Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

I am having a problem starting my 2012 Sequoia when the outside temp is 40 deg or below.
It acts like it is not getting enough gas. It cranks for over 5 sec. Then it will stop. It does this 2 or 3 times before it finally starts. When it does start, it runs real ragged like it is not a rich enough mixture. After about 10 sec, it will settle down and run correctly.
It only does this if the outside temp is below 40 deg and the car has not been run recenly (such as sitting overnight). The car will then start fine for the rest of the day if used frequently.
Car runs great when warm. Milage is 40k
D

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

Hello There,
If your car is E85 equipped, meaning the engine is capable of running on a higher ethanol content fuel (usually indicated by the yellow fuel pumps at the gas station and gas caps), this may cause a lot of the cold start problems you are having as this is a known issue with the 2012-2015 flex fuel Toyota Tundras and Sequoias. What tends to happen with this type of fuel upon cold start situations, the vehicle’s engine control module measures the amount of ethanol in the gasoline and adjusts the air/fuel mixture ratio on the fly depending on this alcohol measurement. 100% gasoline is mixed at a 14.7/1 air/fuel ratio, while E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is mixed at a 9.8/1 air/fuel ratio. The ECM adjusts between these two ratios depending on the ethanol content of the fuel (which can range from 0-85% as indicated above).

The problem with this begins with the ECM’s measurement of the alcohol density being incorrect for a cold start. The motor requires even more fuel than normal to get a cold engine started, and using the wrong fuel ratio from the beginning of the process leads to even more skewed startup fuel trims, a hard start and rough running until the engine warms up and stabilizes. If the measured Alcohol Density Estimate is greater than 15% and your fuel trims still read negative/lean, the ECM may need to be reprogrammed to compensate for this adjusting the fuel trim to accommodate additional fuel required for cold starting. I would recommend using a fuel with less ethanol content or taking this to the Toyota dealer to have the ECM reprogrammed to adjust for this.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

What is a Cold-Start Valve? A cold-start valve (or cold-start injector) is located on your vehicle`s intake manifold connecting to the cold air intake. It delivers fuel into a cold engine when you turn the ignition. During a cold start-up, your ECU signals the cold-start valve to inject more fuel into the engine.

A thermotime switch, or TTS, is a sensor used to control the cold start enrichment process in some older fuel injection systems.

Battery knowledge. Back to overview. A cold start in an internal engine refers to the start of operation without the cooling water and/or oil having been preheated beforehand and without pressure having been built up in the lubricating oil circuit beforehand or without sufficient oil reserves in the bearing points.

It is located under the throttle body on the lower intake manifold, right next to the ECU coolant temperature sensor (not the gauge temperature sensor).

A leaky cold start injector may result in a reduction in engine performance and acceleration as a result of the disturbed air fuel ratio. In more severe cases, where a large amount of fuel is leaking into the manifold the vehicle may even experience stalling or misfires.

In short, injectors are solenoid operated valves that use Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signals from the Engine Control Unit to open or close a valve that permits or blocks fuel flow to the engine.

To control the entry of the fuel and air mixture into the cylinder, an intake valve is used. In a four-stoke engine, this valve opens during the piston`s intake stroke to allow fuel and air into the cylinder, and closes during the subsequent compression phase (where the fuel and air is compressed for combustion).

One common culprit for this problem is the crankshaft position sensor, which measures the position and speed of the crankshaft. The computer uses the information from this sensor to know when to fire the spark plugs. If the sensor isn`t working, the spark plugs won`t fire, keeping the engine from starting.

When a cold engine is started, a component called the auxiliary fuel injector sprays additional fuel into the intake manifold. The extra fuel helps the engine start faster. But we also do not want the fuel-air mixture to be too rich. So, the throttle valve opens to raise the engine`s idle speed.

Let`s put it together: cold starts are not bad for your vehicle. If you live in a more frigid region, your engine oil will likely cool out, which might initiate a cold start.

“Cycle” the Key. Make sure the radio, headlights, heater, etc., are switched to “off,” so they aren`t pulling energy from your battery and engine. Now put the key in the ignition and turn it from the “off” to the “start” position about ten times. You`re “cycling the key,” which can help warm up the battery and starter.

There is still considerable condensation in the engine and exhaust system when starting a cold engine. This contributes to oil contamination and exhaust system corrosion. Frequent cold starts without a full warm-up can also contribute to carbon deposits on valves, pistons, rings and combustion chambers.

These are the exhaust gas oxygen (O2 sensors) and knock sensors. The wideband exhaust gas oxygen sensor(s) tell the ECU the actual running air-fuel ratio of the engine.

If your vehicle is revving inconsistently or your RPM gauge is up and down, this may be a sign your fuel injector needs a clean. A contaminated fuel injection system or worn fuel injector can often supply inconsistent amounts of fuel to the engine, resulting in poor performance. Misfiring.

