Cold start question

Hi guys,

I have a 99 Tacoma, 2.7L w/238500 miles, 5spd 4wd. This morning it was really cold below freezing I would say 28-30 degrees. I started my truck, turned over just fine, rpm was up to 1500 and then immediately stalled and shutdown. I started the engine once again and it stood at 1500 and ran just fine, going down to 500 rpm was fully warmed up.

Any ideas on why the immediate shutoff/stall happens on the initial start up or is it just because the truck is older? No engine codes, the truck has iridium plugs new NGK wires, new distributor and rotor, new pcv valve, new air filter I did notice the battery is on the older side installed in 2010, the terminals are clean, 91 octane.

No issues during the summer with cold starts.

Thank you

 

Anyone?

 

I really can't answer your question...but.... If it stalled after it was already running, you could possibly blame fuel delivery and/or lost electrical to all spark plugs.

I wouldn't worry too much about it since it only happened once....

If a sensor was going bad, you should get a code.......

Have you tried searching google?
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Tacoma+cold+start+stalling

 

Thank you for the reply,

So this issue is an ongoing issue in really cold temps. It's really strange because if the temp is in the 20's it will start and then immediately stall. Then it starts right back up.


If the temps are in the low to mid 30's it almost stalls after start up. Temps 35+ no issues.

The only thing I see maybe being the culprit is the battery since it's at 4 years old close to 5 years.

 

Could the AIS system be gummed up when cold?

 

I'm sorry I'm not to sure what the AIS system is. I made a short video of the problem. In the video the temperature is around 1 degree lol. So I knew the truck would struggle on the initial start. However what you see in this video happens in temps 30 degrees and below.

http://youtu.be/KHZOTQAn00Q

 

I wouldn't worry to much about, my old Tahoe with less than 70k would do the same thing in sub 10 degree weather and I owned it from day one. Maintained meticulously and the dealer never could find an issue with it, neither could I. No matter what quality store pump fuel I ran and even it did it after I installed a block heater. It was just a extreme cold weather quirk I attributed to crappy fuel these days, because I ran a non-ethanol fuel in it and it cranked and ran fine, but I wasn't about to pay $6 a gallon just so it would start and run continuously on extremely cold mornings.

 

Are you talking about someone else's truck? The 2.7 motor for 1999 does not have a distributor.

 

Sorry just the wires and plugs were changed not the coil packs.

 

Thank you for the reply. I mean it's only the initial startup you see after the first startup it runs fine. I think this cold spell will kill my old battery. This morning the truck barely want to crank.

 

Definitely seems like a fuel issue I would not doubt that The engine could also not be warm enough as well. Just turn it on and put it around like 500 and then see what happens. Keep us posted. But dont worry to much

 

first thing i would do is get a stronger battery. I would say your fuel pump is losing power. Why.. I dont know..

 

That'll probably be the next thing I buy then go from there. Thank you.

 

Maybe check fuel filter as well.

 

How come gas is so expensive in Texas?

 

Ethanol free gas is expensive, regular gasoline is $2.49 a gallon

 

Watch your tack if it falls like a rock it's electrical if it falls slowly it's fuel but unlikely. takes a little time to drain off 35 PSI but you will never know with out a fuel pressure gauge any thing else is just a guess. My 97 had a 2.7 and many times durring any Maine winter it started flawlessly in temps well below zero and did so for 285,000 miles.

 

It's 2.89 in Maine. Why is ethanol free fuel so expensive in Texas they import it from Russia in gallon jugs? or is it black market? We have no ethanol free fuel in Maine but I can find it in VT for just a few cents more.

 

AV Fuel, quickest and easiest place to find it, comes in several octane ratings, I use the lowest which I like 96 octane, according to the maintenance guy at the airport.

 

I mean as fast as it falls, a bad battery is what I was leaning towards. I'll probably start there. Thanks for the reply.