Hesitation at cold start

[techren]

Anyone here know what might cause my 2000 GTS auto to hesitate at cold start. On hot days when the car has been sitting in the sun it seems the worst. After starting the engine no matter how much or how little gas I give the engine it won't go over 1500 RPM. This condition last about 15 seconds then the car runs fine. Its annoying and the dealership can't seem duplicate the problem to fix it. Any help would be great.

[Griffin]

Sounds like a possible residual fuel pressure issue. Hook up a fuel pressure gauge, run your car till the presure stabilizes, then turn it off and let it sit an hour. If you loose more than like 10 PSI you probably have a problem. Theres a book spec for pressure drop, but you would have to have a gaping hole in the fuel system to have the kind of drop the book talks about.

As for what would cause it, an injector thats leaking or a fuel pump / pressure regulator thats leaking.

The only thing thats really bothersome is the 15 second long bad idle... that sounds like maybe an overtightened throttle cable to where the computer doesn't ever recognize CTP (closed throttle position)

Your best bet is to take it to the dealer, ask for a master tech, and speak to the tech directly and let him know exactly whats going on. Be prepared to leave the car there for a few days as cold start problems are ALWAYS apain in the butt to diagnose because you have to let the car sit so long in between attempts.

Griffin

[gto78]

I have had the identical problem as you since the day i bought the car. And it IS much worse when the weather is hot. It starts fine and idles good in gear, but when you step on the gas it wont go over 1500 rpm for about 10 seconds unless you floor it about 6 times. Then it wakes up and decides to start rolling away. When the car is ice cold in the morning or after its been sitting for long enough to be completely cooled off then it wont duplicate. And the dealer says can not duplicate, so they replaced the TB and IAC. Still no good. I hate it but gave up on fixing it. One thing i found is that while running octane boost it doesnt give me that problem.... I am thinking its vapor locked from the hot fuel lines and the fuel pump doesnt create high enough pressure to get rid of the vapor, or if it has a return to the tank it just takes a while to replace all that volume.

[donkeyponkey]

i have an auto gts and i live in fl. I have the same problem but it doesn't happen too often. I'm just carefull pulling out of my driveway not to pull out in front of fast traffic b/c sometimes when you push the gas, it doens't go for about 8 sec! but it happens only on a few occasions so i'm not gonna worry about it unless it happens like every other day or something. I hate bringin in my car to toyota. they doen't know crap.

[Ugly Pete]

its because of the cold air intake. its a problem everyone has.

[loudceli]

I've been having the same problem ever since I installed CAI(over a year now). But just the other day I cleaned my filter really well and the hesitation went away as so did the CEL. It's been about 2 weeks now with no problems.(probably just jinxed myself)

[LEAVECIVICSINTHEDUST]

I have the same problem with my manual GTS

[LovinDaCamSwitch]

Originally posted by donkeyponkey
i have an auto gts and i live in fl. I have the same problem but it doesn't happen too often. I'm just carefull pulling out of my driveway not to pull out in front of fast traffic b/c sometimes when you push the gas, it doens't go for about 8 sec! but it happens only on a few occasions so i'm not gonna worry about it unless it happens like every other day or something. I hate bringin in my car to toyota. they doen't know crap.
That's funny!! My car will do the same, when I step on the gas at cold start, it barely go till about 4 seconds and then it finally go. It happen with my intake being on and with my stock intake. I think the best bet to do here, is to let the car run for a little and give it a little gas, then start putting it first gear then go. That might help.
Dan

[gto78]

mine does it with or without the intake. It does it every single day. And its embarrassing when everyone watches me try to pull away and the car wont go much above an idle witout sputtering and bogging....

[DevlynSyde]

Yea, it has nothing to do with CAI, mine has never had a CAI and it does it. When you take it in for warranty I'm guessing they don't give you a car or anything, right? I need mine... heh.

[RedNOSceli]

I think it has somthing to do with the Open Loop/Closed Loop thing.....I noticed it I let my car sit for a full minute, it doesnt do it....

I remeber my salesmen saying "you want to let these guys warm up bit before you drive em" So he started it and we looked over the car while it warmed up for a few mins...That guy was smart...

[techren]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with this problem. The real question is are our cars just supposed to do this or is there a real problem? I just had the injectors and the ECU changed under warranty. I hoped that would fix it but no. My car is completely stock except for the TRD air filter and lack of butterfly valve. What can I say its hard enough to make the monthly payments no money for pimpin it. Thanks for the support. Keep rollin'

[phatweb]

I am having the exact same problem... anyone figure out what's causing it and how to fix it?

(2002 GTS 6spd w/ cai and trd exhaust)

[SeXxy C TRD]

yeah it happens to almost everyday in hot or cold weather. I cant go no where even if i press the gas , it is embarrassing. I have a Auto GTS too. Let me know if anyone figures out what is causing this.

[GTS-Jason]

I have the same problem, and I agree with what was said above about gas vapors in the fuel system except for one thing. How does the car start if there is that much vapor in the fuel system? Is vapor enough to start the car and have it idle normally?

[RedNOSceli]

Damn "Secret" Toyota Engineering!!

[J3adSeed]

mine did something a little different than that. it would always go and stuff, but once a month, which became once a week, when i started it it would almost stall out and die, then i'd get a check engine light. it was a random missfire code. they changed my injectors a month ago and it hasn't been back. yet. it seems to be better now.

there is the open/closed loop, where the first 15 sec or so the ecu is controlling the car's timing and all of that, after that, it switches to sensors and stuff. so it could be a bad ecu.

[Smaay]

Same problem here...now i just turn on the engine and walk away for 5 minutes and let it warm up...when i come back, no problems...i just live with it

[toyotatech]

Problem Solved!

