Idling When Cold Problem

January 16, 2007

I have a Celica 2003 VVTi car that has an idling problem when it is cold. If the engine temp is at cold it tends to stall at junction and flood meaning I have to turn the ignition off for 30 seconds and then restart. As soon as the engine temperature has risen to anything above 0 temp it is ok(i.e. doesn't stall).

I have been running on LPG(I had it converted 1 year after i bought it) and Petrol with no problems for 2 years. Since the idling problem I have disconnected the LPG for over 4 months and now only run on Petrol. My Toyota garage has changed the Oxygen sensor no. 2, cylinder valves, idling valve and cold start components and the problem is still evident.

Has anyone got any ideas/suggestions on what the problem could be?

January 20, 2007

If it's stalling it means the charge isn't right or not igniting correctly.

Go for the obvious and easy to check first. I'm assuming all the obvious stuffs been done such as checking for splits in air inlet hoses?

Carry out a pull-push check on all of the connectors to the throttle body, air flow sensor, temp sensor, plugs, fuel injectors, O2 sensors (if you can reach them, although the fact they've been changed probably elimintes them) and check the earths are tight to the engine. Think it's unlikely to be these because you'd have a light on the dash normally with one of these faults but a loose wire can sometimes cause a fault without putting a light on

Pull the plugs out and check how they look like they've been burning.

See this for reference

http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/diagnosis.htm

Can try cleaning the air flow sensor (think there are several descriptions of how to do on here already if you have a search)

Might be worth putting some injector cleaner through for a little while to see if you've a sticky injector. If the dealers being ok and will put the intelligent tester on for no cost (i'd push for this since it costs them sweet FA and they haven't been able to fix it so far) you might be able to pick up a lazy injector off there first.

When you say it's flooding is that correct? If you can deliberately cause the fault and pull the plugs out and see if they're wet it might show there is excess fuel in there in which case also leads in the direction of a sticky injector

January 23, 2007

If it's stalling it means the charge isn't right or not igniting correctly.
Go for the obvious and easy to check first. I'm assuming all the obvious stuffs been done such as checking for splits in air inlet hoses?
Carry out a pull-push check on all of the connectors to the throttle body, air flow sensor, temp sensor, plugs, fuel injectors, O2 sensors (if you can reach them, although the fact they've been changed probably elimintes them) and check the earths are tight to the engine. Think it's unlikely to be these because you'd have a light on the dash normally with one of these faults but a loose wire can sometimes cause a fault without putting a light on
Pull the plugs out and check how they look like they've been burning.
See this for reference
http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/diagnosis.htm
Can try cleaning the air flow sensor (think there are several descriptions of how to do on here already if you have a search)
Might be worth putting some injector cleaner through for a little while to see if you've a sticky injector. If the dealers being ok and will put the intelligent tester on for no cost (i'd push for this since it costs them sweet FA and they haven't been able to fix it so far) you might be able to pick up a lazy injector off there first.
When you say it's flooding is that correct? If you can deliberately cause the fault and pull the plugs out and see if they're wet it might show there is excess fuel in there in which case also leads in the direction of a sticky injector

Thanks very much for your help. I'll advise the dealer to see if the above has been done, Regarding your questions, I'm not 100% it is actually flooding although that's what it feel like. I'll check the plugs as you say.