4AFE Hard to start after sitting in the sun

[QldKev]

Hi all, my first post... and a question

Our 96 Corolla with the 2nd Gen 4AFE engine is hard to start when it has been sitting in the sun. First thing in the morning, or in the garage we have no problems. I've had the car for over 10years and it has only started having problems this year.

Basically it cranks for a while before it will kick up and then runs rough for a few seconds. You also get a good petrol smell, so I assume it is flooding. This is without touching the accelerator. Sometimes after work I need to kick the throttle to get it to fire up. If it hasn’t been sitting in the sun it starts 100% perfect first click of the key. Once it is running no problems at all, it drives perfect, good power and gives fuel economy about its normal.

I’ve noticed this on both ULP and premium.
On random tanks it gets Mooreys fuel additive, which is supposed to clean injectors etc.
It has a large battery in good condition – about 6 months old and a lot bigger than stock. (both CCA and RC), cranking speed is fast.
It has been running an air pod for all the time I’ve had it; I have recently replaced it to see if it helped.
Spark plugs look good and clean. (it runs perfect once started)
Same oil it has always run
Doesn’t use oil / water; no contamination noticed in either.
Still has that vacuum when you open the fuel cap. Same fuel cap that’s been on there the entire time.
No visual issues like leaking fuel around injectors etc.

What should I look for from here?

Thanks in advance


QldKev

[oldcorollas]

does it sit in the sun only after you have driven it somewhere?

could be something like injectors leaking into the manifold, but if left overnight, the fuel evaporates enough?

stuff in engine bay get hotter while/after driving than sitting in the sun.
only fuel tenk would get hotter when sittign in the sun...

[Cuzzo]

Its injected?

Leaking injector as stew says. I had this problem on my 4age ae82

[frostyadonis]

what oldcorollas and cuzzo are saying makes complete sense

whats happening is the injectors are not closing all the way causing fuel to leak past.

dirty injectors is the problem.

all the fuel in the rail is ending up in the cylinders.

when i completely run out of fuel (on a 4age) it always takes upto 30 seconds to fire up.

and it did run rough for a few seconds too..

the only thing i find puzzling is how does it start first kick in the morning with an empty fuel rail. mmm

[QldKev]

Thanks for the replies; Yes it's injected.

The main time I notice it, is after work. I drive to work which is only a few minute run, the car does not get to operating temp. It sits there all day until time to go home, and then it is hard to start.

If I drive from there to the shop, stop it and come out 10minutes later all is ok. Same thing, mornings are always ok.

Only other thing I am thinking of, is where I park at work the nose is slightly higher than the rear of the car, would this have an affect on it?

How do I check the injectors, or should I go buy a bottle of injector cleaner?

QldKev

[oldcorollas]

nose up should not have any effect i don't think.

if you were bored and would be home all day, you could start it, then let it sit for 30 mins, then see if it starts...
then let sit for an hour and see if it starts.. and keep making time longer until it has an issue.

does the 4AFE have a cold start injector?

i've had good luck with Wynns injector cleaner stuff but YMMV

to get injectors checked, you may as wll have them cleaned at same time.
there are some vans that go to your house to do it, or you can pull out and take them to get cleaned.

actually, what you could check, is if there is fuel pooling in the cylinders.
i don't know if you have the time or inclination after work, but you could pull each spark plug out in turn, shine torch down into cylinder and see if you can see liquid.

also, when you are at work, if you hold throttle down fully or haflway, and then tryin to start, make a difference?

some ECU's have a "flod clear" mode, where it you hold throttle all the way down, and crank, it won't inject fuel, so it tries to clear the cylinders of fuel, but just holding throttle full open while cranking should have similar effect.