starting - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Geius Maniacal · 08-30-2005, 12:29 AM

my pickup has a hard time starting. its not the starter. the engine will just turn over again and again. but this only happens when its cold. after it runs for a few minutes it will start right up. this is what i do every morning
1. let the engine turn over for about 15sec.
2. stop and let the truck sit for about 1 min or so.
3. crank it again, most of the time it starts on this try but sometimes it takes another try

could it be the battery? again it only happens when the engine is cold. i think if it sits for more than about 6 hours it will do this. any help would be nice.
thanks for all the help

texas12 · 08-30-2005, 01:59 PM

Most likely loosing fuel pressure. It should maintain pressure but if it slowly loses it over night, it will be slow starting.

smasheromalley · 08-30-2005, 02:07 PM

Your problem sounds similar to mine.

To get my truck to start quickly I turn the key to RUN for about 5 seconds, back to OFF, then I go ahead and start. It usually fires up quickly doing it this way.

If I go ahead and jump in and try and start it right away it will sit there and crank and crank and slowly chug to life.

The only thing Ive really noticed is the odd times I hear the *click* from the glove box area. If I jump in and try to start, it takes about 6 seconds of cranking before I hear the *click* from the glove box.

If I do the key cycle thing, then on the second try the *click* happens as soon as i start cranking and the engine fires right up...

I wish I knew what it was

Geius Maniacal · 08-30-2005, 05:37 PM

how could i check if it is the fuel pressure?
i would really like to get this problem solved before nights start to get really cold.
any other ideas of what it could be??

that sounds like what i am dealing with smasheromalley, but i havent noticed in clakc from anywhere. i will listen for it the next time i try and start it cold.

thanks for the help so far

qsd-dan · 08-31-2005, 03:25 AM

I can almost guarantee that it's the cold start injector time switch. You'll have to get the specs and ohm it out. I'm not sure if the specs changed from 84, but I can give you the ohm range when I get back home from my 84-factory service manual.

toto · 08-31-2005, 07:26 AM

Try just turning the key to "ON" for 15 seconds. If there's a fuel pressure problem, turning the key on should allow the fuel pump to run and build up pressure in the fuel system. Then, turn the key to "START" and see what happens.

qsd-dan · 08-31-2005, 08:37 AM

84-95 22re's cycle the fuel pump on while cranking only. The do not cycle the fuel pump on with the key on engine off.

Geius Maniacal · 08-31-2005, 08:44 AM

i will try it when i leave this morning and see if it changes anything. it never hurts to try.

again, thanks for the help so far

khonesty · 08-31-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qsd-dan

I can almost guarantee that it's the cold start injector time switch. You'll have to get the specs and ohm it out. I'm not sure if the specs changed from 84, but I can give you the ohm range when I get back home from my 84-factory service manual.

I'm having this same prob with my 86 runner. I'd like to check the specs on that time switch if you could post them. I believe they'd be the same for an 86 right? where exactly do I find the switch? I've been thinking of flow testing that little f*#@er but I'l check this out first, might save $20, more to put in the tank :-[

khonesty · 08-31-2005, 02:18 PM

I started searching around and dug this up.

The 22RE cold-start injector timer switch is the larger of the two thermoswitches mounted at the front of the intake manifold, furthest from the cylinder head, and allows the injector to function while cranking a cold engine. STJ (see the diagram below) provides a ground for the injector when the thermoswitch is cold, and STA is the heating element which will cause the STJ contact to open and shut off the injector after several seconds of cranking to prevent flooding.

Although the same thermoswitch was used in all 83-88 22REs, the published test specifications for the switch have not been notably logical or consistent, and they omit a vital test. Of the manuals listed below, the 1986 Toyota manual has the most reasonable figures for the parameters which are specified.

Cold-start injector timer test criteria taken from various shop manuals

Year Manual STA to STJ STA to STJ STA to ground
(ohms, degrees F) (ohms, degrees F) (ohms)
1983 Toyota 25 to 35 below 72 64 to 76 above 72 no spec
1983 Haynes 30 to 50 below 95 70 to 90 above 95 30 to 90
1986 Toyota 20 to 40 below 86 40 to 60 above 104 20 to 80

The most important characteristic of the switch is the resistance between STJ and ground. If that resistance is not close to zero ohms below 86 degrees F the cold-start injector will not operate, and a high resistance when cold is the most common failure of the switch. Above 104 degrees F the resistance should be about 125 ohms. (Inexplicably, none of the manuals listed above specify an STJ-to-ground resistance test.)

Geius Maniacal · 08-31-2005, 06:46 PM

well im an idiot so........ where is the intake manifold. i have tried to find it is chiltons and online but i cant find where it is. i have no idea where to find what u r talkin about
with the cold air thermoswitch?!?

texas12 · 08-31-2005, 08:23 PM

I believe that you can disconnect the cold start injection time switch and unless it is very cold outside it will not have an effect.
The intake manifold is the chamber that receives the air after the throttle body. The actual cold start injector is mounted on the engine side of the intake manifold. It can be found by looking for the metal gas line. The time switch faces the front of the vehicle and is located below the throttle body (air intake tube).
To check to see if fuel pressure is dropping over night,
1) Let vehicle sit over night
2) The next day, without trying to start, unscrew the cold start injector gas line.
3) If fuel sprays (or atleast leaks real good) then pressure was maintained. If not, there was no pressure maintained at the injectors.

khonesty · 08-31-2005, 08:34 PM

I actually found this page looking today
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t80630.html
a way to clean the injector at home. I used a 9.6. battery from my kids remote car. and sprayed in some carb cleaner while connecting and disconnecting the power let it soak a few min and do it again. it'll take two people.

the stj terminal is the - terminal the other is the +. don't leave it open for more than a 1/2 a sec at a time to save damage, just kinda pullse it.
by the way the switch\injector is on the drivers side of the plenum (part that reads "EFI"). I believe it's the only one with a plug up there. REMEMBER to relieve the fuel system pressure before you disconnect the fuel line.

Geius Maniacal · 09-01-2005, 08:58 AM

man i hate school. it takes up to much time. i will see what i can do later today but i dont know if i will have any free time.
thanks for the help so far guys

Geius Maniacal · 09-01-2005, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khonesty

I actually found this page looking today
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t80630.html
a way to clean the injector at home. I used a 9.6. battery from my kids remote car. and sprayed in some carb cleaner while connecting and disconnecting the power let it soak a few min and do it again. it'll take two people.

.....ok. i really dont quite understand what u mean by all this. i truly am stupid when i comes to a lot of car things. i really just started workin on cars when i got my truck. so u will need to be a little more detailed about things u tell me. sorry
thanks tho