Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Technical & Model Specific Forums > General Motors
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Cold starting problems
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Forum LockedCold starting problems
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
DaveEllen View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 15 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Cold starting problems
    Posted: 06-December-2003 at 16:12

My wifes 99 Z3 1.9 auto has a decided reluctance to fire up in the morning. When it finally fires up it seems to be on 3 cylinders before finding the other one.

The cars done 24k and the oil change service indicator has just come on. The car only did 3k last year (we bought it last month) could this be linked ?

When warm there is no problem.......

I've sprayed wd40 over the electrical bits & put some octane booster in the tank & hope that will help tomorrow.

Is this cold starting problem the norm for 1.9's ???

 

Cheers

 

Dave

 

 

 

 
Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
Madrab View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II
Avatar

Joined: 21-November-2003
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 569 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-December-2003 at 09:09

Hi Dave,

Suppose the first question is, when was it last serviced? Sounds like it could be something as simple as a dicky spark plug or lead.

If the oil service light is on then sounds like it's time for a service anyway, get them to at least check the plugs, leads, rotor arm, dizzy cap, which they should for a service anyway. If it has a rogue plug or lead then the octane booster would not help, it may even just mask the problem.

Rob

 
1990 E3o 325i Touring and she's definately a she! Pain in the ass sometimes but goes like a bunny :oD
Back to Top
grahamC View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 30-October-2003
Location: Great Britain
Status: Offline
Points: 46 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-December-2003 at 14:16
if the car doesn`t get used much it could just b the oil draining out of the hydralic liftters, so the engine turning over pumps the oil pressure building up so then it will fire but run lumpy for a few seconds then it should clear
Back to Top
dave 328 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II


Joined: 21-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 835 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-December-2003 at 14:28

I don't think this car would have a dissy cap or R arm. Also the hydraulic lifters would only make a tappety noise for a few seconds and wouldn't cause the engine to run lumpy.

 

I would clean the plugs first or even just fit new ones as they are only a few quid each.
Back to Top
jonp View Drop Down
Senior Member I
Senior Member I
Avatar

Joined: 05-October-2003
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 145 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-December-2003 at 14:49

Just a thought....petrol can go off (a bit like milk!). It may be that! Especially if you are not using it much.

Good luck!
Autos are easy. Its the steering thats hard.
Back to Top
STEVE328 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member I
Really Senior Member I
Avatar
Club member, North East Region

Joined: 25-June-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 304 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-December-2003 at 20:44
Petrol won't go 'off' for years, so I wouldn't worry about that.
Definitly clean/change the plugs and leads. your most likley cause.


Edited by STEVE328

1996 N Montreal blue 328i saloon 45k / 01 Y Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat.
Back to Top
grahamC View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 30-October-2003
Location: Great Britain
Status: Offline
Points: 46 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-December-2003 at 21:24
Originally posted by dave 328 dave 328 wrote:

I don't think this car would have a dissy cap or R arm. Also the hydraulic lifters would only make a tappety noise for a few seconds and wouldn't cause the engine to run lumpy.

 

I would clean the plugs first or even just fit new ones as they are only a few quid each.

if the oil drains out of the hydralic lifters, it will turn over and not start till the lifters are full, which insome cases while doin this the engine floods and when it starts causes a slight misfire till the excess fuel is burnt!
Back to Top
DaveEllen View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 15 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-December-2003 at 19:03

Thanks for the comments...

 

Sprayed WD40 all over the electrical stuff and it was OK.

 

Getting it serviced on 20/12 so hopefully that will do the trick !
Back to Top
Peter Fenwick View Drop Down
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Avatar

Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-December-2003 at 11:58

Dave,

noticed the 1999 lexus IS200 at the end of your posts. What kind of power is it making?
Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
Back to Top
dave 328 View Drop Down
Really Senior Member II
Really Senior Member II


Joined: 21-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 835 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-December-2003 at 14:23
Originally posted by grahamC grahamC wrote:

if the oil drains out of the hydralic lifters, it will turn over and not start till the lifters are full, which insome cases while doin this the engine floods and when it starts causes a slight misfire till the excess fuel is burnt!

A hydraulic lifter will only alter the valve clearance by a few mil. The car will also start with no oil in the lifters, I changed some and when they are new you have to run it on fast idle to fill the tapets quickly otherwise they can get stuck once the engine gets hot and it hets more difficult to get the oil in them then.

The only part the hydraulic tappets play is to dampen the noise of the cams hitting them thus making it quieter, the engine will still run normally even with no oil in them, but it will tap quite loudly.

Back to Top
andygriff View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 27-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 76 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-December-2003 at 20:13

The M44 B19 engine fitted to your car has been known to give cold start problems due to faulty hydraulic valve lifters - but not due to the oil draining. When cold they actually expand slightly, thus keeping the valves partially off their seats and resulting in a loss of compression. Has this fault come about since your last oil change ? Could be to do with the viscosity. Generally though, new lifters are the only cure. Early M44 engines also suffered from valve / seat sealing problems - although this woild also show as a lumpy idle when warm.

Andy.

 
Back to Top
DaveEllen View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 28-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 15 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21-December-2003 at 19:06
Originally posted by Peter Fenwick Peter Fenwick wrote:

Dave,

noticed the 1999 lexus IS200 at the end of your posts. What kind of power is it making?

Peter, Its 210 w/out NOS & 260 with NOS. Going for all steel bottom end & cam/head mods which should get 250 bigger NOS jets will mean 350 when the gas is on.........

 

Just got the Z3 back.........cold starting is due to the car needing the "cam spread modification"   being done under warranty.

 

  

 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.219 seconds.