Cold weather/engine issues

[Violet Crime]

Hey guys,

During the recent cold snap last week, I went to start my car on a ~34F day, and it barely started after about 5-10 seconds of struggling. The engine generally starts very easily on warm days, and in past winters, it needed to get into single-digit temperatures for the car to not want to start.

Also, the car has had an interesting cold-engine driving issue for quite some time now. The issue is that the car will accelerate relatively slowly, but if I push the gas down a bit to coax a bit more acceleration (far from WOT), it will often get a sudden kick of acceleration. Generally, these effects are subtle, especially since I drive pretty slowly when the engine is cold; I try to avoid the kick outright, letting the car warm up completely before asking for any unusual amount of power. On Friday, the acceleration was abysmal for the throttle's position, and the car ran rough under any acceleration until the kick (which was abnormally large) came. Once the car warmed up, it ran as though nothing was wrong.

Just hoping somebody has an idea or two for me; sorry if this is a common question, but I didn't see this addressed in the first few pages of the search results. I didn't spend terribly long on it, though, if I'm honest.

 

[MathixPerforman]

Try your idle air valve in the throttle body, thats what tells your engine What fuel map to use based on the temp.

 

[SleepyGST]

I too have been experiencing this problem. When it's cold it feels like a very weak and almost "sputter-like" accelteration and then all of a sudden the boost kicks in, very hard at that. As said in the original post, if I let her warm up a bit it'll run just fine! It also seems to struggle a bit to start up.

Not trying to steal the post, just wanted to share my experience and explanations.

 

[luv2rallye]

When it's cold it feels like a very weak and almost "sputter-like" accelteration and then all of a sudden the boost kicks in, very hard at that. As said in the original post, if I let her warm up a bit it'll run just fine!

I've had the same cold "sputter-like" acceleration (good description) issue when accelerating SLOWLY on my 99 GST for 3 yrs now and have never figured it out. When I press down harder and get to 3500 rpm the turbo kicks in and wham, it throws you back in your seat. It almost completely goes away when warmed up. I've sealed all boost leaks using tester (including replacing throttle shaft seals). I've cleaned the throttle body, IAC, and EGR, put in new plugs, filters, O2, ECT, pvc, bov, rebuilt turbo, checked for vacuum leaks, etc. but it's still there. I'm the original owner and have always run Plus gas (89 octane) with no problem (it's just a daily driver). I'm wondering if now because of the car's age, using premium would make a difference in this area. Anyone have any ideas?

I'm posting to let you know I'm interested in this thread as I have the same problem. Perhaps we can all work together on this and report anything that appears to fix it (or even not fix it).

 

[redheadbov]

I have a 97 awd tsi daily driver and it has done the same thing for as long as I've had the car(couple months now). First was from the previous owner not putting the right dead and global times for the injectors. Once I fixed that, it would still buck pretty badly when trying to get on the road. I smelled a good amount of fuel also in my exhaust. I then realised after a log during idle that my front 02 was not oscilating. Replaced that and now it doesnt buck or bog really when cold, but still seems to lack power untill it warms up a bit. I have just found a pretty bad exhuast leak on my downpipe which I am fixing this weekend. I just wanted to tell you my story to possibly point you in some places to look at.

 

[2gnt99]

(I'm a beginner so I'm going to recommend the most basic thing I can think of that might cause a problem.)

Have checked your anti-freeze and are you using the appropriate oil for the temperature? (I have no clue whether these two things could cause the issue, but it's worth a try.)

 

[Mello]

I have this same problem as well. My car started doing this about a year or so ago. I have yet to figure out the cause. Hesitation, trying to accelerate at low/part throttle. When I give it more gas it holds back and then boom, boost and go. Once warmed up everything is normal. Until I saw this post I'd all but given up on this hoping that one day while maybe messing with something else it would miraculously go way. Also, it doesn't even need to be really cold out just a cold engine. It is annoying.

 

[Rikolas]

Maybe try cleaning your injectors to see if it does anything? Maybe it being cold somehow affects it from working properly.

 

[bastarddsm]

Check your coolant temp sensor... it could be failing, but not failed enough to make the ecu have a cel. Also check the ait sensor. Both of these are tied to cold start enrichment, which would make it start hard in the cold. In fact, my car will not start in the cold if the clt sensor is bad.

 

[DrakeRogers]

Has anyone found an actual solution to this? It takes me about 6 tries to get mine started smoothly, and it's only getting colder.

