Weired engine rev, for first 1/2 miles

[junk2k6]

I have 2003 LE 4 banger. For a while I noticed one thing, after starting teh car the engine revs to over 3k rpm for approximately 1/2-1 mile, and then suddenly drop below 2k rpm. I usually drive at 40mph constant during that period, but this seems to happen at all speed/A.C on/off etc. settings.
Is that normal?

I have another question, whenever I turn my steering more than 45 degree in parking lot, it makes a screeching sound from time to time. I think there is a rubber padding around the steering wheel is kind of unlubricated and therefore making this shrill noise. What kind of lube can I add to this joint?
Thanks in advance.
jUNk

[geoff5093]

I see you're from NJ, so I'm guessing you're talking about recently during the cold weather, correct?

I believe the issue is because the engine is cold it will stay in 3rd gear until the engine coolant gets to a certain temperature, then it will downshift. The reason it stays in 3rd is to keep the RPM's higher for a short period of time, which warms up the engine sooner. Unless you mean it's at 3K RPM's idling when you first start it up, and if that's the case then something else is wrong.

[DressUpYourPet]

Even here in so cal where its only 45 right now, the engine revs stay up for a minute or so i think it depends on temperature. Id warm up the engine for 2 or 3 minutes and see if this changes the condition. I think its probably normal.

You might also want to clean your throttle body and especially squirt some throttle body cleaner down that iac hole while you do it, because maybe the iac vanes inside are just a little dirty and sticky from the cold. And so maybe they are opening a little too slow until they thaw some from engine heat.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t158097.html

[white07cam]

have you looked at your power steering fluid at all?

[touringcamry]

If it's cold, the squeaky noise is probably just the rubber rubbing against the steering column. You can put some silicone grease, where the metal meets the rubber to reduce friction that's causing the rubber to resonate. I think lithium grease should work also and adheres to metal better, but I forget if lithium grease swells rubber.

Napa sells tubes of silicone grease called Sil-Glyde. I think it's labeled as brake lube or something like that but it should work just fine. It's just a high-temperature stable silicone grease.

[junk2k6]

Thanks guys, looks like it is pretty normal to have the engine rev @3k for first few minutes.
I will try the silicone grease thing. since I get a boat load of them at work.

[BlackCamSe]

the gen 5 doesnt shift into overdrive untill your engine warms up. Its normal.