I have an 88 4Runner 22re automatic. When the engine is cold (particularly on colder days), the truck has a real problem accelerating until it warms up. It takes a few miles or more depending on the air temp. It seems like it is trying to take off in a high gear. Also, it is really rough idling if I don't rev the engine slightly when it starts cold. It sometimes stalls right out. It runs fine when it warms up.
I already have new plugs and wires.
I've been told it might be the oxygen sensor.
Any ideas on the problem, and where, exactly is the oxygen sensor?
Any solutions relatively easy for a DYI?
Thanks in advance for any help someone might be able to provide.

 

I have an 88 4Runner 22re automatic. When the engine is cold (particularly on colder days), the truck has a real problem accelerating until it warms up. It takes a few miles or more depending on the air temp. It seems like it is trying to take off in a high gear. Also, it is really rough idling if I don't rev the engine slightly when it starts cold. It sometimes stalls right out. It runs fine when it warms up.
I already have new plugs and wires.
I've been told it might be the oxygen sensor.
Any ideas on the problem, and where, exactly is the oxygen sensor?
Any solutions relatively easy for a DIY?
Thanks in advance for any help someone might be able to provide.

 

way to go double poster...

haha, jk kiddin man, welcome to YT


sounds like possibly the idle air control valve

it's mounted on the bottom side of the throttle body; has coolant lines that run to it.

basically, it up's the idle on cold start and will make it run right when it's cold too. if it sticks in warm-running position, it'll more than likely give similar results

 

Although I can't diagnose the problem from here I will give you some advice. Let it warm up to operating temp before driving as it will help some. You can also buy a magnetic heater that will stick to the oil pan and plug that in over night. It'll make the rig warm up faster much like the block heater on a diesel. That and the heater will work sooner.

I'm sure someone will chime in with an honest to goodness fix but in the mean time this is the only advice I can give.

 

May need to raise your idle

 

coolant temp sensor? cold start injector time switch? cold start injector?
Idle Air Valve / Auxilary Air Valve (like iamsuperbleeder mentioned)?
ignition timing?
vacuum leaks?

 

My old '91 v6 did this, problem was the Cold Start Injector.

 

easy test for that; just unplug the electrical connector, and if it get's worse then it means it's working and that it's not the cold start injector; if it stay's the same, then you've pinpointed your problem


BUT, I do believe that will just give you issues only during initial startup, not once the motor is running. Correct me anyone if I'm wrong though...

 

the cold start injector should run during cranking and until the cold start time switch tells it not to (which is until the coolant is above about 60F).

 

oh ok, that's what proves me wrong then, thanks abe

then yes, there's a chance that could be the source of the problem

just test it real quick like I mentioned above before you drive it again next time and you'll know it that's it or not

 

Lol, 'bleeder dude. Thats how I knew it was my it was my CSI. Like I said, that was on my old '91 DLX longbed rig.....

 

well good, feedback about that diagnosis working then

give er a shot and see what happens; that's one of things that's easy and it doesn't hurt anything to try it, so it's kind of a "you have nothing to lose" situation

 

And let me add (yes, my favorite phrase ).
The O2 sensor does absolutely nothing for a cold engine. It has to be heated up in order to operate properly.

 

my runner is an absolute pig until it runs for about 5 mins... you cah actually hear the idle drop to the normal operating range...