I just purchased a 97 Toyota Camry yesterday and when we test drove it it was fine however on the drive home it started to sputter or stall at stop lights. When excelerating and stuff it seems fine however we went to start it this morning and it is sputtering still at a stand still

Can you duplicate the problem at home ? You would need to figure out if it is lack of fuel or spark to proceed with testing.

Does not sound serious as long as the car otherwise seems to be doing what it should. Don't drive if the engine is running hot or it is leaking fluids. Start with fuel filter or faulty fuel pump. Could be other things but if the car has had regular servicing then should not be anything major eg broken breather hoses . I would get a mechanical inspection for piece of mind.

It can be low fuel pressure issue or clogged fuel pump. Or its engine related issues,---------------

Check the help link mentioned below to troubleshoot the problem: ------

Engine stalls when gas is given?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/engine-stalls-when-gas-is-given.html

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Car stalls when MAF sensor is connected?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/car-stalls-when-maf-sensor-is-connected.html

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Car Engine Stalls While Driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-stalls-while-driving.html

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Car stalls and throws white smoke from exhaust?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-stalls-and-throws-white-smoke-from.html

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Stalls And Dies At Stop Sign?

http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/stalls-and-dies-at-stop-sign.html

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GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

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Nissan Pathfinder stalls and bucks on Acceleration?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-pathfinder-stalls-and-bucks-on.html

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1992 Chevrolet stalls and shutdown?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/1992-chevrolet-stalls-and-shutdown.html

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Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

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1990 mazda 323 stalls and quit running?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/1990-mazda-323-stalls-and-quit-running.html

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2000 Toyota Camry: Idling and Stalling Problem?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/2000-toyota-camry-idling-and-stalling.html

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1995 Toyota Corolla: Stalls, Sputters and Pops Through Intake Manifold?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1995-toyota-corolla-stalls-sputters-and.html

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1999 Toyota Camry: Erratic stalling and high engine RPM at idle?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1999-toyota-camry-erratic-stalling-and.html

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Dodge Dakota stalls, stumbles at idle. Has low fuel flow and runs hot?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/dodge-dakota-stallsstumbles-at-idlehas.html

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1994 Toyota 4Runner: Stalls and Stops While Driving?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1994-toyota-4runner-stalls-and-stops.html

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1997 Toyota Camry: Erratic Idle and Intermittent engine stalling?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/04/1997-toyota-camry-erratic-idle-and.html

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Ford Maverick: No Idle and Stalling issues?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/ford-maverick-no-idle-and-stalling.html

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These details will help.

Thanks.

It can be clogged intake manifold or issue with low fuel pressure or the problem is low battery voltage or issue with clogged fuel filter.Inspect all this basics.For more troubleshooting,click the link below and go through troubleshooting:----Stalls, Sputters and Pops Through Intake Manifold? http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1995-toyota-corolla-stalls-sputters-and.html
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Erratic stalling and high engine RPM at idle?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1999-toyota-camry-erratic-stalling-and.html
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Stalls and Stops While Driving? http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1994-toyota-4runner-stalls-and-stops.html

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No Idle and Stalling issues? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/ford-maverick-no-idle-and-stalling.html

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Vehicle starts then stalls and shutdown? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/1992-chevrolet-stalls-and-shutdown.html

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Engine stalls when gas is given? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/engine-stalls-when-gas-is-given.html

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This will help.
Thanks.

I think your radio had the short. Some radios have fuses put in the back.

The 97 has an allen head(14mm?) drain plug on the pan. Drain the fluid and
exaimine it in a clear container. Good transmission fluid smells like new ATF and is usually red. If yours is dark and smells burnt AND/OR HAS DEBRIS IN IT which I think is likely, you will need a new ******.

I'd take it to any good parts store (autozone, advance, etc..) and have them do a FREE charging system test and load test your battery. Almost sounds like your alternator is not charging or starting to go bad (not charging at full capacity)

Hi juanloscastr,

From what you have described, the problem could be any number of things. However, the most common problems of this type are:

Crank Position Sensor
Temperature Sensor
CVC valve.

Are there any lights on? Check engine, oil pressure, anything at all? If so, find your local Advance Auto Parts store, and have them check it with the computer. They will do this for free, and might give you a better idea of what the problem is.

The crank position sensor is fairly cheap(between $5 and $15). So I would start there, and see if it helps.

Sky_Signal

Can be many things, need to hook it up to scanner.. if u live close to AutoZone or Advance Auto they will check for code free.

If your test drive was short, but your drive home is longer, it could be a coolant leak. Coolant creates a thick white smoke when it burns. If it's coming out of the tailpipe, then it must be coming through the engine at some point, possibly from a failing head gasket.

A fairly inexpensive test for this is to drain and flush the radiator, refilling it with water, running the engine to warm it up, then drain and flush again, refilling it with water. Be sure to drain and flush the overflow reservoir as well if you can. And please be careful working with a hot radiator - steam burns skin very easily. This should remove at least 75% of the ethyl glycol antifreeze that causes the smoke.

Now, when you run the car up to temperature, if it still smokes white, but much, much less, then it is in fact coolant leaking into the engine and being vaporized and pushed out through the exhaust. The most likely point of failure is the head gasket - which means a several hundred dollar fix.