Cold weather start

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.

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.

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.