Engine start-up commotion

[widster]

Hi,

As the title says really, when i start my engine from cold there is a bit of commotion where it seems that not all cylinders are firing. It can take i suppose 5 seconds before it has had a good cough and then it is ok.

I am not particularly worried about this as the engine runs fine in all other respects. It has done 130k, is serviced regularly and the timing is correct. It has new leads, plugs, oil, distributor cap, rotor arm etc. I also gave it some injector cleaner not too long ago.

Just wondered if anyone else experience this and why it might be? Is it just because there is wear in some of the components?

Widster

[crazylegs]

most start first time,has it always done this?
got my suspicions as to what it could be but i`m not going to guess.give us some more info and pull a fault code.

[widster]

most start first time,has it always done this?
got my suspicions as to what it could be but i`m not going to guess.give us some more info and pull a fault code.

There are no fault codes. The engine does start but it does not seem to run on all cylinders for the first few seconds.

[tunna_uk]

are plugs correct type and gapped correctly, they should have a big gap 1.2 mm

[JMR_AW11]

Could be the head gasket starting to go.

There could be coolant leaking slowly into the cylinder(s) as the car cools off. Once you restart the engine has to clear itself which can cause the misfiring for the first few seconds...

[SuperRedMR2]

i have got a commotion, but i am damn sure mine is coming from the starter motor.

[crazylegs]

yep starters do tend to stick for a second or two. this will probably get better as the weather warms up. you could take it of and clean/oil everything up but its a PITA job.

[System-G]

Yup Agreed. Both mine and Jo's starters stick.

Never had to "service" a starter before. Is it a full strip down of the starter itself to clean/oil everything Kev?

[Jiff Lemon]

Clutch dust sticks to the starter, causing the pinion to stick out after the engine has started. The important thing is NOT to rev the engine whilst its stuck. The cure is simply(!) to remove the starter, extend the pinion out and give a good dousing with brake and clutch cleaner.

[System-G]

The important thing is NOT to rev the engine whilst its stuck.

I rev it to about 3k to make it stop whining

[widster]

Thanks for your replies. The plugs are gapped correctly. I don't think the starter motor is the problem in my case but i will listen again next time i start the car.

I suppose it could be the head gasket starting to go but once running i have no other problems with the engine. I will just have to monitor it and see if it gets any worse.

Thanks Again.
Widster

[crazylegs]

right as i said i had an idea what it could be. i think its a problem with your cold start injector. this should give you an initial few squirts to get things going. it could be either a bit gummed up or the conection is not good. it sprays extra fuel into the inlet manifold. take it out and turn the engine over and see if you get a good spray or just a bit of a spit. be carefull as you will be sprying fuel near to electrical equiptment. you dont want it all to go bang !!

[SuperRedMR2]

what happens if you rev it whilst its not disengaging?

I do it sometimes, as its bluddy annoying!

yeah, decent weather does improve, ive noticed that

[widster]

right as i said i had an idea what it could be. i think its a problem with your cold start injector. this should give you an initial few squirts to get things going. it could be either a bit gummed up or the conection is not good. it sprays extra fuel into the inlet manifold. take it out and turn the engine over and see if you get a good spray or just a bit of a spit. be carefull as you will be sprying fuel near to electrical equiptment. you dont want it all to go bang !!

Will have a look at this too. Thanks.

[Jiff Lemon]

what happens if you rev it whilst its not disengaging?

I do it sometimes, as its bluddy annoying!

yeah, decent weather does improve, ive noticed that

You run the risk of spinning the starter faster than it's ever intended to spin. What happens next is that the armature of the starter overheats (as it's now acting as dynamo) which melts all the solder, and then flings the copper windings out.

Or if you like it simpler, you kill your starter

[millentubby]

right as i said i had an idea what it could be. i think its a problem with your cold start injector.

I must be learning! I thought this when I read the thread the other day!

Is simple enough to take the CS injector out and hold it in a jam-jar while someone starts it up. Would either find the issue or rule it out either way.

[jimi]

right as i said i had an idea what it could be. i think its a problem with your cold start injector. this should give you an initial few squirts to get things going. it could be either a bit gummed up or the connection is not good. it sprays extra fuel into the inlet manifold. take it out and turn the engine over and see if you get a good spray or just a bit of a spit. be carefull as you will be spraying fuel near to electrical equipment. you don't want it all to go bang !!

If the injector isn't working you may want to check the cold start injector timer as well. Injector may be OK, may be the timer that's u/s.
hth
Jimi

[crazylegs]

good point.