 

[goldeninja20]

Try your idle air valve in the throttle body, thats what tells your engine What fuel map to use based on the temp.

this incorrect. it just makes your car idle a little higher. I would recommend checking your tps to make sure it adjusted properly. Many cars run rough when it is below 50 degrees out.

 

[niddydsm]

My car is doing the same thing (sputter-like) untill warm, I have replaced my IAT and ECT, nothing has changed. My upstream O2 isnt working properly but Ive changed that as well and it didnt change anything. Dont mean to steal thread Just real curious about the solution.

 

[SleepyGST]

This may be the 8th wonder of the world?

 

[jjw205]

This may be the 8th wonder of the world?

Must be. I've looked on a ton of different threads and no one ever "solves" their issue. I've been having this problem all summer, it starts fine, but any time you touch the gas, it sounds like it wants to die.It's hard taking off from a stop, but when boost hits, it goes like usual. It's fine when warmed up....

Only thing I've read it could really be is the CTS, but my numbers look fine in Link.

 

[Mark4g63t]

I also have this problem and watching my wideband and front o2 in link its showing that i'm running really lean when this happens. Would anything effect that?
Runs fine once warmed up.

 

[ofgofg]

Good thread! This confirms that my idle air control valve is getting worse. Its been a problem but this fall, its worse,, and the rest of the car is TITS, no other problems.

 

[luv2rallye]

I talked to a Mitsu mechanic and after the required 20 minute "it could be anything" discussion and me telling him all the things I've replaced and cleaned, I asked for any suggestions I could try. He suggested that the injectors and intake valves may have fuel deposits causing this. He said to try a bottle of Chevon's "Techron" in the tank which he's had good experience with (follow directions).
I have to rebuild my tranny so won't get to try it. Perhaps some of you other guys can try this simple and cheap solution and report back?

 

[knochgoon24]

Is your IAT reading correctly? The colder air needs more fuel, and it might not be compensating enough on cold starts.

 

[luv2rallye]

Yes it tests good. I get the problem on cold starts no matter what the outside temp is - even in summer.
I've noticed I also sometimes have the problem when accelerating slowly even with engine already warm.
Note: I've now tryed a bottle of Chevon's "Techron" with no difference.

 

[born2race]

Wow I guess im not the only one... I thought I thought I was the only one with this problem. Cold starts are especially dificult for my car. However, my coolant light came on so it may have something to do with that. I'm also replacing my ISC as it was failing. I'll post back with any results I have.

 

[WES_393]

For what it's worth, not only does my TSi suffer from the same "sputtering", but so does my bone stock Spyder GS. The engine doesn't cut out or bog down when I hit the gas, it just doesn't do anything for a second. The car has no other issues, has been maintained religiously, and will start within a few cranks regardless of temperature. Yet the only way to avoid the symptom is to let the engine warm up for a minute before driving. No big deal, but I'm still curious to the cause...

Subscribed in hopes of new info.

 

[ChiTownHussla]

In fir info also

 

[money4128]

Hi.Want to say couple things im new.I have a gsx.Start for frist time othere day same problay.But my front mount pipeing not hocked up yet would that be my promble?And cant get injectors to stop leaking were go in to the head.They fit but like they lose.Aftermarket fule rail help?And onething I learned about having a dsm nobody will help frist time owner sorry.

 

[luv2rallye]

I may have found the answer (or at least a huge part) of my "sputter-like" acceleration problem. It was clogged/dirty injectors. After I hand cleaned them the engine runs wayyyyyyy better with very little or no accelaration sputter at all. You have to remove and clean each injector, not just run some cleaner in the gas tank (which I tryed but did nothing in my case).

I used carb cleaner under 25psi air pressure as described here: Injector Cleaning. The only difference (other than mine is a 2g) was that I connected the 25psi air hose to each injector separately through a piece of fuel hose filled with cleaner to clean them 1 at a time. I also found using 2 "D" cells in series worked better (1 AA didn't even open a couple) and just touched the leads to the injector for less than a 1/4 second but many, many times. [When measured this ran 0.65A at 1.55V on each injector.] Here's some pics:

 

[my dreamt dsm]

I have been plague with the same issue every cold fall winter season past 2 years. My buddy also says it could be injectors but I haven't find enough facts to support his claim. I wonder if this is happening on stock injectors?

Edit:
Also, on cold days say 40 degrees outside in the morning. My engine temp get's up to operating temp really quick. Is that another symptom you guys have?