Vehicle Won`t Start or Struggles When Starting

If the fuel injector is not delivering enough fuel to the engine system, this can cause the car to struggle when trying to turn over or not turn over at all (just cranks with no result). This can also cause the engine to stall due to the air-fuel ratio not being correct.

Common causes of injector failure

While many things can cause breakdowns, the most likely cause of premature failure is fuel contamination. Fuel contamination occurs when debris in the fuel gets past the filtration, destroying the sealing surfaces. Think microns, smaller than a human`s hair-sized, clearances.

Injection valves are mounted at the point of injection to connect the metering line. They protect against backflow and generate a defined back pressure.

Electronic Control Unit (ECU)

It does this by telling the fuel injectors when and how long to fire. The ECU often controls other functions like the fuel pump and ignition timing.

Most medium-sized internal combustion (IC) engines have either intake ports and exhaust valves, or both intake and exhaust valves. Smaller two stroke petrol/gasoline engines use intake and exhaust ports i.e. no valves.

Diesel engines have two methods of admitting and exhausting gasses from the cylinder. They can use either ports or valves or a combination of both.

Valve technology is essential for car and vehicle engines because it determines a standard internal combustion engine`s operation and performance. Valve engine technology has evolved over several decades to become more reliable and fuel-efficient.

Yes, you can drive with a bad oxygen sensor if you can still start your engine and feel little difficulty driving. But don`t leave it alone for over a couple of days, as it might cause safety problems and lead to the malfunction of other parts of your vehicle.

your car fails to start: the engine`s computer uses the map sensor to gauge atmospheric pressure before the engine is started. a false reading could cause too much or too little fuel to be delivered to the engine. both conditions could keep it from firing up.

Very cold starts meant engine idling at around 1500 rpm.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My car isn’t starting, it’s really cold out. I was wondering how can I start it with this cold weather

ANSWER : Hi there. Given the description of not being able to start your vehicle, when it is cold and jump starting the vehicle without any problem. This leads me to believe the battery does not have enough cold cranking amp capacity. The engine needs to turn over fast enough to start. This may be nothing more than a weak battery. I recommend having this confirmed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.

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My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and

ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

ANSWER : Hello There,
If your car is E85 equipped, meaning the engine is capable of running on a higher ethanol content fuel (usually indicated by the yellow fuel pumps at the gas station and gas caps), this may cause a lot of the cold start problems you are having as this is a known issue with the 2012-2015 flex fuel Toyota Tundras and Sequoias. What tends to happen with this type of fuel upon cold start situations, the vehicle’s engine control module measures the amount of ethanol in the gasoline and adjusts the air/fuel mixture ratio on the fly depending on this alcohol measurement. 100% gasoline is mixed at a 14.7/1 air/fuel ratio, while E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is mixed at a 9.8/1 air/fuel ratio. The ECM adjusts between these two ratios depending on the ethanol content of the fuel (which can range from 0-85% as indicated above).

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

Map sensor car won’t start up good ?

ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.

At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

car hesitates when trying to start the car ,but when started then i shut car off and start again it will start right up

ANSWER : Hi there:

Sometimes when you have problems starting an engine initially it is caused by a restriction in fuel flow; caused either by clogged fuel injectors or the throttle body that needs to be cleaned. Once the fuel starts to flow and engine warms up, it’s much easier to start. However, it could also be an air filter, EGR valve or other components that causes this issue as well, which is why it’s best to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection so they can pinpoint the source of this issue.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

Charging warning light comes on when i turn the key and try to start the car and the car want start but when someone tried to give

ANSWER : Hi there:

If you recently replaced your battery, the issue may be caused by a malfunctioning alternator or other electrical component that comprises the charging system on your Nissan Sentra. The best way to find out which item specifically is faulty, is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection. This will allow the mechanic to determine the precise source of what’s going on with your Sentra and recommend or complete the right repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

My car will be starting perfect and when the gas tank gets lower it will start having problems .

ANSWER : Based on the information you gave, it sounds like a possible fuel starvation issue, caused by a partially blocked, in-tank fuel filter or a crack in the fuel pump housing. The remedy would be to replace the fuel pump assembly and filter. The overheating may be caused by several things, including a stuck thermostat, faulty water pump, or even a cracked head gasket. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, inspect the relevant systems to pinpoint the cause of your vehicle’s hard starting issue and overheating problem.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?

My car stutter starts, but only after driving it for a few minutes.

ANSWER : Hey there. This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire, or stall. If you would like to have an expert pinpoint the issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the hard start problem and confirm which repairs are needed.

Read Full Q/A … : Does my car have a cold start valve or cold start injector?