toyota4x4907

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and is having a cheerful holiday season My 19th birthday was on Saturday!!

After accidently leaving my truck unplugged for 4 days while I was at my mothers house for Christmas, then leaving it plugged in all night last night, it still wouldn't start today. Well, thats almost understandable since it was, and is, -35*F. Usually people have no problem if they dont plug it in, then leave it plugged in over night, so I'm starting to suspect my heater pads are faulty. They are kind of old. No matter. I got it started about 20 minutes ago after my friend came over and jump started me. Obviously I also need a battery blanket.

I was doing some thinking while it was warming up. I was thinking about upping my "warm" idle to 900-1000 rpm for the winter. It really lopes at 750 rpm, even after driving for 30 minutes, during the winter. When I bought it almost 4 years ago, the idle was set at around 1050 rpm. I bought it from a guy who lived in the city I now live in, so I suspect he had done that. Any thoughts?

hmm...my friend told me it's supposed to get colder in the next few days.... -45*F colder.

Adam F

You should already have an idle air control valve that sets the idle high for cold starts. Sounds like yours isnt working.

83

You're talking about the "warm" idle, though, right? So cold start is totally different. It could be that your timing is off, or something else is going on. It seems like once it's warm, it's warm, and an idle speed that works in the summer should work in the winter, but I'm not sure. You sure there's no vaccum leaks, plugged up emissions stuff, etc? I think that's what I'm trying to track down with my truck right now. A bit of a loping idle and baaad gas mileage.

Adam F

Your right. My bad, I diddnt see the "warm idle" part.

Like 83 said, theres something wrong. Vacuum leak or similar. Raising the idle is just a bandaid. Once warmed up, there is no reason for your truck to have a loopy idle. Sounds like the PO had is band-aid'ed before you got it.

Get a can of ether or a propane torch and spray around the various vacuum lines and intake hoses. If your idle rises, you found your vacuum leak.

A cracked intake hose is a common accurence, and often hard to find.

83

I need to do that myself. I just replaced a bunch of vacuum hoses, but I haven't tried spraying around everthing to see if I have a leak. Ether? Like starting fluid? Would carb cleaner have the same effect?

sr5yota84

Yes carb cleaner as well as starting fluid will have the same effect. Brake cleaner doesnt have a lubricant in it. so i would probably not use that as it could crack lines if they are too cold..

83

Thanks

Adam F

Anything highly combustible will work. But carb cleaner STINKS.

Yes, ether as in starting fluid. HIGHLY combustible, works the best.

83

Great, thanks.