Difficult Start, Rough Idle then its fine...

[ykobayashi]

Hey All,

Been a while since I have posted. I just broke the seal this week on the SVX and brought it out of its winter hibernation. The car is a 1995 SVX L AWD with about 56k original miles.

Been since last year that I have had this issue. The car turns over but I have to crank it 5-8 times or more in some cases, to get it to start up. Each time it sounds a little more willing to start and catches and idles for a few seconds but then stalls. I keep cranking and it then eventually starts up and then idles but the idle is rough. If I keep it idling for a couple minutes or so the car then starts to smoothen out and within 3-4 minutes it's a completely smooth idle.

In some cases I will throw a CEL but it will go away once the idle smooths out. I noticed that the engine cooling fan stays on until the idle smooths out. I don't know if that is normal or if its a side effect of the rough idle. Once the idle smooths out the car performs without a hitch.

Last year before putting the car away I ran it with a couple tanks of Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner. It seems to have helped the idle smooth out sooner but I don't know if that is just coincidence. Spark plugs have been changed. They were changed out after this issue came up. I don't know what the deal is. If anyone has any feedback it would be great!

Thanks,

Yoshi

[Manarius]

Might be something that is Coolant Temperature Sensor related.

[kwren]

Does the engine seem to turn over fast like normal?

[LetItSnow]

Originally Posted by Manarius

Might be something that is Coolant Temperature Sensor related.

+1. Get that code to make the diagnosis easier?

[poweredx2]

Did your issue start before your k&n filter,my car would stall at lights and my idle was very rough with the drop in filter,switched to a conical no issues,or your o2 sensors could be going.

[Schralper]

I've had/have similar issues. But no CEL.
I think it might be the air diverter under the manifold.
I've found if I turn on ignition but not start, wait 10sec and then start it seems fine.
I have a K&N drop in but the issue was there before the air filter.
I'm gonna clean MAF and replace O2 sensors in a couple weeks.
I'm also gonna send the injectors out for cleaning before to long.

[kwren]

does the engine turn over fast... like normal but no start?????

[Octanerush]

sounds like water temp sensor. but could also be crank/cam position sensors
check the cel. the code would be stored on there even if light doens't stay on

[ykobayashi]

Originally Posted by poweredx2

Did your issue start before your k&n filter,my car would stall at lights and my idle was very rough with the drop in filter,switched to a conical no issues,or your o2 sensors could be going.

Issue started after the K&N filter but I have had the filter in for the last several years and this issue cropped up late last summer. I dunno, might be the K&N filter's oil on the MAF?

I'll pull it and see what the MAF looks like. I doubt it though, if it was the MAF then why does the problem seem to resolve itself once the car warms up?

I thought about the O2 sensors but I thought when they "go" all that happens is I get poor gas mileage? I am I wrong?

Thanks!

Yoshi

[ykobayashi]

Originally Posted by kwren

does the engine turn over fast... like normal but no start?????

The car cranks like normal it just won't start. The battery is fully charged and has been on a trickle/float charger all winter. It takes about 5-8 (or more) tries to get it to start.

[ykobayashi]

Originally Posted by Schralper

I've had/have similar issues. But no CEL.
I think it might be the air diverter under the manifold.
I've found if I turn on ignition but not start, wait 10sec and then start it seems fine.
I have a K&N drop in but the issue was there before the air filter.
I'm gonna clean MAF and replace O2 sensors in a couple weeks.
I'm also gonna send the injectors out for cleaning before to long.

I'll try that 10 second trick and see if it works! Is there a post on how to clean the MAF sensor? I did it once on my old 94 Ford Probe, but I can't remember exactly how I did it. I remember I used some kind of aerosol spray and a rag. I am running my original O2 sensors, but again, would something like a faulty O2 sensor cause this kind of issue? I understand that what would happen is all I would see is dismal mpg. Please enlighten me if I am incorrect.

Thanks,

Yoshi

[kwren]

no idea.....

[LetItSnow]

Still waiting on the code... Lil' help?