Hard to start from cold.

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V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Hey guys, as said above ive noticed my glanza is becoming hard to start on cold mornings. Its only in the morning when its cold out.

When the weather is any way warm, it starts on the button.

When I try to start it on the cold mornings, it cranks for a few turns then when it starts its spluttery for a few seconds then it clears up...?

Oh and I dont know if this is related but every morning when I start it up I get a puff of blue smoke... Think that might just be the turbo though...

Its probably something simple like the temp sensor or something.

But if anyone can help at all Id really appreciate it. :)
 
dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
mine does the same thing and all i can think is its a sticky valve or a valve not seating properly. i have tried changing and checking everything i can. mine is slowly getting worse.
 
P

Paul_JJ

Member +
I had the same till I improved my earth by connecting the battery with the gearbox directly. It's not like I completely cured it, but it does help a lot. In my opinion it's a bad earth somewhere and in my case most likely relates to the aftermarket alarm, which was "professionally" installed.
 
V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Actually, that you mention that mate... The earth that goes from the intercooler to the rocker cover is broken... has been since I bought the car, just never had a chance to repair it...
Paul_JJ said:
I had the same till I improved my earth by connecting the battery with the gearbox directly. It's not like I completely cured it, but it does help a lot. In my opinion it's a bad earth somewhere and in my case most likely relates to the aftermarket alarm, which was "professionally" installed.
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dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
that earth will make 0 difference.

i havnt had the head off as the engine leaks oil and the gearbox is shit so im just going to refresh the whole engine when i have some time.

it could be any manner of things, but i have tried everything on my car and it has made no difference. the fact it is getting worse and only does it when the engine is cold, doesnt matter about the outside temp makes me think its the valves in my case
 
V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Oh right ok, well mine has done it since I bought the car about 2 months ago. But it seems like it has gotten a little worse in the past few weeks. When the weather is warm its perfect, not a bother on it. Starts first turn.

If it was a sticky valve though would you not have compression issues? Have you tried a cylinder leak down test?

I think its just a case of my car not been taken care of by previous owners. Its a shame. The intercooler wasnt bolted in, either were any of the pipes or hoses. The vacuum hoses for the turbo were all mixed up, and the hi/lo solenoid was still hooked up even though theres a HKS actuator in it.
dac69er said:
that earth will make 0 difference.

i havnt had the head off as the engine leaks oil and the gearbox is shit so im just going to refresh the whole engine when i have some time.

it could be any manner of things, but i have tried everything on my car and it has made no difference. the fact it is getting worse and only does it when the engine is cold, doesnt matter about the outside temp makes me think its the valves in my case
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dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
mine was completely random. it would start to get worse and then be fine for a month or so.

compression is fine as sometimes its ok, and after its turned over a few times its generally fine. i may find a compression issue if i am lucky enough to pick the correct cylinder/cylinders when it was sticking.

i can start it, it will run shit i can turn it off and start the car again and it will be perfect.

you can use the hi/lo solenoid with the hks actuator if you want to.
 
V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Well, what was happening with mine at first was, i had it about a week and i drove it about 5km's and knocked it off. When I came back out it just wouldnt start. I kept cranking and cranking but nothing. Turns out it was to do with the vacuum hoses. The actuator was hooked up to the hose that runs along the timing belt cover. And the hose for the actuator was just hanging down under the turbo. It was hitting fuel cut when I got it and was boosting at ridiculous pressure. So I think what was happening was the actuator just wasnt functioning. Im happy enough with the hi/lo solenoid disconnected.

Id try a cylinder leak down test. Or even a smoke test, that way you dont have to crank it, keep the engine cold. See if you get smoke out the exhaust or back up through the intake manifold.
dac69er said:
mine was completely random. it would start to get worse and then be fine for a month or so.

compression is fine as sometimes its ok, and after its turned over a few times its generally fine. i may find a compression issue if i am lucky enough to pick the correct cylinder/cylinders when it was sticking.

i can start it, it will run shit i can turn it off and start the car again and it will be perfect.

you can use the hi/lo solenoid with the hks actuator if you want to.
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dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
as i said, im not fussed. as i am rebuilding the whole engine i will investigate it then. its done it since i had the car, its just a lot worse now. its still working after 3 years so its not too bad ;)
 
V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Ah, dont think it will give up anytime soon so. :p.... Id like to just get mine cleaned up and have a nice shiny engine bay. Then maybe a rebuild.. who knows. :D
dac69er said:
as i said, im not fussed. as i am rebuilding the whole engine i will investigate it then. its done it since i had the car, its just a lot worse now. its still working after 3 years so its not too bad ;)
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dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
if everything else was fine i would just take the head off and have a look, but as its needs quite a few little bits now i thought i may as well just rebuild it and then i know its all ok.
 
V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Yea, I know what you mean. Mine needs quite a bit of work too but I dont think im in need to rebuild my engine. Need to replace the clutch release bearing.... possibly the gearbox too, it grinds in 2nd every now and again. :(
dac69er said:
if everything else was fine i would just take the head off and have a look, but as its needs quite a few little bits now i thought i may as well just rebuild it and then i know its all ok.
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V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Just cleaned out my cold start valve, should know in the morning (if its cold enough) if that did the job. Noticed the idle control valve had alot of carbon and oil in it too, so I gave that a clean aswel.
 
P

Paul_JJ

Member +
dac69er said:
if everything else was fine i would just take the head off and have a look, but as its needs quite a few little bits now i thought i may as well just rebuild it and then i know its all ok.
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I really want to know if your rebuild will fix the problem!

Do you experience any static in the car by any chance??? Do you think different oil would make the difference? Or even the spark plugs?
 
dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
just to add. the car sounds a litle like a subaru at lower rpm, runs fine, but just doesnt sound as it should. that is anoher thing that draws me towards thinkin its a valve related issue.

what do you mean by static? as in a shock when i get out etc? if so, no.

i have changed loads. done the basics. even replaced injectors, fuel pump, distributor, coil and ignitor, all the sensors, ecu. nothing has made any difference.

once i have moved house and sorted myself out i may get something to run around it and take the car off the road to rebuild it.
 
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Paul_JJ

Member +
Well if it does sound like a Scooby then surely something ain't right. Yeah I meant the shock when you get out of the car indeed.
 
dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
it does need looking at. just keep flogging it on as it keeps going still ;)

its not that much like a subaru, just has that slight destinctive sound that subarus have. as said, its been a long time coming. just need to time to take it off the road and get it done.
 
V

V-Turbo

Fresh Recruit
Sounds like a scooby? So theres a miss in it? And it clears up when the engine heats up?

Oh, and ive sorted my problem, was the cold start valve.
dac69er said:
just to add. the car sounds a litle like a subaru at lower rpm, runs fine, but just doesnt sound as it should. that is anoher thing that draws me towards thinkin its a valve related issue.

what do you mean by static? as in a shock when i get out etc? if so, no.

i have changed loads. done the basics. even replaced injectors, fuel pump, distributor, coil and ignitor, all the sensors, ecu. nothing has made any difference.

once i have moved house and sorted myself out i may get something to run around it and take the car off the road to rebuild it.
Click to expand...
 
dac69er

dac69er

Super Moderator
V-Turbo said:
Sounds like a scooby? So theres a miss in it? And it clears up when the engine heats up?

Oh, and ive sorted my problem, was the cold start valve.
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no, its constant, hot or cold. its just got the rumble similar to that of a subaru. it isnt as smooth as my other 2 starlets.
 
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