Cold Start Problems

OB · Post by OB » Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:11 pm

When I start my car in the morning (or when the motor is cold), it often behaves very oddly. Lately I have noticed it happening more and more, so I thought Id ask if anyone knew much about it. When i start the car, it appears to have trouble staying running. It sometimes idles around 5-600rpm and (rarely) even dies after idling low for 2 or 3 seconds. If i give it gas when it idles low, it strikes right up to normal rpm..

Other times it idles low and makes odd sounds (valvetrain type sounds i figure), and then all the sudden, jumps right up to 1100rpm (typical cold motor idle for neon) almost as if the problem was suddenly "fixed". Heres the odd thing that might give the problem away: today i started the car with the door open so i could listen better, and i noticed the car struggled to idle normally, and i could actually hear the intake "huffing". once the motor made its way to normal idle (3 secs), the huffing stopped and the car ran normal. (Note: the "huffing" noise is similar to the sound that the motor makes when the throttle is quickly tapped and the CAI sucks air in fast).

Is this a TB/intake problem possibly? Some people have said to check plugs and wires, but I want to get every opinion I can before I take it into DCX and have them blame the CAI. Maybe an injector/rail problem? someone on the other org. once said something about having the same symptoms and DCX changing out the fuel pump with no result... any help please?

*I know some of this has been covered before and ive asked a few of these questions before but bare with me.

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:21 pm

My Blue neon idles really low sometimes, like 500-600, but its an ATX. It only does it sometimes, but I dont know if it has always idled like this. I changed the cluster to one w/ a tach about a year ago, and im not sure when i first started noticing that. I dont remember hearing it idling low either before maybe this past spring/summer.

UMKCNeon04 · Post by **UMKCNeon04** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:18 pm

mine has the exact same problem. only thing is is that ive experienced it on more htan just cold days. not very often, but ill have it here and there. i thought my battery was just crapping out or something. i havent had it since i switch my filter the other day to a new kn compared to my year old ebay paper filter on my cai.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:23 pm

my car does the same. my car idles rough on cold start ups and when its idling while in D. i never figured out the problem yet. sometimes you can hear my idle drop, and then it will raise back up by itself. and my brakes also squek when they're cold.

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:59 pm

maybe its just one of those neon things, like the slapping piston noise...just something to deal w/, long as my car doenst randomly cut off lol

rt_neon04 · Post by **rt_neon04** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:10 am

try running 10w40 oil in the winter time and 5w30 or 10w30 in the summe time..i noticed last year when i had 5w30 in the winter time car had hard time starting and staying on..after i switched to 10w40, it all went away..

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:25 am

mine is idleling rough on starts now too. but i'm thinking its because i filled up with 92 octane... she didn't like. i'm gonna fill up with regular again. that should clear my problem. as for the cold starts.... its winter, its always cold.

refect · Post by **refect** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:08 am

my car woudl do it too when i had the sohc atx in there. i always figured it was just becasue the car needed to be warmed up and the oil wasnt warmed and thinner yet to allow it to get up in all the tight areas.

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:39 am

I have an 02 R/T ( manual tranny)..........I went on a trip 2 weeks ago. When I woke up in the morn my wife and I went to breakfast. I let the car warm up like normal ( 5 min) and then we took off. We ran into some traffic so sitting at the light my idle started to drop and the car shuddered like it ws about to die. For some reason I put in the clutch and it rose back up, I was in neutural at the time. A couple minutes later it did it again so I pulled over into a parking lott to check out my car. Nothing wrong and it hasnt happened again. Stuff like that is usually caused by a vaccume leak of some sort so check all your lines next check your wires and battery connections. After that check your alternator. If all that is good then start with your fuel line, filter, pump. If all that is good make sure you are using good gass......next check for bad injectors. After that go for the ECU.......

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:19 pm

I kind of notice in the new neon too...I watched out for it this morning, but it doenst have a tach, so I cant really tell if its my imagination or not

p8ntballah413 · Post by **p8ntballah413** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:25 pm

what do u guys out west classify as a cold start? like 45 degrees? u suck, try like 10

OB · Post by OB » Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:33 pm

a "cold start" is technically starting the car after the motor has had time to completely cool off (overnight). i didnt necessarily mean cold like weather cold (but it IS worse when freezing). In my area low 20's are VERY cold, but not uncommon in winter. during this time of year at about 6am (when i work), the temp is 25-35, or maybe a bit higher.

anyways has anyone had the prob with it dying after low idle for 2-3 secs? thats the part that scares me most. wierd idle is really normal for any car thats just starting, but actually stalling... shoot

Frizbe · Post by **Frizbe** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:37 pm

8 hour soak is what Dodge defines as a cold start.

