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Old 01-21-2006, 05:42 PM   #1
i_c_the_light
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Angry Cold start problem

Gah, okay this is really starting to worry me. Whenever I do a cold start like first thing in the morning, I get stuttering and spluttering really bad below 500RPM and the oil light is on for like 4-6 seconds and then everything is fine. Oil light goes off and the revs climb to between 1,000 RPM to 1,500RPM for a while as usual when it's cold and drops back down to ~700RPM once it's all warmed up.
Now last two parts of the startup are normal, apart from the spluttering engine and the oil light, which leads me to believe it might be related to the oil system.

Any suggestions as to why it's doing this? Any solutions?

JDM EJ20D with a MT too.
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Old 01-21-2006, 07:15 PM   #2
heffergm
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The oil light is only coming on because the engine is idling so low... not enough oil pressure. So I don't think that's indicative of a cause of any problems.

Not many people on this list will know any specifics of a 1990 EJ20D, but in general, I'd say give the following a check:

- spark plugs and wires
- MAF/MAP if it exists
- thermostat

I'm assuming it's fuel injected. If it has a carb, then there are any number of things that could be wrong.
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Old 01-21-2006, 07:24 PM   #3
i_c_the_light
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It's a DOHC with MAF. Lack of oil pressure on the start up is going to be bad in the long term, so ahhhh ****.
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Old 01-22-2006, 01:59 AM   #4
solbey11
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By chance, are your radiator fans kicking on whenever you start it? Or even kick on whenever you turn the ignition on/engine off?
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Old 01-22-2006, 03:38 AM   #5
i_c_the_light
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They only kick in with the ignition on when the engine is off AFTER I've turned the engine off and turned the key again so the ignition is on. I can see where you're coming from with the thermostat, but it's only on cold starts that it splutters like mad.
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Old 01-22-2006, 11:43 AM   #6
solbey11
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Well it wouldn't be the thermostat. It would be the coolant temperature sensor. If it's reading a false temperature, it will mis-adjust your fuel and ignition timings causing your car to run rough or even stall. Sometimes that sensor will also make your fans kick on and off while the car is cold.
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Old 01-22-2006, 04:04 PM   #7
sha_zapple
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Try cleaning the throttle body. Also, run some gasline deicer (if its usually below freezing) and try some injector cleaner.

Also check what Heffergm suggested
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Old 01-22-2006, 05:22 PM   #8
Charlie-III
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Hmmmm....New Zealand is still rather warm this time of year.

What temps are you seeing there?
Was this sudden, or over time?
If sudden, was it after a fuel fill-up? After some engine work? When was your last tuneup?
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Old 01-22-2006, 08:28 PM   #9
i_c_the_light
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Well Charlie you are right about it being warm because it's summer here now. I'm seeing between 10-25 C. This is also a sudden problem. The only thing done is the first oil change on this new engine, and it started quite a while after the oil change.

Further thought indicates a problem somewhere in the throttle body area.
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Old 01-27-2006, 07:22 PM   #10
i_c_the_light
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Small update. Problem pretty much solved and I'm quite a moron for not even thinking of this way, way, way before!

Oil levels. Being on a hill and not having a chance to to be able to leave the car anywhere flat for any period of time up till now...I had a look at the oil levels after noticing an oil leak which had me worried. Funnily enough the dipstick was almost dry when I checked the oil after work. This and where the oil is dripping leads me to believe that is has something to do with the pump itself, possibly a seal. So at the end of it all, I threw in some oil, and now it starts up all good.

I'm a bad boy for not keeping an eye on oil levels like I should though aren't.
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Old 01-29-2006, 02:18 PM   #11
Charlie-III
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And.....i_c_the_light says..........."Whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks!


ROTFLMAO.
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Old 03-17-2006, 06:11 PM   #12
i_c_the_light
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Bumping this up so I don't make another thready thing about it.

Okay it still does it, regardless of oil levels. Now, the car gives off a nice odour like it's running really rich or something on a cold start, but goes away eventually. So now I'm pretty sure the problem lies in the fuel system.
Ideas anyone?
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