Extreme cold start problem

[Silentkillzr]

This has only been occuring for two days now that we've hit the single digits, idk if this is normal or what but, when i fire up the 3.1 it shoots up to 2k and steadily climbs to 2.5k and idles, keep in mind the past two days have been -4 ish in the morning. Its rather annoying as it burns a ton of gas idling that high, and the trans does not appreciate the gear change. I usually shut it off after a min and turn it back on and it'll be under 2k, enough to get me in gear.

[Galaxie500XL]

I've seen that happen with a bad throttle position sensor, but it wasn't dependent on temperature, it did it all the time.

This has only been occuring for two days now that we've hit the single digits, idk if this is normal or what but, when i fire up the 3.1 it shoots up to 2k and steadily climbs to 2.5k and idles, keep in mind the past two days have been -4 ish in the morning. Its rather annoying as it burns a ton of gas idling that high, and the trans does not appreciate the gear change. I usually shut it off after a min and turn it back on and it'll be under 2k, enough to get me in gear.

[Drummer]

it could be the start of an intake gasket failing. The same thing happened with my z34 lumina but it had the 3.4 DOHC engine. cold starts would have the engine going up to 2-3k rpm depending on temperature but would go down as the car warmed up. eventually the upper intake gasket failed completely and all my coolant ended up on the ground. This also happened to me in the winter.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Drummer

[Silentkillzr]

it may be the start of an intake gasket failing. The same thing happened with my z34 lumina but it had the 3.4 DOHC engine. cold starts would have the engine going up to 2-3k rpm depending on temperature but would go down as the car warmed up. eventually the upper intake gasket failed completely and all my coolant ended up on the ground. This also happened to me in the winter.

 

Intake gaskets were redone at 143k miles, im at 166k miles now. I dont think it would be that, I have a new TB gasket, and i dont think i have vac leaks, but i do have a generic looking TPS sensor.

[Night Fury]

My 95 Ciera with the 3100 did the same thing. I actually liked that it did that. When it was REALLLLY cold it'd climb as high as 3000 after a moment or two, but as the engine warmed up it would go back down to regular idle. I was under the impression it was supposed to do this to warm up. The Ciera only had 40,000 miles

[Silentkillzr]

My 95 Ciera with the 3100 did the same thing. I actually liked that it did that. When it was REALLLLY cold it'd climb as high as 3000 after a moment or two, but as the engine warmed up it would go back down to regular idle. I was under the impression it was supposed to do this to warm up. The Ciera only had 40,000 miles

 

I assume maybe theres something in the PCM saying if its colder than 0 degrees then it bumps the idle up? It was realllly cold last night and this morning. this morning was weird, went to 2k then slowly climbed to 2400 and stayed there till i re-started the engine.

[RobertISaar]

grab log.

 

does sound like TPS, if it is, you'll see TPS% creep/jump up from 0 or 0.39% to something larger and the PCM will add a bunch of steps to the IAC as a function of throttle follower. when TPS% is at 0 or 0.39%, then engine speed should be around commanded idle speed.

[tornado_735]

I would say the idle air control valve has some gunk in it that's extra viscous when it's that cold.

[RobertISaar]

I would say the idle air control valve has some gunk in it that's extra viscous when it's that cold.

 

possible. if so, then the log will show it as the PCM commanding the IAC to close, but no change/too little change happening.

[Schurkey]

2K--3K cold idle is NOT normal, and not recommended. You're creating a lot of engine wear since the oil doesn't flow very well at that temperature.

 

 

 

 

 

P. S. A few degrees either side of "zero" degrees Farenheit is not "extreme cold". Call me when it's -40.

[Silentkillzr]

2K--3K cold idle is NOT normal, and not recommended. You're creating a lot of engine wear since the oil doesn't flow very well at that temperature.

 

 

 

 

 

P. S. A few degrees either side of "zero" degrees Farenheit is not "extreme cold". Call me when it's -40.

 

 

Haha well its still cold but, this hasnt happened other than those two days. So idk. Today if i had to crank the motor one more turn my batt would have died, just barely started. Deff need a better battery soon.

[Schurkey]

Haha well its still cold but, this hasnt happened other than those two days. So idk. Today if i had to crank the motor one more turn my batt would have died, just barely started. Deff need a better battery soon.

The FIRST thing is to fix the electrical system. Battery, alternator, cables...whatever it takes to get proper, stable voltage. All your other symptoms may vanish when the computer is seeing the voltage it expects.

[Silentkillzr]

The FIRST thing is to fix the electrical system. Battery, alternator, cables...whatever it takes to get proper, stable voltage. All your other symptoms may vanish when the computer is seeing the voltage it expects.

 

Could this be why my car runs stupid pig rich when its cold out? Its always smoking, No oil or anything.

[Schurkey]

Could this be why my car runs stupid pig rich when its cold out? Its always smoking, No oil or anything.

Maybe. Maybe not. Thing is, there's no point to trying to diagnose the cold-running problem until after you fix the voltage problem. Fix the voltage first.