Does anyone know of a way to modify the xB's ECU or whatever else might be needed to make the engine not rev so high when the engine is cold. I have an automatic, and it stays in a gear until almost 4,000 rpm before downshifting, which seems foolish for a cold engine.

Thanks for any input you may have!

 

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but aren't you supposed to wait until the blue lights goes off to drive? I haev a remote starter in mine and as I'm walking to my parking space - I turn it on - Just to warm it up a little bit faster... Doesn't make a huge difference but it's still cool...
- sh00k

 

Blue light "off" means coolant is just warming up...and the trans is allowed to shift into OD.

4k rpm! Go easy til at least the blue light goes out!

 

nope, blue just means engine temps are still a bit on the cool side. you can drive as soon as you turn on your car, just don't beat on it until it warms up a bit later.

i have an auto as well, but i don't recall having it stay in gear until 4k. are you at WOT or half throttle or what ? i tend to be easy on the engine most times, so it shifts at 2-3k consistently if i'm going slow.

 

No, you're not supposed to wait for the blue light to go off before driving. Like tanakasan said, the light going off just means it's warmed up (more or less) and your auto will shift into OD. It only takes about 1 to 1.5 miles for the light to go out on mine- even when it's 30-40 degrees. I let it idle for 5-10 seconds while I put on my seat belt and find something on the radio, then I'm off.

 

the engine wants to warm up..

that's why it's revving higher.

 

start up your car and drive away

toyota doesn't recommend letting it just idle for it to warm up its bad for the engine

 

Idling your car is not a good thing. Just drive slow until the light goes off--usually within the first mile.

 

I believe the owner's manual says the initial high RPMs are so the catalytic converter will warm up faster to reduce pollutants.

As mentioned, Toyota does not recommend a lengthy warmup. They say it's okay to drive away once the engine idle speed has stabilized. However, this might take a half minute or so in colder weather.

 

Mine seems to rev a little higher when it is cold, Once the blue light goes out it's fine...I only warm mine up for about a minute on the cold mornings. Sounds like somebody just has a heavy foot...lol.

 

It just helps the car warm up faster. It won't hurt anything. My wife's car does the same thing.

 

its normal. just take it easy till the blue lights goes away.

 

Yeah, mine will idle at 1200 - 1300 RPM when it's cold. Nothing to worry about. Just drive away. I try to keep my driving RPM around 3000 when it's cold. I'll drive ~40 MPH in 3rd rather than go to 4th like I'd normally do if it was warmed up. Helps warm up faster and better to have slightly higher revs than to lug an engine.

An auto should be fine to drive away immediately if you're warmed up before the freeway or trying to go 50+? Probably best to let it idle and warm up a minute or so if you need to be going that fast right out of your driveway.

 

Yeah, I have to idle a minute in the morning, because I only live half a mile from I95. Very bad to merge onto the Interstate when you can only go 50mph.

RichC

 

don't mess with the ecu unless you have an ee

+1 rtm

 

its what you call fast idle on cold start ups all gas engines have it

 

It still amazes me how little people actually read the owners manual.

 

+1

 

I read somewhere that you're supposed to keep it in "P" and redline it till the light goes out. Or maybe that was what not to do, oh it's just so confusing.

 

blue light means the car is not at operating temperature, you can drive the car as soon as your start it. but drive light. once it goes off the car is now at operating temperature and you can drive " normal ". i myself never go passed 3.5k rpm during shifts.. i like my 30-33mpg.