Maximo02R/T · Post by **Maximo02R/T** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:22 am

Wisher2 wrote:I have an 02 R/T ( manual tranny)..........I went on a trip 2 weeks ago. When I woke up in the morn my wife and I went to breakfast. I let the car warm up like normal ( 5 min) and then we took off. We ran into some traffic so sitting at the light my idle started to drop and the car shuddered like it ws about to die. For some reason I put in the clutch and it rose back up, I was in neutural at the time. A couple minutes later it did it again so I pulled over into a parking lott to check out my car. Nothing wrong and it hasnt happened again. Stuff like that is usually caused by a vaccume leak of some sort so check all your lines next check your wires and battery connections. After that check your alternator. If all that is good then start with your fuel line, filter, pump. If all that is good make sure you are using good gass......next check for bad injectors. After that go for the ECU.......

My 02 R/T did the same thing at a light bout 4 months ago..but it was after i put regular in it.... it didnt respond to well to that. But my car sounds like a damn Monster truck in the morning when i start it up.... sounds like the motor is going to jump right out the engine compartment. but then again i am up here and michigan and its sits outside in 15 degree weather all night, i take it as a neon thing...

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:33 am

Maximo02R/T wrote:
Wisher2 wrote:I have an 02 R/T ( manual tranny)..........I went on a trip 2 weeks ago. When I woke up in the morn my wife and I went to breakfast. I let the car warm up like normal ( 5 min) and then we took off. We ran into some traffic so sitting at the light my idle started to drop and the car shuddered like it ws about to die. For some reason I put in the clutch and it rose back up, I was in neutural at the time. A couple minutes later it did it again so I pulled over into a parking lott to check out my car. Nothing wrong and it hasnt happened again. Stuff like that is usually caused by a vaccume leak of some sort so check all your lines next check your wires and battery connections. After that check your alternator. If all that is good then start with your fuel line, filter, pump. If all that is good make sure you are using good gass......next check for bad injectors. After that go for the ECU.......
My 02 R/T did the same thing at a light bout 4 months ago..but it was after i put regular in it.... it didnt respond to well to that. But my car sounds like a damn Monster truck in the morning when i start it up.... sounds like the motor is going to jump right out the engine compartment. but then again i am up here and michigan and its sits outside in 15 degree weather all night, i take it as a neon thing...

I live in Cali but it gets pretty cold where I am at.......Central Coast. At the time that mine did it I was in Monterey and it was about 25F outside. It could have been the gas to because I had to fill up up there and maybe the gas just isnt that good up there. I had to use exxon instead of 76

OB · Post by OB » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:06 pm

man after work yesterday my car wouldnt start! it would turn over and die, over and over. finally i decided to give in and give it some throttle right when i turned the key, and even then it didnt wanna start, but it did. after a few secs it idles normal and no probs rest of the day. started right up this morn (30F) at 6am. could it be my battery? i run the acc w/o the car on for long periods of time sometimes on break at work. yest i did it for about half hour w/ the radio on and shit. could that be the prob? still gt stock batt w/ 11k miles...

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:44 pm

actually I have a question for you. Do you always turn your ac off and let the blower run for a couple of minutes before you turn your car off? If you are not turning your ac off the you are putting stress on your alternator. That would be why your battery is running down and giving you trouble starting. I dont know the reason why this happens but I used to live in Las Vegas. When I had my Accord I used to run the ac all the time and not turn it off before I shut the car off. One day I went outside and my car wouldnt start so I had to jump it. Died again so I got an optima. Was good for a couple of days and then it died. Went to the dealer and the dealer replaced my alt and told me to turn off the ac before I turn the car off or I will kill the alt again......also you never wanna run your ac or radio for that matter without the car on because then you are only using the battery and not the alt and also how the hell can you run the ac without having the car on.........I dont believe the compressor can work without the accessories belt being ran

Maximo02R/T · Post by **Maximo02R/T** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:47 pm

hmmm.... thats odd, ive never heard of that before

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 1:46 pm

Wisher2 wrote: how the hell can you run the ac without having the car on.........I dont believe the compressor can work without the accessories belt being ran

this is true, the compressor is belt driven. i guess all OB gets is the air from the fan (blower motor).

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:04 pm

I think OB is meaning 'acc' as in accessories only...not AC as in Air conditioner

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:06 pm

Oh well in that case He may be just draining his battery while listening to his stereo....

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:41 pm

well in that case, just go down to ricezone or pepboys and have they check you battery.

OB · Post by OB » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:30 pm

scneonchic501 wrote:I think OB is meaning 'acc' as in accessories only...not AC as in Air conditioner

correct, and im thinkin its my batt. BUUUT, what would explain this problem happening within the first couple days of this cars life? unless the guys at DCX had the same habits as me (runnin the radio on acc), i think there is more to it..

Post by **Diablo0** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:44 pm

Try upgrading your grounds. Mine used to do it until I upgraded the grounds.

opyr8yr · Post by **opyr8yr** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:15 pm

I'm also having a noise problem with cold starts. I live in Canada, so when I say cold start, I mean the car has been sitting for 8+ hours AND it's like 5-10 degrees farenheit outside. Anyways, when started I hear some kind of rattling noise which seems to be coming from the driver side of the front end. I can't locate the exact location, and it's not for a lack of trying. The car starts and idle's fine, it's just the rattling noise. The noise is not present at all when the car is warmed up or started from a warm location like a garage.... It's an 05 and still under warranty, maybe I'll just bring her in.