'd not call it a major problem, it's just mildly annoying, and seems to be not quite right... Suggestions appreciated...