I have a 95 4Runner that is driving me NUTS.

First start of the day is with no problems, unless the ambient air temperature is above 90 degrees. However, after the engine has warmed up, starting is an issue. The motor starts immediatly, but appears to be "loaded up" with fuel, and sputters and dies. If I allow the motor to cool, it starts like it was new off the showroom floor.

This is repeatable but I am not getting a check engine light and have not found any codes for sensors. My suspicion is that the coolant temperature sensor is not functioning, and is sending a "cold" signal to the ECU.

Quite by accident I discovered that if I held the ignition key until the engine gets above about 800 RPM, the motor starts every time...but I don't like replacing starters...any suggestions?

 

replaceing a starter is easy on a 22re took me all of 2hours to change it and put in a new fuel filter also at the very bottom there are similar threads

 

Surely someone, somewhere has an answer....

 

I second your guess on the water temp sensor. That sounds like a good place to start. Have you tried uplugging it when it's hot and starting that way?

 

It is my understanding that the ECU does not directly control the fuel related to temperature. There is a temperature switch that allows the cold start inject to fire thus injecting more fuel. The high idle when cold is controlled by letting air past the throttle body using a gadget unter the throttle body that has coolent running through it. It is a mechanical unit with no signals from the ECU. This inturn causes more air to be sucked through the AFM causing more fuel through the injecters (ECU reads the AFM). The AFM has a temperature sensor in it that the ECU reads.

Your problem may be the temperature switch. Try unplugging your cold start injector and see if your problem goes away. If the problem does change you may not be getting enough fuel at startup not the other way around. So again may be the switch.

Your AFM may also be sticking open causing a rich condition as startup. Check the flap and make sure it snaps closed good.

These are things I have learned from troubleshooting different problems, so read into it what you may.

 

Oh ya one other thing, check your TPS adjustment. It may not be seeing the idle switch causing an open loop ECU at startup. CHECK THIS FIRST before anything else.