Cold Weather Warm-up Engine Miss
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From: Wenatchee, Washington
Cold Weather Warm-up Engine Miss
It's been quite cold here lately, (around 0 degrees F), so I've been letting my car warm up a little longer than usual. This morning was probably the coldest day I've started the car, and I had this odd problem:
The car was fast idling at about 1500-1800 rpm on it's own, and the engine just seemed to quit completely. About the time the tach fell to 0 rpm, the engine started running again, and picked back up to the previous fast idle speed. This repeated numerous times, at approximately 10-30 second intervals. I drove down the road and had no problem whatsoever. Pulled into a driveway about 2 miles away, and the car was still fast idling around 1500 rpm. After about 30 seconds of fast idling, the engine again quit and picked back up on it's own several times. Drove away again, and the engine ran normally. Stopped about about 3 miles further, and the idle was back to normal/warmed up speed. (~1000 rpm) Any ideas? I'm not sure how the warm-up/enrichment system works on this car, so I don't really know if this is fuel or ignition related. Thanks in advance for any help.
Andrew
1980 5-speed
The car was fast idling at about 1500-1800 rpm on it's own, and the engine just seemed to quit completely. About the time the tach fell to 0 rpm, the engine started running again, and picked back up to the previous fast idle speed. This repeated numerous times, at approximately 10-30 second intervals. I drove down the road and had no problem whatsoever. Pulled into a driveway about 2 miles away, and the car was still fast idling around 1500 rpm. After about 30 seconds of fast idling, the engine again quit and picked back up on it's own several times. Drove away again, and the engine ran normally. Stopped about about 3 miles further, and the idle was back to normal/warmed up speed. (~1000 rpm) Any ideas? I'm not sure how the warm-up/enrichment system works on this car, so I don't really know if this is fuel or ignition related. Thanks in advance for any help.
Andrew
1980 5-speed
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: No Turbo, No SC
You mean you left the house in 0 deg weather, was this an emergency?
It may just need an extended warm-up period, I know I would! Do you have a block heater? If not, I would invest in one or two ASAP.
It may just need an extended warm-up period, I know I would! Do you have a block heater? If not, I would invest in one or two ASAP.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
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From: Owasso, OK
Andrew,
Intermittant dropoffs like that are routinely caused by loose/corroded electrical connections especially in subfreezing weather. Recommend that you check your grounds, fuses and relay connections starting with the fuel pump system.
Dennis
Intermittant dropoffs like that are routinely caused by loose/corroded electrical connections especially in subfreezing weather. Recommend that you check your grounds, fuses and relay connections starting with the fuel pump system.
Dennis
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From: Wenatchee, Washington
Yes, I regularly drive in zero and sub zero weather. A block heater is an excellent idea, but there is currently nowhere to plug in a block heater where the car is parked, or I would have invested in one.
Dennis, thanks for the suggestion. I will check the fuel pump connections as soon as the ice melts off of the car. Happy New Year to all.
Andrew
1980 5-speed
Dennis, thanks for the suggestion. I will check the fuel pump connections as soon as the ice melts off of the car. Happy New Year to all.
Andrew
1980 5-speed