I had the same problem, sluggish start (esp. when hot and humid) but also at cold.
Car would sputter and shake as if almost dying. I could floor it for about 4 seconds and nothing would happen, then when it finally revved up to about 2000rpm, it would be normal.

Dealer found a faulty MAFS (put one from a new Celica onto my car and solved the problem, put back my old one and the problem reoccurred). Therefore the dealer replaced the MAFS and the car is GOLDEN now!!

The weird thing is, the computer was saying that the MAFS was fine.

BTW, my car is completely stock, no CAI.

[LimpMasterJ]

Originally posted by toyotatech
Problem Solved!

I had the same problem, sluggish start (esp. when hot and humid) but also at cold.
Car would sputter and shake as if almost dying. I could floor it for about 4 seconds and nothing would happen, then when it finally revved up to about 2000rpm, it would be normal.

Dealer found a faulty MAFS (put one from a new Celica onto my car and solved the problem, put back my old one and the problem reoccurred). Therefore the dealer replaced the MAFS and the car is GOLDEN now!!

The weird thing is, the computer was saying that the MAFS was fine.

BTW, my car is completely stock, no CAI.

Are you absolutely sure that solved the problem? How long have you had the new MAF sensor in your car? I just want to make sure because I'm having this problem and it could be that your car just hasn't duplicated the problem yet, maybe it hasn't been as humid? I just want to be positive this is the problem.

[toyotatech]

It's been a week, and the fix is immediate. Up here in MI, it's been hot and humid every day (wanna go back to CA!), so I know it's a good fix.

Remember, in my case the dealer's computer couldn't find a fault, even though the car was running poorly. The key was, the dealer could duplicate the problem.

Good luck.

[IRL]

Damnit, I might have to inquire as to how much a new MAF is! I know for a fact my dealership will blame my cold start problem on my mods...its more than obvious! :angry:

For the first time yesterday I started it up...and it almost died on me! It hesitated real bad...I gave it gas, nothing...shut the car off, started it up again and all was well.

That annoying problem when the car is cold is getting tiresome to say the least! Earlier today I pulled through an busy intersection and bam...car didnt accelerate! arghhhh

Regardless, if I am not impatient and wait 2mins for the car to warm up...it doesnt happen.

[Magowin]

Wow I'm having same problem. I haven't tried letting car warm up for 2 minutes first I'm rather impatient but I'll try that now and let you know the results.

[Chris25NJ]

MAF sensor is pricy like 150 or something like that......try to find one from someone parting their car....

[Griffin]

Originally posted by toyotatech
It's been a week, and the fix is immediate. Up here in MI, it's been hot and humid every day (wanna go back to CA!), so I know it's a good fix.

Remember, in my case the dealer's computer couldn't find a fault, even though the car was running poorly. The key was, the dealer could duplicate the problem.

Good luck.

Your dealers sucks. If you know what your looking at you can spot a bad MAF on the Scan Tool datalist within 15 seconds of getting ot the right screen.

Griffin

[barbaraclifford]

I'm sort of new and have only made a few posts. But I am majorly in need of help!

My truck runs like s*t. I have an 1988 22RE on 35's

This is what happens. The truck initially starts and runs fine. It runs great for a few minutes. Then it seems like it is totally starved for fuel. It hesitates, has no power from start and is basically not driveable. After about 10 minutes or so, it runs fine.

I have done a complete tune-up, the check engine light does not come on, I've tried a different MAF sensor, tps, uplugged sensors to see if any change (no), checked all vaccum lines.

Eventually frustrated I brought it to Canadian Tire (a reasonably decent shop for the USAers). The mechanic fiddled for hours and didn't find anything unusual except for high fuel pressure. I changed the fuel pressure regulator and no change. Very pissed off, I brought it back to the garage and after another 4 hours, he still couldn't figure it out! He muttered something about a TSB for the cold start injector and that the dealer needed to reprogram the PCU. I went to the Toy dealer who said that there are no TSB's like that!

I am so totally frustrated! Please help! Are there any TSBs? Has anybody had a similar problem? Help!

[Blue Bomber]

NHTSA says the only recall for an 88 Pickup is for lighting. Some of the usual things you might want to check out:

1. Age and condition of the ignition components (plugs, wires, cap, rotor).
2. Get the intake system checked for leaks with a smoke machine, even if you can't find any leaks yourself.
3. Unplug cold start injector and see how the engine runs.
4. Check timing.
5. Get engine coolant temp sensor checked (not the one that runs to the water temp gauge).

You can do everything yourself if you have a multimeter and repair manual with the voltage specs, except the smoke machine thing.

You can also try posting in this forum for more help:
http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/postlist.php

[2way]

Does sound like it might be related to your cold start injector. Pull it like BB said & see if it is even working. If it makes no difference, check the wiring & injector. You might wanna have the injector power cleaned. A bad ECT sensor might be a cause, too.

[Yoda's Master]

u guys are lazy.

remove ur TB, clean that sh!t and replace the IACV if it's not to spec anymore, then clean ur MAF and problem solved!

i had the same problem last year, changed it out in dec and no probs since.

also clean or change ur o2 sensor before the cat if u use gas with ethanol :bang:

[1zzfe-man]

i think that truck uses an air flow meter, not a maf. When it acts up take the hose off the air flow meter and push the flap (inside) open and see if that makes a difference, If the wire connections are clean and the flap isnt sticking you could test voltage signal with a meter or clean inside connections/pot. Also i think it has an egr valve, which can get carbon build up and cause problem.The other posts are just as likely problems too.

[celicatalk]

Mine is doing this delay as well when the engine is cold on hot days!