Did I give my 80 the Flu? Trouble starting and Coughing Choking!

[snowcruiser]

While I'm searching through the extensive archives maybe someone will be able to shed some light on this one. I just turned 100K on my '96...actually 101K. Last week-end in Vermont I returned to the truck after snowboarding and when I went to start the truck it sputtered and coughed but did eventually start. Haven't had a problem again until today when I went out this morning and started the truck cold. Same thing but coughing was more like choking. It wanted to start but just couldn't after a few seconds of cranking. On attempt two it started without any of the previous symptoms whatsoever but idled a little rough for a minute and belched out a rather large cloud of grey/white smoke from the exhaust. After a minute or so I drove off and everything seemed to be ok....what gives???

For a little history I am do for an oil change (Mobil 1 5w 30) 6000 mile intervals, and after checking the oil at 6100 I am about a quart low. I check every 1000 miles and it was fine at 5000. I also replaced the O2 sensors about 1000 miles ago after resetting the CEL P0130 about once every two weeks for over 1 year. Truck runs perfectly smooth and idles normally. I had my oil analyzed at 94K by Blackstone and they said there were no signs of abnormal wear whatsoever and that I could increase my intervals if I desired. I did a tuneup with cap, plugs, rotor and air filter at 89K, and starter contacts at 72K. I've also flushed the coolant with Toyota Red and swapped the PHH. I have not yet changed the fuel filter since I purchased the truck with 70K...hmm I wonder.....

Any thoughts?

Now for the unrelated chain of events that is probably somehow related along with the position of the moon....I purchased FIAMM horns to upgrade the crappy OEMs and stupidly blew the round underhood horn relay as the FIAMM insulators are not really insulated so I've been without a horn as a result for about a week. I also finally installed the second fuse block inside the truck under the dash to run off of my second battery and I discovered the other day that the second battery is not charging as it always has in the past. I am now running the second fuse block off of the marine switch output on a solenoid relay setup a la Christo's schematic....probably can't do this because of a cutoff for charging....anyway I also found a botched up crease behind the driver's side second door with rust....fawk! This is the side that was repaired by some shoddy body shop and the PO so I am hoping it is ok.

One step at a time though...the coughing/choking is the top of the list. I do have the flu right now so maybe I gave it to my 80. Thoughts while I search the archives?

 

[landtank]

grey/white smoke is not a good thing. Watch your coolant level closely, by that I mean mark it at the high level and check that level once the truck has come up to temperature every drive.

Also you might have a dirty fuel pump relay. I had this a little while ago and after I cleaned it the truck starts normally again.

 

[snowcruiser]

Tank

I check the coolant frequently and have never noticed a change at all, furthermore the oil analysis 6000 miles ago said there was zero.zerozerozerozero traces of coolant or coolant particles in the oil. The smoke scared me too but the analysis is comforting. I will look at the fuel pump relay.

It is odd that the CEL has not come on for either of the two time this has happened so far. I think I'll replace the fuel filter and clean the Fuel Pump Relay for sarters.

Other thoughts/sugestions are still appreciated!

 

[Gauge]

Snowcruiser,

For whatever it is worth I have the same problem. Once in awhile, usually after the truck has sat for a few days without being run, I will start it and it will belch, couch, shimmy and shake with smoke everywhere. It will run like this for a few seconds, then it will start to clear out and after 10 seconds it will run like a swiss watch - absolutely perfect. It is only on startup that this happens once in awhile - not all the time.

It reminds of what a carburated (sp?) engine will do when it is flooded (i.e. choke on the extra fuel for a few seconds until it is burned off).

Is it possible that the engine is getting too much fuel on startup?

 

[snowcruiser]

So forced myself out in the colde with the flu today to check this out a little further. Found a loose EFI relay not entirely seated in its socket. Could this be related?

 

[Scamper]

I've noticed a number of threads on this and similar topics...

I"m wondering if this is due to a poorly malfuntioning IAC valve and/or TB being dirty? Here's my rationale:

On cold start, the IAC is supposed to enrich the fuel mix. Perhaps it's overdoing it a tad or sticking. If your TB is sufficiently grotty, it could keep open the butterfly a bit. As the IAC attempts to run a rich mix, and the TB is allowing extra air in, might they be fighting one another and feeding in too much fuel--hence the smoke and poor starting?

I know... I'm paranoid, and the TPS is also out to get me... ;p Just brainstorming here...

 

[fzj80kidpen]

Scamper with a sound thought.
I have a simpler question. What kind of oil filter are you using?

 

[snowcruiser]

This is my 2nd to last good filter of the 2004 variety....why?

 

[RavenTai]

The rough/no start that straitens itself up when cranking ends does sound like a fuel pump relay problem. Mine never set a code throughout its fuel pump problems, does it ever get rough or stall under hard acceleration?

But mine never smoked.


Idle Air Control? that controls how much air gets in to regulate idle but where does mixture come in?

 

[Scamper]

Idle Air Control? that controls how much air gets in to regulate idle but where does mixture come in?

It was just a thought. Yes, the IAC just regulates air. It's the ECU that triggers the IAC and sets the fuel delivery, but it's doing it while thinking that the IAC is behaving properly I would suspect.