Cold weather start

[kennb]

I'd be interested to know what this is all about as well. I just moved from Georgia to Michigan, and my poor '07 has never seen cold weather until now. Seems to be handling it well so far.

[Chatt69chgr]

I see this thread is old but it seems to apply to my 2002 Camry 4cyl. auto. I bought this car new and it has about 80K on it now. I have never seen the problem I'm having now before. It only occurs when the temp gets down approx. 18 to 20 degrees F. or lower and only on a completely cold start. The engine seems to be making a kind of clanging noise for a couple or three seconds before it starts. But it does start and it runs OK. If the engine warms up just a slight amount it won't do it again on the next start. The car is kept outside here in Chattanooga. This is probably the first winter that we have had such cold temps since the car was new so this may explain why we have never run into this issue before. In searching the web I've run across several things. One was motor mounts. I checked those and they seem to be OK. Second was the bearing on the pulley on the ac compressor. I don't think thats it. I run recommended viscosity oil 5W-30. It's Valvoline. Change it every 5K with new Toyota filter. Not sure the P/N but my understanding is all have the checkback valve in them. One post said that some have a rubber gasket used with this valve and better ones have a silicone gasket that works good at cold temps. I have not checked this out. Another suggestion was use synthetic oil. Some others were engine temp switch or intake air tem sensor not giving signal to ECU so no gas on initial crank. Another mentioned possible issue with idle speed control valve but my idle speed is fine. Has anyone run into this problem? I can't believe that as many Camry's like mine that were sold that this problem has not cropped up, particularly in the northern part of the USA. My first post but we have never had any problem with the car until now. I do all my posting on the Dodge Charger (69 model) and new Challenger sites as I have those two cars. And I have a 2005 Dodge Ram Quad with Hemi. The Camry is my wife's car.

[nuchieboy]

Originally Posted by Tobeit

Nice contribution to the topic on hand, very helpful to the OP...hey, did you polish your Lexus sign lately?

[Chatt69chgr]

Well, the original post did have to do with a V6 but the symptoms appeared to be identical to what I am running into on my 4 cyl. Now you will note that the last post before mine was Feb of 2008. So it's pretty obvious that nobody was going to reply to the original poster. He may not even have that car any more. I ran across the post when using the search engine. I guess I could have or maybe should have started a new thread. I just looked at the filter that I am using which is a Toyota 90915-YZZA2. I do realize that this filter has been superseeded a couple of times and I think a YZZF2 might now be the latest and greatest version. My research on the net:
http://www.corolland.com/oil-filters.html
indicated that this filter is made by Purolator and is a pretty good design but does not use the silicone anti-drain back valve. Apparently Purolator does make one, the PL14476, that does have a silicone drainback valve. I may see if I can get one and try it to see if it gets rid of the problem. May change the oil too. Note that these issues are germaine to the V6 engine too.

This time of year what with the cold weather and car problems and all I would like to see a reply that has to deal with some of the issues that have been raised in the thread. I don't see how posting a flippant remark 11 minutes after my post has any relevance to solving the problems several of us are having. If you have some information that would aid those of us with this problem then for heaven's sake please post it. I would be most appreciative. I wouln't have seen your reply so quickly except for the fact that I wanted to add information concerning the filter that I just ran across.

[Chatt69chgr]

Update: I picked up a Purolator Filter at Advance Auto. The correct number is PL14477. It does appear to have the silicone anti-drainback valve. I went ahead and installed this this afternoon and figured while I was at it to change the oil. Put in Mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic. I will report on whether this fixes the problem. I doubt it will.

The noise is a thump thump thump only occurring on stone cold starts below approx 20 degrees F. The battery was checked and is OK. Cranking is not slow. The thump noise is occurring as the engine rotates with the starter before it catches. It will do the thump noise maybe 3 or 4 times and start. Turn the engine off and and turn the key and it will do it again. After several times, it warms up enough so it quits doing it. I havn't ruled out a motor mount but did apply the brake and goosed the throttle in reverse and in park. Didn't notice excessive engine movement. And there is no noise when driving and hitting the accelerator that would indicate a motor mount. The noise is almost like the timing is off a little when it's trying to start when real cold.

So at this stage, the thump, thump, thump, has got me stumped, stumped, stumped.

[explorer1998205]

i have a 2010 i4 vvti 6 speed manual and my car since new has always ticked whenever it is on. i just assumed that this was normal. my friend has a 04 corola s and his car also ticks. isk if this is any help but since my car is a lease i dont really car if there is a problem. anyways i would like to help fix this problem for other people so if there is any thing i can do let me know. when i bring the car for an oil change next im gonna ask them about this.

[mcdawgg]

Originally Posted by explorer1998205

i have a 2010 i4 vvti 6 speed manual and my car since new has always ticked whenever it is on. i just assumed that this was normal. my friend has a 04 corola s and his car also ticks. isk if this is any help but since my car is a lease i dont really car if there is a problem. anyways i would like to help fix this problem for other people so if there is any thing i can do let me know. when i bring the car for an oil change next im gonna ask them about this.

I also have a 2010 I4 6 speed manual, but I don't recall hearing anything unususal. I'll have to listen more and let you know.

[Chatt69chgr]

I changed the filter to a Purolator Pure One and put in 5W-30 Mobil 1 synthetic. Did not fix the problem. Note that the noise I am hearing on start up in very cold conditions at absolutely cold start is not a ticking noise like valves. Did talk to some folks at work and one guy has a Avalon that act exactly the same way. Said it has always acted like this. Consensus was that the battery is losing a lot of it's cold cranking amps in the 17 degree F weather and that this is probably causing the problem. I think a typical lead acid battery in good condition will lose 50% of it's CCA at 0 degrees F. At this juncture, I'm going to say this is not a problem and forget about the noise. We rarely get this kind of weather around here so it won't be too long until the issue disappears. The battery tray doesn't have any room for a larger battery anyway. Maybe the starter motor in the Toyota Camrys doesn't have a very high kilowatt rating. My 2009 Challenger with hemi and 2005 Ram with hemi have no problem starting in these same conditions and don't make any funny noises when they start. I'd still like to hear from anyone that might know what is really the cause of the Toyota's starting noise. Thanks to all on the forum. Nice to have a place like this to discuss our Toyota car/truck issues.

[NIUserb]

Originally Posted by mcdawgg

I also have a 2010 I4 6 speed manual, but I don't recall hearing anything unususal. I'll have to listen more and let you know.

I have a 2010 Camry LE I4 and i hear like a squeaking type noise when i turn my car on when it's cold. It only last for like 1 second.. Weird..