1988 Toyota Camry sedan

[halfdiminished]

G'day friends,
I've had my little Camry for a few months now (after a cattle truck sideswiped my 1993 Station wagon and wrecked it ).
It's a great little car with only 135,000 k's on the clock.It drives like new and I very much like it.
There's a slight problem however.When starting first thing in the morning,the engine will turn over for about 5 or 10 seconds and not start.I then turn the key off and try again and it starts straight away.It only does this on the first start of the day ... any ideas ?
The previous Camry started immediately every time,Summer or Winter.
Thanks for you help ... Charlie ..

[Stealthee]

Is it cranking? Because if its cranking it's turning over.

If its cranking, but not starting on the first start of the day, its most likely a fuel pressure issue. Probably a fuel pressure regulator bleeding off pressure over night. Not sure if the fuel pump primes on that particular car or not, but if it does prime, then turn the key to on, let it prime, turn it back off, turn it back on to let it prime, then attempt to start.

If it is one that does not prime, and the pump only runs when it sees crank signal, then your best option is just to replace the fuel pressure regulator.

[halfdiminished]

Thanks Stealthee,
Yes it is cranking...I can't hear any priming/fuel pump sound when In turn the key on,so I guess this model does not prime.
What your saying makes sense, as for subsequent starts during the day,it fires straight away..
I'll look at replacing the fuel pressure regulator.I want to fix this problem because surely it must shorten the life of the starter motor.
I doubt if the fuel filter has ever been replaced.. could this be an issue ?
I appreciate your help mate,thanks.

[halfdiminished]

Is the regulator inside the fuel tank on my car ?

[Stealthee]

Its most likely on the fuel rail.

Quick google found one on eBay, and it definitely looks like it pops into the end of the rail. The fuel line and a vacuum line should be going to it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254239025260

[Mike Gerber]

On this model I think they used what was called a cold start injector time switch to richen the mixture via the cold start injector in the intake plenum for cold starts. I would check that for being out of spec. It's under a brown plastic connector on a water port to the right of the engine block as you are standing in front of the car. You will need a digital volt meter and the specs from any manual to do this. Even a little out of spec means it has to be replaced. Check this first for being in or out of spec as they are not cheap to replace.

Mike

[halfdiminished]

Thanks heaps to Stealthee andMike Gerber,
After a fair bit of googling and looking elsewhere on the net .. I believe that the cold start injector switch could be the problem here.
And yes,they are expensive for what seems quite a small component,but if that what we have to do,then so be it.
Thanks again men ,regards from OZ ... Charlie

[halfdiminished]

G'day there Mike ,
I removed and cleaned the cold start injector.. the tiny hole where the fuel comes out was clear .. could there be an electrical issue with the switch ?
Also.... do you know where the Fuel Pressure Regulator is in my car ?
Thanks to you ..

[halfdiminished]

The switch is different than the one mentioned by Stealthee.. it's on the top of the engine,on the inlet part ,behind the rocker box .. held on by two 10mm bolts .

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by halfdiminished

G'day there Mike ,
I removed and cleaned the cold start injector.. the tiny hole where the fuel comes out was clear .. could there be an electrical issue with the switch ?
Also.... do you know where the Fuel Pressure Regulator is in my car ?
Thanks to you ..

You cleaned the cold start injector itself. You need to check the cold start injector time switch for being in range. It's what activates the cold start injector on this model and causes it to squirt extra fuel in to the intake plenum to facilitate a cold start. It's what most often causes the problem you are describing. As I said previously you will need a digital voltmeter and the specs from any manual to check this.

Sorry, I don't remember where the fuel pressure regulator is on your car. Again a manual should tell you this.

Mike

[halfdiminished]

Thank you once again Mike .. I'll try and chase up a manual and a digital voltmeter.I have an analogue one,but don't really know how to drive it... we'll get there mate,cheers for now.