so i'm running a '89 V6 3vz, and it takes what seems to me a long time to warm up. i'll lets it warm up for about 4-5 minutes till i take off, then once driving the temp will stay totally down for like 10-15 minutes.
now i'm much happier having it hard to get warm, than if it were hard to stay cool, but it runs real crapy and sputters when taking off and shifting gears until it warms up. is this normal? does anyone else have this going on?

 

Most cars don't run as well when they're cold (the computer limits fuel until its warmed up) but it shouldn't be sputtering. Is it just lurching when you shift and then stumbling a bit? I get that too when my engine's cold if I don't let the clutch out a little slower. I think its just because the engine hasn't warmed up yet.

And as far as taking 15 minutes to warm, that seems excessive. I don't let my truck warm up before I drive it, I just turn it on and drive and its usually at operating temp within 2 minutes.

 

Sound to me like the thermostat is lower then the stock 180...

 

ya, it stumbles when in the new gear becuase of the low RPMs. i have to get the RPMs up then feather the clutch.

 

but once its warm, it runs like a champ

 

yeah that's the same with mine, our trucks just aren't very powerful. Something we have to live with lol

 

mine's actually not to bad when its warm, iv'e got intake and exhuast though. sound good

 

I was wondering the same thing as you, but know i see im not the only one. Yah i got remote start on mine so ill let it warm up 3-5 minutes prior to jumping in it but it still acts like a bitch when its cold, spitting and spuddering and just acting nasty. All i do to compensate is let the clutch out alot slower and ride the clutch a tad and its all good.

 

Actually, they dump MORE fuel when cold. The cold start injector opens up and dumps additional fuel. Even on carbed engines. When cold, the choke should be set closed, which richens the mixture, giving better cold starts.


Sounds to me like you have 2 problems.

Number one, a thermostat that is stuck open. Replace the thermostat and the truck should warm up much faster.

Second, you've got a problem with the cold start circuit. Either the injector, timer, or temp sensor. I had a similar problem, found out that the ECU temp sensor was not plugged in.


Get the FSM and troubleshoot. You can probe the temp senser and other things via the back of the ECU.

 

thermostat! makes sense.

thanks man, thats probably what it is.

 

let us know what happens if u do

 

ya my yota did the same thing. i think its all good

 

ya, i'll let you know.

 

jewls, does your emit any black smoke from the tailpipe when cold and sputtering. Mine does and it's worse when the weather is cold. Once it's been driven and warms up, if I shut it off for about a minute and start it up again, it's all good and runs great. I need to get a manual and start trbl shooting.

Please let us know what you find. Thanks

 

Here is the FSM for a '93 truck, no guarantees yours is the same, but it should help:
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/

 

nope, no black smoke but i've got some bigger problems right now that im going to dive into tomorrow, probably going to start a thread on it. uhg, so the warm up problem is going to have to wait.