1997 Toyota RAV4

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING TO A RED LIGHT CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, CONSUMER SWERVED HITTING A SCHOOL BUS THAT WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, A COVER THAT COVERS ACCELERATION CABLE ASSEMBLY, IT FELL INTO PLACE AND LOCKED ACCELERATION OPEN. *AK INVESTIGATION BY INDEPENDENT GROUP INDICATED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF FAILED/ STUCK ACCELERATOR. *YH

THIS HAS CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS FOR MY TOYOTA TRUCK RAV - SINCE MY CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT TOYOTA IS CLAIMING THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. PARTS OF RAV HAVE BEEN RUBBING AGAINST MY A/C WHICH CAUSED BOTH UNITS TO FAIL AT SEPARATE TIMES, CAUSING A MAJOR HEADACHE FOR MYSELF. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY RECALLS FROM TOYOTA ON ANY OF THIS MAJOR COMPONETS. PLEASE HELP. *AK

THE IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE CONTROLS THE IDLE SPEED BY METERING AIR AROUND THE THROTTLE PLATE, UNDER CONTROL OF THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE IAC VALVE ON MY VEHICLE STICKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, REQUIRING ME TO HOLD A SLIGHT THROTTLE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AFTER CRANKING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AS I WAS EASING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AT IDLE, THE IAC VALVE UNSTUCK AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE AHEAD. THIS IS VERY ABRUPT AND DISCONCERTING, BUT IT HAS NOT (YET) CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A TOYOTA FACTORY SHOP MANUAL, AND I MADE THE RESISTANCE AND VOLTAGE CHECKS CALLED OUT FOR THE IAC VALVE; ALL WERE SATISFACTORY. SINCE THE VALVE'S COILS APPEAR TO BE OKAY, AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER'S COMMANDS APPEAR TO BE OKAY, I CONCLUDE THAT THE IAC VALVE SIMPLY STICKS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WITH A WARM ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND IT NOW OCCURS AT ALMOST EVERY MORNING START. I COMMUTE ABOUT 25 MILES PER DAY. *AK

THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR INITIALLY JUST HAD A STARTING PROBLEM WHERE IT WILL START AND STALLS IMMEDIATELY. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT THE STARTER AND I HAD IT REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS COLD OR WARM. I COULD JUST PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND IT WON'T START. IF I WAIT ABOUT TEN MINUTES, IT WILL START AGAIN. BUT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. YESTERDAY, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH THE CAR JUST STALLED. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND IT STARTED AGAIN. THERE IS NO RHYME OF REASON TO THIS, THERE IS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND.