Q: My car starts and then dies several times before it will stay running, but only when it's cold

asked by on November 16, 2016

When I go to start my Toyota it will start then dies does this several times then will stay running. Changed the fuel filter and mass flow sensor also took it to the shop and they couldn't find anything wrong.

My car has 213000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Hi there. One of the most overlooked issues that can cause hard starting when it’s cold is a malfunctioning engine coolant temperature sensor. If the coolant level is low, the coolant temperature sensor can send false information to the computer, causing a hard start or a cold start poor running condition as you’re describing above. The best way to diagnose this is to connect a digital scanner to the sensor and manually compare the temperature on the sensor to the temperature on the meter. If you don’t have access to this, contact a mobile technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to come and complete an inspection and diagnose why your car is hard to start in cold weather.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Engine temperature keeps going up
Hello. The cooling system is designed to keep the engine at operating temperature. Hot coolant from the engine flows through the radiator, which lowers the temperature. The lower temperature coolant is then returned to the engine. The primary cooling system...
Bus not starting
Hey there. This may be caused by a few different things which all seem to indicate you have a fuel supply problem. This may be caused by low fuel pressure, dirty or faulty fuel injectors (bus not starting), low voltage...
I have a 2012 hyundai accent and the transmission shakes and rumbels in park, neutral, and reverse and sits fine in drive.
Hi there. There could be an issue within the transmission making the inside parts vibrate in neutral and under a reverse load. Also, there could be a transmission mount issue causing the transmission to shake, but when the vehicle is...
Oil change
In today's vehicles, the majority of cars are able to go between 5,000-6,000 miles between oil changes depending on the health of the car's engine and assuming you are using a quality oil. For some, this is a matter of...
what are the symptoms of a bad axle? 2006 Honda Civic
Hello. A bad axle shows up in a few ways. A visual inspection would first tell you if there is a broken and leaking boot on the axle. Though a boot can be replaced I usually replace the axle. They...
car shaking when idle, bad exhaust, low engine temperature
If the muffler is loud because it is leaking exhaust gases (as opposed to just having broken internal baffles) the car is not safe to drive because exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide. The cost to repair the loud exhaust depends...
2005 chrysler 300C code 0480
The most common cause for getting code P0480 on this car is the cooling fan has a problem and should be checked for proper operation and replace electrical cooling fan and fan relay as needed.

Related articles

The Importance of Warming Your Car Before Driving
Scandphoto / Shutterstock.com Many people feel that it’s important to warm a vehicle up before driving off. This has long been the dominant school of thought, dating from when cars had carburetors and many would not run...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
More More and more manufacturers are offering their most popular passenger cars in hybrid models, and America’s top-selling passenger car is no exception. The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid is fuel-efficient, comfortable, and convenient. Key Features The upgraded HSD (hybrid synergy...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're an Archeologist
If If you are an archaeologist, you need a vehicle that will take you off the beaten path. After all, that’s where you spend a good deal of your time. And that means that you will need, ideally, an SUV...