Very Hard To Start From Cold

[Guest justinhincks87]

hi there. when my engine is stone cold in the mornings or when it has been running but left for about half an hour, the bloody thing takes about 12 seconds to start. there will be nothing for about 10 seconds then it will coff and splut and then go. When warm it starts straight away. i dont know whether it could be somethin to do with the ignition timing. but does any one know how to set up the ignition timing properly. Any help would be great thanks. Justin

[Ahl 4]

It could be leaky injectors, thats one I've heard is common with this sort of thing.

[Richie-Van-GTi 73 2 Cars]

usually just the fuel pressure dropping over a period of time and taking a short time to rebuild again.

[futura 3]

What about your SAD? If it's stuck in shut position cold start will be difficult. Have you tested it by squeezing the air hose that runs to it just after having started the engine from cold and checking that the revs drop noticeably?

 

I wouldn't think it would be caused by leaky injectors as the engine would start on the button from stone cold or hot but you'd have starting problems when warm. That's what would happen on mine when my injectors used to leak, it would start perfectly in the mornings as the flooded plugs would have had time to dry overnight. When hot if I stopped and started the engine straight away, no problems. But if I left the car parked for 15 minutes it would take 10s of ignition to start again as the engine would be flooded.

 

EDIT: it could also come from a faulty ECU temperature sensor

Edited March 15, 2007 by futura

[ini 0]

I agree, cold start valve (basically works as an automatic choke)

 

Unbolt the sad and give it a clean under a very hot tap with a bit of detergent, then give it a squirt of WD and bolt it back on.

 

This has always restored full movement on any gummed up sad's i deal with.

Edited March 15, 2007 by ini

[luggy 13]

Compression test to make sure your rings and liners are OK.

[Higgy 0]

usually just the fuel pressure dropping over a period of time and taking a short time to rebuild again.

 

I found a split in my fuel pump, which caused the pressure to decrease. If it happened to me, its likely to happen to someone else!

 

 

(split near jubilee clip in centre of pic)

[Guest justinhincks87]

ye it could be to do with some kind of leak in the fuel pump or in a fuel pipe becuase over night or over a period of time the fuel will go back to the tank cos the air

[Guest justinhincks87]

WEll its fOOked now went out in it last night all was good. went to chipshop came out and she wouldnt start at all!!! the pump is not working. but there is no power going to the pump. i can feel the relay clicking also. but is there anythink else along the lines that can bugger up to stop the pump working!? cheers

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

there is no power going to the pump. i can feel the relay clicking also. but is there anythink else along the lines that can bugger up to stop the pump working!?

The fuel pump fuse?

 

Have you tested to see if there is 12v getting to the pump? The relay clicking doesn't necessarily mean the circuit is complete.

 

Try running 12v directly to the pump (good source is cigarette lighter) plug & see if the pump runs. If it does, try starting the car & then swap back to the original wiring if it runs.

 

Graham.

[Guest justinhincks87]

ye the relay clicks but i think the relay has bust. there is no power going to the fuel pump. should i try a new relay?

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

I'd either try hard wiring the fuel pump in first with your current relay still connected, if that fails to get it running can you borrow a known working to test it?

 

Graham.

[Andrwn8304 0]

Sounds like the same problem I had last year.

 

Finished work at 10pm came started ok but foot slipped off the throttle pedal and it stalled then wouldnt start at all turned out to be the relay - a whole £46 trade price for a lucas relay

[feb 47]

As Graham says, hardwire the pump to the ciggy lighter or fuse box. I had the same problem before Christmas. New relay (blown) and connector to the relay solved the problem. Apparently some monkey had soldered the cable going to the relay about 5 times in a length of 5 cm, no wonder the connection has been dodgy!!

Edited March 22, 2007 by feb