Cold Starting problem

JRowlette · 06-25-2001, 10:56 PM

I'm sure everybody is getting tired of seeing posts about starting problems, but I did a search and couldn't find any helpful info on the subject. Here's what's happening.
Whenever I start my car in the morning or at least after 5 or 6 hours of not running, it idles low as hell and will die if I don't keep my foot on the pedal. The weird thing is if I drive about 1/2 mile and stop again, it's fine. But if I start it cold and just let it sit there, it takes 10 or 15 minutes to clear up. I have heard that if the EGR is stuck open or closed it can affect idle quality, but I seem to think that it is the MAF.
In the past month I have replaced the FPR, TPS, and IAC. Neither helped at all. I know it sounds simple, but it's a real pain in the rear.
It's kind of embarrasing living with this problem in an apartment complex because all of the neighbors probably think my car is a piece of crap!!! BTW, it's a '90 notchback (5spd)with race crank pulley, K&N, E303, and gears. Please help!!

JRowlette · 06-26-2001, 06:55 PM

Anybody??

dinomite · 06-26-2001, 11:38 PM

sorry, can't help, just wanted trying to help keep the post up. someone should be able to help with this.

macx · 06-26-2001, 11:38 PM

I had the same problem exactly with my
high mileage 89 Lincoln LSC w/5.0 HO.
Turned out the EGR wasn't plugged, but
was worn (?) which caused it to stick shut
when cold - not enuf vacuum - took lots of
vacuum to pop it open. When warm, the car
started & idled fine. New EGR fixed.
Then, 20k miles later, started doing the
same thing. This time was the EGR position
indicator (piggybacked on the EGR). New
one fixed again. Now, mine is still
speed density, so don't know for sure if
same thing on a mass air.

JRowlette · 06-27-2001, 10:52 PM

Thanks alot. I guess I will get a new EGR valve, hopefully that'll do the trick. You're a lifesaver!!!

PKRWUD · 06-28-2001, 12:40 AM

Don't spend the money yet. First off, your egr is supposed to be closed at cold idle. The egr introduces exhaust gasses back into the combustion chambers to lean out the engine. If it opens when cold or at idle, the engine will stall. Before you replace it, try disconnecting the vacuum hose to it and see if there is a change. If there is, hook a vacuum gauge to the hose and see what it reads. There shouldn't be any vacuum, and if there is, you need to check the egr position sensor. If unplugging the hose to the egr did not make a difference, apply and release vacuum to the egr several times. This will stall the engine if it's running, so do it with the engine turned off. After doing this five or six times, start the engine and see if idles normally. If it does, replace the egr valve. What is likely happening is that the egr is sticking slightly open, and it's not until after it has vacuum applied to it that it fully shuts. Good luck.

Take care
~Chris

95 King GT · 06-29-2001, 12:36 AM

you could have a Blown Head Gasket.

06-25-2001, 10:56 PM	#1
JRowlette Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 95	Cold Starting problem I'm sure everybody is getting tired of seeing posts about starting problems, but I did a search and couldn't find any helpful info on the subject. Here's what's happening. Whenever I start my car in the morning or at least after 5 or 6 hours of not running, it idles low as hell and will die if I don't keep my foot on the pedal. The weird thing is if I drive about 1/2 mile and stop again, it's fine. But if I start it cold and just let it sit there, it takes 10 or 15 minutes to clear up. I have heard that if the EGR is stuck open or closed it can affect idle quality, but I seem to think that it is the MAF. In the past month I have replaced the FPR, TPS, and IAC. Neither helped at all. I know it sounds simple, but it's a real pain in the rear. It's kind of embarrasing living with this problem in an apartment complex because all of the neighbors probably think my car is a piece of crap!!! BTW, it's a '90 notchback (5spd)with race crank pulley, K&N, E303, and gears. Please help!!

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06-26-2001, 06:55 PM	#2
JRowlette Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 95	Anybody??

06-26-2001, 11:38 PM	#3
dinomite The Dude Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,262	sorry, can't help, just wanted trying to help keep the post up. someone should be able to help with this.

06-26-2001, 11:38 PM	#4
macx Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Gordonville MO USA Posts: 448	I had the same problem exactly with my high mileage 89 Lincoln LSC w/5.0 HO. Turned out the EGR wasn't plugged, but was worn (?) which caused it to stick shut when cold - not enuf vacuum - took lots of vacuum to pop it open. When warm, the car started & idled fine. New EGR fixed. Then, 20k miles later, started doing the same thing. This time was the EGR position indicator (piggybacked on the EGR). New one fixed again. Now, mine is still speed density, so don't know for sure if same thing on a mass air.

06-27-2001, 10:52 PM	#5
JRowlette Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 95	Thanks alot. I guess I will get a new EGR valve, hopefully that'll do the trick. You're a lifesaver!!!

06-28-2001, 12:40 AM	#6
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Don't spend the money yet. First off, your egr is supposed to be closed at cold idle. The egr introduces exhaust gasses back into the combustion chambers to lean out the engine. If it opens when cold or at idle, the engine will stall. Before you replace it, try disconnecting the vacuum hose to it and see if there is a change. If there is, hook a vacuum gauge to the hose and see what it reads. There shouldn't be any vacuum, and if there is, you need to check the egr position sensor. If unplugging the hose to the egr did not make a difference, apply and release vacuum to the egr several times. This will stall the engine if it's running, so do it with the engine turned off. After doing this five or six times, start the engine and see if idles normally. If it does, replace the egr valve. What is likely happening is that the egr is sticking slightly open, and it's not until after it has vacuum applied to it that it fully shuts. Good luck. Take care ~Chris

06-29-2001, 12:36 AM	#7
95 King GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: coweta OK USA Posts: 93	you could have a Blown Head Gasket.