So I just picked up a pearl white sc400 w/ 190,000 miles on the clock.
The car runs GREAT!.....

Except when I first got in it and started it, it idled funny at start up... up down up down, etc... Then after operating temp it leveled out and idled perfect. Didn't think too much of it, and bought the car.

I go out this morning and try to start it. It turns over, yet dies IMMEDIATELY.
I do have a CEL, and the "traction off" light comes on. So I start the car and immediately give it some gas, feather the gas a bit and get it into reverse, drive around a bit, come back and it idles great again. Runs like a top. So i cut it off go inside for a bit, come back out and start it up. No problems.

I take it for a drive for about 20 minutes, no issues then approach a stop light. The revs drop to below 2grand and the same lights come on and it dies. So basically i'm driving around 2 feet when I come to a stop, left foot on brake to stop, right foot on gas to keep the idle up.

QUESTION:

Is this a vacuum leak? or something related to the TCS? or MAF?
Anyone had this happen before?

 

Check and see if you have any leaks in your air intake going through your maf and manifold. I went through a similar problem and it turned out to be a dirty intake manifold and it just needed some cleaning.

 

maf,fuel ecu,fuel filter,plugs wires caps rotors, seafoam,fuel pump

 

Same thing happened to me. I cleaned the IACV and played with the TPS and it seems to have solved the problem.

 

mine is a loose MAF connector. As soon as it stops raining, im gonna be going out there to clean up everything.

 

it was the IACV. my buddy hit it with a lug wrench as i started the car and fixed it temporarily. lol when in doubt hit it with a hammer.

i'm thinking because of the old lady that had it for 5 years before me just putted around like a grandma carbon built up in the valve. i'll be cleaning it my next day off. thx for the help guys

i'll throw some pics up soon