Leines

so i went to crank over my rx this am when it was -33degrees, she fired up then immediately died, it seems like she wanted to start, but couldnt... seemed like it had juice, but i tried to boost it... i tried a few times through out the day as it got warmer, hoping it might work.. wouldnt work even with a boost.. i have a 1 yr old interstate battery... but i put a battery charger on for an hr.. .then put a small space heater under my hood.. and she turned over.. chugged a bit... but kept idle....

i got a short code for misfire #2 cylindar.. p0302, which i cleared, and then restarted the truck...
it seemed to turn over now easily and start.. but its idling rough..and im getting the dreaded P0171 code FLASHING CEL on my dash while it idles in my driveway...

im kinda wondering if its safe to let her idle, even though she seems pretty warm.... and or will this maybe solve the problem... its still -13 outside... but id like to drive to work tomorrow and its gonna be another cold overnight....

Thoughts suggestions???

salimshah

Its too cold.

oil weight.
Battery condition.
Fuel .. The air above the fuel level can have moisture and that moisture can condense in the tank and with these temperature freeze and blocks fuel delivery.
IACV slug may become more stuck.

These are my ideas. Solution ... take a vacation to warmer climate and do the fixes when the temperature warm up a bit. Else you could be chasing phantom issues.

Salim

Leines

as much as id like to just leave for a few months.. its gonna be this cold for a few weeks, and my flight to puerto plata doesnt leave till feb 21st..... I use my truck daily for work so ive got to figure out something... if i have to leave the space heater under the hood for an hr before work i will...
is it possible the 0171 is simply from the cold cold cold air? its lean meaning too much air correct?

Baetke

Any time you get a flashing CEL you should turn the car off as soon as possible. That indicates something is malfunctioning bad enough to damage your catalytic converter.

Leines

So i went out this morning to start the car.. it started right up...and i let it warm up... was idling fine... then after warming up for 20-25mins.. i went back outside and i have a flashing CEL again.... hooked up my code reader and i have a 2 pending codes for P0302 misfire #2 and p0171 system lean...

no hard code but it was flashing on the dash... took 15+ mins until it actually started to idle rough again.


Thoughts, its still cold out today but only like -15 degrees

salimshah

When was the last time you filled up? Just want to eliminate you have summer gas in the tank.

Salim

lexus114

Also, when it is that cold outside, push and hold the accelerator peddle about a 1/4 of an inch. Will aid in starting.

Leines

So im back to report what has happened since.... I put a small space heater under my hood for about 15mins, and put my battery on a charger just incase for about an hr... the truck started up but it ran rough spitting spurted chugged a bit... I left it run for about 10mins idle, and then went back outside to find a flashing CEL#2 misfire 0171.... I turned off the car hoping it was still just from the cold, or all the attempted starts earlier in the day.... next day i jumped in the car and it seemed to run without a light... i got down to work and i got a cel, p0125 i think it was, low coolent, checked and it does seem to be right at the LOW, maybe slightly below (cause for freezing) so i added some coolent to the rx, and reset light... little while later i got another flashing #2 misfire, and decided to take it to my mechanic... we swapped the #2 coil over to #4 and the CEL followed.. replace the coil with oem toyota coil, and it was driving fine... drove no issues to work next day, while driving the truck losses power, going very slow, flashing CEL i pull into walmart.. P0171 and p0172 Rich and Lean?? turned off the truck, turned back on cleared codes. slowly drove around walmart parking lot, seems to be moving fine, turned it off and on a couple times in the parking lot while moving around from end to end trying to get CEL back... doesnt show up, continue driving for work... Two days later i get a CEL comes up check it and its P0141. clear code and drive home with no return of pending or light.

This is where i stand today... P0141 rear o2 sensor, which oddly enough i think was replaced last year around this same time.... I did infact fill my truck with regular grade gas with some gasline antifreeze before i got that 171/172 code... i have now just run down to empty and will refill again this morning maybe with a midgrade to see if that helps.

More thoughts?

Baetke

Just a thought...

Maybe while the #2 coil was bad you were pumping a lot of unburned fuel through the exhaust and fouled the A/F sensor?

Leines

Very well could be, the cat could be fubarred and at same time the O2 sensor that's after the cat....