cold weather starts

[Tensashank]

1992 Camary. Won't start when below freezing temp. Could mass air flow sensor be stopped up?

[marc780]

my first guess is your idle air control valve might be stuck open or broken. If its never been cleaned, its a good guess that cleaning the IAC might fix the cold-start problem.

How to: Cleaning Throttle Body, Pictorial

[Kep]

Won't start, or difficult to start? There is a cold start injector and its timing switch that may be a problem but usually it will start eventually. Have you tried starting fluid in the air filter? That would help determine if it were fuel related (it would kick over) or spark related (it wouldn't kick over).

Kep

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by Kep

Won't start, or difficult to start? There is a cold start injector and its timing switch that may be a problem but usually it will start eventually. Have you tried starting fluid in the air filter? That would help determine if it were fuel related (it would kick over) or spark related (it wouldn't kick over).

Kep

Kep,

I believe the cold start injector time switch was no longer in use by the time the generation 3 Camry came out. That would start with his car, model year 1992. I believe the engine coolant temperature sensor (ECT sensor) sends a signal to the ECU to faciliate starting a cold engine. I would start by checking that engine coolant temperature sensor with a DVM and the specs from any manual.

Mike

[Quicksilver300]

my problem is similar, but a little different. Below roughly 32 degrees, she wont start.....however if I pump the gas pedal a few times she fires up. Could be you're running rich like me, hence why opening up the throttle on start up helps burn the excess fuel. It's an easy thing to test.

I've told about a dozen people that should know something like this and theyre all stumped, like how the hell would the car be affected by temps below freezing?

I've been told to check the o2 sensor and the coolant temp sensor....toyota has basically ruled out the o2 sensor.

edit; If that does happen, I would try cleaning the plugs and see if she run better, it's not a solution but more of a band aid till you can get it fixed.

[Wasatchbl1]

I go through the same thing when it is below 32. I have to hold the gas pedal down while starting for about 15 seconds to keep it at 1500 rpms, then after that amount of time, it idles that fast on its own. I have had 3 or 4 people tell me it is the Idle Control Valve (including a dealer), but they are $200 bucks and a little bit of a pain to replace. Any ideas before I fork over the cash?

[Quicksilver300]

You might want to go my route and have toyota look at it first. It costs ~$60 for diagnostics, assuming they find the problem quickly. I still have to have my second diagnosis, so they can pin point it.