a small cold start problem.

[peeeot]

When I start my car for the first time of the day and drop it into gear, it will occasionally stall, and if it doesn't stall it will usually hesitate/respond jerkily to throttle. The trouble disappears very quickly, usually before I even have a bar on my temperature gauge. Usually in a minute or less of running. Still, it isn't right, and there are no engine trouble codes, and I'm a perfectionist, so.... Any ideas?

[19Cutlass94]

The trouble disappears very quickly, usually before I even have a bar on my temperature gauge.

Let the car warm up?

[Mach 5]

I agree. These engines, actually all engines, have to be warmed up before using. Its very hard on the cylinder walls and the piston rings.

If it gets worse over time, look into a lighter and different brand of oil. I use Castrol High Mileage 5W-30.

[peeeot]

I know engines don't work their best when they're below operating temperature, but I've never had to warm an engine up before driving in 80+ degree weather to get smooth, "ordinary" operation out of it. This is an 87k mile motor too.

[Regal_GS_1989]

Bad UIM Gasket? Mystery Vacuum Leak??

[peeeot]

I've had manifold vacuum readings of around 18 inches Hg, taken at the vacuum modulator port behind the throttle body... do the upper intake manifold gaskets leak a lot on these cars?

[19Cutlass94]

yupp.

[peeeot]

what about the lowers?

[1990lumina]

My car used to have this problem, couple bottles of injector cleaner and cleaning the IAC (idle air control) fixed it up

[peeeot]

I'll give that a try ASAP.

[peeeot]

haha, I said ASAP like a month ago. umm I replaced my spark plug wires and checked my IAC valve, it wasn't very dirty but I sprayed a little throttle body cleaner on it and one of those two things seems to have fixed the problem because I haven't had any issues since then AND the weather has been getting colder so yeah what a long sentence!

[sclary18]

my car hesitates like that alot now that its colder, and also i always let my car warm up for at least 3 minutes. anyways, i've used seafoam and other injector cleaner, and its still runnin like that.. it actually died last night while i was backing up. my check engine light comes on everyonce in a while, but it seems like only when i drive it after warming up and then stopping at idle at a light, etc..

[19Cutlass94]

I know I have a misfire when its cold, but thats just because I cant keep plugs in it....

least you got it fixed!



Sclary18, if your SES is coming on, try to get it scanned.

[sclary18]

yeah i know, i need to get it scanned.. i've been tryin to find someone with it that i can use but everyone that has 1 wont let me use it right now cuz they both own shops and are always too busy to have me come in..

[97loudcut]

murrays or autzone does it for free fool!

[Euro]

hmm...mine does this too


lol only when i dont warm it up. shit, im a moron.

[sclary18]

yeah, but the autozone over here doesnt have the plug in for my car

[Euro]

oooooh you have a OBD 1.5

[sclary18]

i guess you could call it that.. i've used the scanner before at my school, but im not in autos anymore, and my teacher cant find time for me to bring it in..

[Euro]

what year is yours?

[sclary18]

92

[Euro]

really.....you should have OBD 1, autozone should have that

[sclary18]

yeah, the only thing is this autozone was just built and they only have obd II scanners right now

[Euro]

ooh.. i see, theres also a thing called the "paper clip" way, somehow sticking a paper clip into the diagnostic port

i dunno how you do it tho

[sclary18]

yeah i know how to do that, but i'd much rather use a scanner

[rakooon]

Why? The paper clip trick works very well and really easy to do. I've never had the SES light come on in my '92 yet. Don't spend a bunch of mone to have it done when you can do it yourself. :)

x2

[Crazy K]

well you complain about gas mileage and don't do the simple thing? paperclip time, or get the key. Get the code and see, might be an easy cheap fix, like an o2 sensor.

[Euro]

x2

[GrandAmSE]

Could to slick of oil stop a car from starting? I have 13volts showing on the meter but it still turns over really slow or not at all. If I jump it it will start.

[sclary18]

im not gonna pay to use a scanner, im gonna do it myself.. and also, i just think that the scanners are more accurate, and prefer to use that method.