Author Topic: Intermittent Cold Start Issue  (Read 2970 times)

BlueBMW

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Intermittent Cold Start Issue
« on: March 05, 2010, 06:49:46 PM »
If I let my car sit for 3 or 4 days and then go out to start it, it will crank and crank and crank and sputter and sometimes try to start... eventually it starts but is missing super bad at idle.  Clears up after a few minutes and then is absolutely perfect!  If I don't let the car sit too long (a day or two) it starts up perfect each and every time.  

I've already done the mess under the intake (all back to OE stock stuff, no bypasses etc) I've done the COP conversion and I've run some fuel system cleaner etc through it.  Bout the only thing I haven't done is spark plugs.  The only other thing I could think of is maybe some leaking injectors.

Anyone have any thoughts?

(This is the 318is btw, not the 325e or the 530i)
1991 318is (Sold to brother :()
1995 530i (Daily driver til I find another 318is!)


abt-e30

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Intermittent Cold Start Issue
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2010, 07:18:20 AM »
Quote from: BlueBMW;88946
If I let my car sit for 3 or 4 days and then go out to start it, it will crank and crank and crank and sputter and sometimes try to start... eventually it starts but is missing super bad at idle.  Clears up after a few minutes and then is absolutely perfect!  If I don't let the car sit too long (a day or two) it starts up perfect each and every time.  

I've already done the mess under the intake (all back to OE stock stuff, no bypasses etc) I've done the COP conversion and I've run some fuel system cleaner etc through it.  Bout the only thing I haven't done is spark plugs.  The only other thing I could think of is maybe some leaking injectors.

Anyone have any thoughts?

(This is the 318is btw, not the 325e or the 530i)


Im currently experiancing the same problem. I let the car sit over night and when I start it it sputters/Misses for about 30-45 sec maybe longer sometimes and them clears out and runs perfect. I don't notice any smoke (unburned fuel) from the exhaust when this happens or the smell of gas. I have the same hunch towards leaking injectors. Im gonna pull the plugs and look at them.

abt-e30

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Intermittent Cold Start Issue
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2010, 07:36:13 AM »
Ok I pulled the plugs. I found the following which leads me to believe something may be up with the injectors.

Cyl#1 plug color was a Brownish. = Good burning cylinder
Cyl#2 Plug color was White/Grey  = Lean mixture
Cyl#3 Plug color grey w/black carbon on out edge of plug =? injector leaking/or dirty letting too much fuel into the cylinder.
Cyl#4 White with what appears to be oil burning deposits on it, Not to sure about this. = another ? able cylinder.

If some one has some in-site to this starting problem any help would be much appreciated.