So i've got a 91 4runner, v6 that lives in the cold. In the morning, when it's below freezing, it starts right up and idles well. After it has been sitting in the sun all day like at work or school, I go to start it and it cranks and cranks and cranks. It's turning over but not catching. When it finally does catch, it sputters at about 200 RPM until I give it some gas. When it cranks like this, I get the smell of gas as well. The hotter it is outside, the harder it is to start. It's getting spark and it's getting fuel, new plugs and wires, the pick up coil, ignitor and cap all check out. Any suggestions???

P.S I am not very good with cars so the best way to describe something to me is with a colored picture if possible. . .

 

Check the cold start injector and time switch:

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...29coldstar.pdf

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...ne/39colds.pdf

 

Hey man the links aren't working, and if i'm looking at the right part, couldn't I just pop off the cold start injector harness and test it that way? In my repair manual, it tells me to do a lot of stuff that doesn't seem necessary, but i'm most likely wrong. . .

 

You need a PDF viewer. Follow the factory service manual procedures above...simple tests.

 

Sweet, way different than my manual but looks easier. I'll be giving that a try. . . Where is the time switch located?

I have also been leading to the ECT sensor as well? What do you think?

 

Sounds to me like the switch is stuck causing the CSI to fire when it's warm, hence the hard warm starts and stong fuel smell. CSI could also be leaking.

For a super easy test, you could unplug the CSI and see if it's still hard to start when warm.

 

Not "what" but "where" That was actually a good source of knowledge, but where is the time switch and the CSI?

 

Missed the part about where. Locations:



Factory Service Manuals

 

Brain fart, CSI = cold start injector, I know where that is and I popped the connector off and the problem persisted. Since the time switch and ECT sensor are next to each other, i'll give both of them a test while i'm there.

 

Green is the time switch, ECT is just to the left (missing in this pic).

 

Of course it's in the back. . haha have you ever gotten to those before?

 

Once you get it started (while warm), does the idle return to normal after you give it some throttle or does it continue to idle really low?

 

It returns to normal

 

Yep...it's a pain. If you have a helper, it's really easy to remove the hood for better access.

 

So something else just happened, well actually it happens quite a bit but it's hard to explain when it happens. So I just drove to the store and back and when pulling into the parking spot, going, you know, slow it was idling at 800-900 which is good IMO but it felt rough. It started sputtering. Same thing happened when I backed into my driveway, going slow, good RPMs but sputtering. . . To me that sounds like off timing, could timing be affecting my start problem?

 

It's definitely worth checking. Remember to check it with TE1 & E1 jumped in the diagnostic connector.

I'd still test the ECT sensor and time switch.

 

Well i put a paperclip in the two and no codes, or are you saying put the paperclip in and pull the connector off of the CSI? Sorry, it's late and i'm spacy. . .

 

Sorry...to check/set base timing, TE1 & E1 must be jumped.

 

Hey guys, is the cold start injector the true scientific name? I came to the conclusion that mine is sticking open so I am in the process of looking for a new one. I cannot find a"cold start injector" anywhere. Is there another name for them or do I just need to look harder? I have found a couple used ones on eBay but I do not want a used one. Any suggestions?

 

Injector Assy, Cold Start Fuel
http://www.toyotapartseast.com/Page_...3522,3523,3524

http://www.utoyot8.com/Picture.aspx?...ccode=&ppName=