previa sputtering at cold startup

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JHZR2

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Hi,

I posted a very similar thread a few months back, but since then, the situation has changed a bit.

Tgeh previa has 189k on it. It runs GREAT after it starts, gets consistent MPG, shifts perfectly, etc. We have changed the o2 sensors not too long ago, but that was unrelated, as the overal situation has existed longer.

First, we would crank it (it catches on the first cylinder), and then it would just turn off. The second try it would catch and be 100% OK.

Now it has changed a bit. The car will crank, catch on the first cylinder, and then sputter for about 5-10 seconds before turning off. The second time (often there is a second time before it catches 100%), it will either catch totally fine, or it will sputter, but it will sputter for only a second or two before dying out. It has always caught 100% fine by the third time.

Ive never heard the fuel pump prime on this vehicle the way it will on others. At the same time, there are no emissions of any color to note at startup that would to me indicate fuel leaking from injectors or anything similar.

TB looks clean, suprisingly, considering that it has 189k. It does not use any oil, and passes emissions just fine.

Ive thought that maybe its a cold start injector, idle air controller/valve or something like this. Does anyone have any suggestions? We will be tuning it up (wires, plugs, dist cap/rotor) within the next few weeks (ahead of schedule), though there is no MPG or power loss to note that would make it really necessary: It just seems that it will be a good time to do it.

So, anyone car to advise on what might cause a sputter at cold start, but then 100% fine afterwards?
 
Could be the ignition switch.

Turn the key to the first setting on the igntion then off 4 times slowly.Then try to start it after this "primer".
 
Check the dist cap and rotor. The screws that hold the rotor in place have the tendency to come loose. I've had to replace the cap and rotor twice in a 1 year period because the screws came loose and caused the rotor to come off; luckily the distributor was not damaged, only damage to the cap. The second time this happened, i thought it was fuel related, but darn that cap and rotor.

On the last replacement, I used blue loctite and new screws (they are M4 screws)/washers/lock washers to secure the rotor. I will check this combo out everytime i change the oil. I used the liquid loctite, but i believe the one on a stick would work better.

By the way, our family previa is a '91 currently with 125k miles on it. it needs new shocks/strut mounts, the drivers door lock needs to be fixed, and a new radio/cd put in. Also, the A/C system is always leaking. I dunno how much a conversion is to R134a.
 
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