Annoying idle and starting issue

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 06:49:38 PM

Hi people.

I have an annoying starting problem that I can\'t fix :-( Basically the car is hard to start when it\'s been warmed up. It will turn over til the cows come home with the first turn of the key but as soon as I stop and turn it over again. Boom there it is :-P I\'ve tried priming the pump by turning the key on and off a few times which does make it better but it\'s still the same problem really.

Once the car has started I get a bad idle. Sometimes it will sit higher than normal. Other times it will bounce, sometimes less than often it will just struggle and then cut out.

I\'ve checked vacuum lines. The TPS voltages are correct. The plugs are fairly new and the engine was rebuilt around 7000 miles ago.

Any ideas as it\'s slightly embarrassing every time I have to start the car with people around :-(

davehg · August 04, 2012, 07:02:44 PM

Out of interest who built it and is there a warrante on it?

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 07:04:05 PM

It was rebuilt by Steve rivetts. There was a years warranty but that has expired.

davehg · August 04, 2012, 07:07:46 PM

Sounds like you\'ve attacked the main culprits first, maybe a manifold gasket is leaking. Also check the pipe from the brake servo to plenum, this should have a working one way valve, this can be known to cause stalling issues and bouncing idle if faulty.

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 07:14:37 PM

yeah i have taken the elbow, throttle body and plenum off to check the rats nest. I checked the gaskets and put a bit of sealer around the elbow as the little seal never really looks good enough lol. All seemed ok, The annoying thing is that when driving and flooring it the car feels perfectly fine. It\'s just a silly idle and starting issues :-S would leads be a problem as I\'m still using the oem leads with quite a few mods.

wolfie1 · August 04, 2012, 07:18:48 PM

the oem leads are in fact better than magnecor ones

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 07:23:40 PM

oh right lol. I\'m just trying to think of things it could be. It\'s still running slightly rich and the only other thing I notice is that the headlights seem to go down on their own accord when they feel like it from time to time lol. Don\'t know if this has anything to do with it?

davehg · August 04, 2012, 08:17:06 PM

I would never run any other leads than oem

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 08:21:37 PM

Ok cool, that\'s sorted then :-) I was thinking about buying some magnecor but I wont bother now lol. I just really want this fixed, it\'s sooo annoying lol

TRIND-FD · August 04, 2012, 08:38:47 PM

Stock ecu? Have you adjusted the screw below the elbow,

Screw on throttle body, one with the spring on that\'s stops the linkage That your cable attaches too.

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 08:50:43 PM

It\'s an apexi power fc. Usually idles at 1000rpm but when it starts up it seems to slowly work it\'s way up hopefully if it doesn\'t die in that time lol. The screw.. ... would that affect only the idle speed? is that the one that sits on top pointing upwards or is there another one underneath somewhere?

wiggman2030 · August 04, 2012, 09:02:50 PM

Sorry just reread what you put. Umm no I haven\'t adjusted them. What does each one do?

TRIND-FD · August 04, 2012, 09:38:14 PM

Quote from: wiggman2030;831585It\'s an apexi power fc. Usually idles at 1000rpm but when it starts up it seems to slowly work it\'s way up hopefully if it doesn\'t die in that time lol. The screw.. ... would that affect only the idle speed? is that the one that sits on top pointing upwards or is there another one underneath somewhere?

Yes the one pointing up affects idle, my boys car started acting up, and that screw had moved, had a paint mark . slight twist and it was bang on. But it took me a while to see it lol.

The air adjust is under the elbow on the throttle body, do a search on it. Screw it all the way in, then Back half a turn. Check as I can\'t remember if it is half a turn

TRIND-FD · August 04, 2012, 09:50:15 PM

Or If your really stuck
This guy can help you :cool. Lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQpPcdvSBks&feature=youtube_gdata_player

wiggman2030 · August 05, 2012, 08:08:02 AM

Haha that guy is hilarious lol. I better buy some cleaner :-) I\'ll have a play with the screws today to see if it makes any difference. I couldn\'t find much on adjusting the screw underneath the elbow but I\'ll do what you said and if it fails I\'ll just blame you (joke) :-)

Thanks for the help guys
I\'ll keep you updated