NHTSA Complaint #751501 — 2000 TOYOTA CELICA

THE ENGINE WILL NEARLY STALL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER COLD START OF THE VEHICLE WHEN LEAVING DRIVEWAY AND ENTERING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WILL BOG WITH NO POWER FEELING LIKE A STALL IS IMMINENT (USUALLY AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT). THIS HAPPENS 3 OR SO TIMES PER WEEK AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS. IT DID NOT OCCUR IN THE PREVIOUS 8.5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.. REAPPLYING THE CLUTCH AND REVVING THE ENGINE AND SLIPPING THE CLUTCH HELPS HOWEVER THE ENGINE IS SLOW TO RECOVER (~2 SECONDS). A SIMILAR START (SAME RPM AND CLUTCH ACTION) AFTER THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP DOES NOT EXHIBIT THE ACTION. THIS HAPPENS WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OF 60-80 DEGREES.*AK