hot engine wont start but cold OK - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dejohn · 12-30-2005, 10:23 AM

weird thing on my 92 camry LE.
First of all, it never has problems when the engine is cold in the morning.
Only when the engine is hot, I may not be able to start the car.

Sometimes after some driving (say, 30 min), I stopped the engine outside some supermarket and picked up some food. When I try to start the car again, I can hear the cranking and the engine runs for a few seconds and then stops (drops to 0 rpm).
But when every time this happens, I open up the hood and let the engine cool down for 15 to 30 min, it will just start perfectly.

The engine runs/sounds great as long as I don't turn it off, no matter it is cold or hot.

A friend says it might be a problem with idle control but he does not know to fix it.

Please advise. Thanks.

dejohn · 12-30-2005, 01:34 PM

can someone help? Thanks.

shimpi · 12-30-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dejohn

weird thing on my 92 camry LE.
First of all, it never has problems when the engine is cold in the morning.
Only when the engine is hot, I may not be able to start the car.

Sometimes after some driving (say, 30 min), I stopped the engine outside some supermarket and picked up some food. When I try to start the car again, I can hear the cranking and the engine runs for a few seconds and then stops (drops to 0 rpm).
But when every time this happens, I open up the hood and let the engine cool down for 15 to 30 min, it will just start perfectly.

The engine runs/sounds great as long as I don't turn it off, no matter it is cold or hot.

A friend says it might be a problem with idle control but he does not know to fix it.

Please advise. Thanks.

It will start when its cold, but not when it is hot. Leave the car on and it runs great...hmmmm. If you turn the engine off and turn it on again, will it continue running if you give it some gas (step on the pedal)?

Generally speaking, it sounds like you need to hook it up to a computer and run some diagnostics. I'm leaning toward this being an idling issue.

Gary_602Z · 12-30-2005, 03:02 PM

If it was a Chevy it would be a fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator, not sure if it would apply in your situation.

Gary

***ASG14*** · 12-30-2005, 05:27 PM

When it has trouble starting next time, wack the gas pedal and keep it above 3k RPM's for a few seconds and let off. See if it keeps running after that.

Obelix · 12-30-2005, 06:55 PM

yea just hit the gas(for a second or two ) next time... My car does the same but i am due for a tune-up and hope it will solve the problem....

95WhiteCamry · 12-30-2005, 10:59 PM

corolla haynes manual once said it can be a problem with the air filter, might be same for our cams.

dejohn · 01-01-2006, 09:56 AM

thanks all for the replies.
this problem started a few months ago. At first, if I hit the gas, the engine could start without a problem. But recently, as soon as I move my foot away from gas, the engine would stop (for a hot start). Sometimes I tried to hit gas to keep it running at 2k rpm for half min but it did not help: as soon as i released the pedal, the engine stopped.

My friend suggest to adjust the idle position of the throttle lever. He said if I can adjust the idle speed at engine-hot-start, I can solve this prob.
I saw the throttal cable is attached that lever and it goes into a black box (the actuator box?). Can someone tell me how to open this box? Thanks again.

I will also check the air filter. Thanks.

AyzhenInvasion · 01-01-2006, 10:29 AM

my friends' CRX wouldn't start (i'm not sure about hot start/cold start) but he found out it was the ignition
i know its not a toyota and not a camry but its worth a shot?

***ASG14*** · 01-01-2006, 12:34 PM

EGR Valve? Just throwing that in. Can someone chime in about thier idea on that?

g0fwk · 01-26-2006, 05:22 PM

Hi

check your valve clearances, can be tight.

valve length increases with temp. and valve stays open.

Had same problem on a volvo years ago

Mark

marc780 · 01-26-2006, 10:47 PM

Theres all kinda relays and switches for hot starting and cold starting. Heres some things you should have checked; Idle Air control valve. This thing is mounted on the throttle body and could be malfunctioning. Also there is a coolant temperature sensor, it reads the temp of the engine and gives this information to the computer to enable engine function.
Instead of guessing it might be better to just have the dealer read your engine codes with his scanner. Probably cheapper overall.

97&02camryleI4 · 01-27-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc780

Also there is a coolant temperature sensor, it reads the temp of the engine and gives this information to the computer to enable engine function.

This is also what I suspect is your problem.

johnnyzee · 01-27-2006, 01:29 PM

i had this exact problem on my old car, a mazda. youre going to laugh but it was a tune up that was needed. i changed plugs, wires, cap/rotor, and it never had that problem ever again. i can almost guarantee it is the problem cause it was doing the same cold day start, warm day not.

good luck. if youre low on $$$, your plugs would be priority, then id move on to cap and rotor.