Idle surge at start-up

[michoujordan76]

Hi everyone,

Now that winter is sneaking up on us - my 91 Camry is starting strangely. It makes a high surge in the idle just when I start it on a cold morning. Then it is fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Mike Gerber]

How high of a surge are you experiencing? On a cold morning start at around 30 degrees F, an initial RPM of around 1400-1600 would be considered normal. If this is what it happening, it should return to your normal idle speed within about 5 minutes of driving.

Mike

[jimmy02flames]

Hi everyone
This I know is an old post but exactly what I'v been searching for and trying to figure out. I cleaned the throttle body on my 89 3sfe and now as soon as the engine starts the car idle surges up alot only for a few seconds. The car runs fine afterwards and eventually settles to a good warm idle.

I hate starting a dry cold motor this way. It seems very harsh on it so
I just want to keep the initial cold idle surge from happening. It does rev up to high at cold engine startup lasting only for a few seconds.

any ides anyone?

and long live Gen 1&2. Almost 20 years on mine and still kicking like a champ

[Mike Gerber]

How high is high? What RPM?

Mike

[jimmy02flames]

I dont know exact RPMs for sure but I'm guessing around 2500 or maybe even 3 k. The engine only stays there maybe two - four seconds and then drops down to maybe around the correct 1500 until operating temperature is achieved and then it also idles down like it should.

I just want to slow the initial 2 -4 seconds rev up its doing

[fredk]

do this, run the tiny oil filter with a good antidrainback valve in it and put 5 qts. of 10w-30 in it and keep it at this level, mine starts in below zero temps and only clatters for a second

[jimmy02flames]

the engine isn't clattering too bad when it starts yet but that is what I am trying to keep from eventually happening by taking it easier on the engine now. This process of cold firing from 0 to 3000 rpm has to be undersiable on any angine that has a oil pump I would think. I beleive the engine ideally needs at least a few slower revelutions to begin circulating any oil but especially 0 dgree oil. I had already thought about adding a little extra oil in it but am afraid it might bust a seal or something. I've never heard of a certain drainback oil filter.

There has to be some simple way to adjust this intial surge. Even if it is to slow the entire cold /fast idle adjustment would be fine with me. I read somewhere about a A/C idle adjustment located on the firewall. I'm going to try and locate it there today and screw with it. Are there any other or correct cold/fast idle adjustments? Something has to be controlling this process because it looks like its not mechanically controlled on the linkage

[jimmy02flames]

Nope I couldn't find anything looking like any kind of selenoid on the firewall either.
How does one adjust the cold/fast/ac idle?

[jimmy02flames]

Never have fixed the Idle surge at startup.

For future refernce if anyone ever finds this by searching there is no adjustement on the cold/ac seloinoid on the firewall I was looking for and found. It is located on the left side of engine.

If anyone ever finds out how to stop my three second idle surge at startup or even just how to slow down all the cold idle + and including this surge will they please post it here.

It has stumped me

[fredk]

look for a vacuum leak