So my car is finally done at the body shop and it's ready to go. But there is some trouble with cold starts in the morning. Here's the story: the motor has barely been run over the past 8 months. Before it went into the shop, had a compression test done and it was near 100% perfect (only 54,000 miles).
While in the shop I added a RE V Mount IC to the setup - which also includes the Greddy elbow. I plugged the coolant line that normally goes to the stock elbow.
The mechanic told me that it's been tough to get started after sitting all night. He has to take the plugs out and dry / clean them. Puts them back in and it will finally start. When it runs - it's strong, idles perfect and will restart when it's warm (they drove it for 10 miles yesterday). But come back in the morning and its the same problem all over again - it turns over and over but doesn't fire up.
I checked the MAP sensor - it's OK. It still has the stock ECU at the moment - but I just got a Pettit ECU sitting here ready to go in (I turned the boost controller way down before it went into the shop to avoid joyride detonation).
I think its flooding (obviously). Does anyone think its the coolant line I plugged that is causing the issue? I need some help.
Thanks.

BTW - I have all the normal bolt on's:
boost guage, Greddy intake, dp, high flow cat, cat back, manual boost controller, new plugs (only about 1500 miles ago), new magnacore 10mm wires.


99 lip to be added:

 

There is no coolant line that goes to the stock elbow. Only the AWS line....which assists with cold starts! Anyway, have you gone through the troubleshooting steps in Section F of the FSM?

 

When is the last time you had fresh gas in the tank ?? 8 months is a long time to just add a little gas here and there. If the cars ready to roll, get out there and run as much of the "old fuel" out of the system no boosting or anything and get a full tank of fresh fuel and some new plugs. SOmetimes it can be simple things. Good luck with it.
PS Got my Y-pipe back yesterday (looks good!!)

 

I did search on 'flooded engine' threads.

You're right rynberg - there is no coolant. I have not gone throught the troubleshooting steps in section F of the FSM because this is a significant departure from a stock setup. The FSM would tell me to hook it back up. I can't because currently I do not have the hole in the greddy elbow to do so.

Hey Jack - I love my elbow, can't wait to install it.
There was very little gas in there and he took it to the station yesterday and put in $13.00 of 89 octane I hope this doesn't cause an issue aside from the cold start. I was thinking that it could be bad gas also but it continued to do this today even after the fill up. Maybe the car just needs a really long drive rather than a start up and move it around the shop?

I replaced the fuel filter about 4000 miles ago if it means anything.

 

More engines get ruined in a body shop than I care to mention. They're subject to short start and drive periods, (moved from the yard to the body booth, then to the yard back to the prep booth, back to the yard, into the paint booth........these cars hate that kind of treatment. 89 octane shouldn't cause a start problem, but I'd be really carefull going out and running it hard till that gas was burned out and a fresh tank of high test was put in, you may want to add a bottle of the moisture eliminator as a mostly empty tank will generate allot of condensation and you may just have a water mix in the tank. After all that change the plugs and possibly the fuel filter (as body shops generate tons of dust) and it get's in the damndest places. Just a heads up on the fuel filter but I'd consider it down the road. Heh Heh, I'll get pictures up of my Y-pipe (also had a large turbo compressor housing done) He's actually getting better at the little details ! ! !

 

Thanks Jack. I plan on sending a few more items your way in the near future.

Anyone else have a suggestion on how I can make the AWS think it's working in the short term? I might get a bung welded into the elbow for it. I read you can also leave that hose unplugged. Would that make a difference?

 

I guess it reacts differently on different cars. I just plugged mine when I put on the Greddy elbow and later installed a blockoff plate when I swapped my UIM out. I generally bypassed that any way (started in first gear) . Hope you figure it out, and when ever you get ready just send away. Jack

 

Sorry Jack - meant to say I love the y-pipe - it looks awesome.

 

LOL I knew what you meant. Do a search for TB setup as it gets you back to ground zero if you need to go that route. I still think I'd go back to the stock elbow long enough to confirm the problem goes away, if it doesn't then put the Greddy back on and look a little further.