Start-up problems
 

OK here's my problem....

If I start the car without having my foot on the gas, it will not start, and if it does, it sputters and barely stays alive and sometimes it will die, or it will slowly climb to idle, but it isn't jumping to 1500 RPMs and holding anymore like it used to before dropping down to normal idle. I have checked all of my idle adjustments, TPS is in spec, and I am running the stock start up and coolant corrections from the base map.

I have removed the AWS, ACV, and Double Throttle but still have the butterflies. I still run the ICS and have the fast idle cam active.


Here is the video, if you watch it, you can hear the car doesn't want to start. I then start it, it barely stays alive, then I give it gas for a couple of seconds and it drops down to the normal idle and stays when I let off.


VIDEO: http://www.carforums.net/vids/startupproblems.wmv

Another problem I'm having that feels similar to when it is on the dying end, is when I decellerate, the car will sometimes pass below my idle set point and stall unless given gas.


Any help would be appreciated.

Also, I am running a non-sequential setup with all the solenoids under the UIM removed, and the un-used harness clips cut off.

mine did that before the motor blew... It was like there wasnt enough compression in the engine. Its like when you let off the gas the needle just drops instead of catching at like 1000 rmps... and it just kills right? If so I would check your compression, because my motor blew an apex seal like a month after that happened

My engine is pretty much brand new, I have less than 600 miles on it of low boost and below 6k RPMs. I'm fairly certain it isn't a seal, as it was idling perfectly fine before I just did my last major project and clipped the un-used items out of my harness.

I'll check the compression with a piston compression tester this week and I'm going to change the plugs, but there is no indication / highly un-likely that the motor is blown. When it actually does idle how it is supposed to, it idles like a champ, and driving is smooth as can be.

do you have a PFC?

Just pulled two of the plugs, I think it might just be a case of fouled plugs. The car has been running super rich, especially at idle (sometimes in the low 12's / high 11's)


The plugs are pitch black and covered in gunk, I'm going to clean them up and throw em back in, if that doesn't make it better, I'll go buy new plugs tomorrow and see how that works out.

Yes I have a Power FC

Is it tuned? If not try to reset it.

I reset it already, along with killing the battery for 15 minutes or so and no change. I really think it is related to my plugs, I just pulled another one and it is pitch black as well, full of soft black residue from running rich. Luckily it isn't oil, but the car is definitely running pig rich, enough to foul the plugs. I'll post pics of the plugs if you guys would like.

yeah you can try doing a reset on it... also with a new motor its a good thing to change the oil after the 1st 500 miles, and change the plugs.... fyi the plugs get black after the first couple times you start it so dont think there bad just because of that... ruffing them up with a wire brush should give you a better spark... So its either the tuning, the spark, or the idle control... Mine was idling like shit until i fixed the idle control

If the cleaning them doesn't solve the problem try buying new ones!

Will do, I'm going to clean them up, and try to fire it up tonight. I want to do a compression test while I have the plugs out just for peace of mind plus I'm curious what a fresh rebuild has compression wise. Just need to call a friend over to help so I can work the gauge while they tap the ignition.