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Car stalls out on a Cold Start

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  #1  
Old 11-30-2010, 12:41 PM
tyfin85's Avatar
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Default Car stalls out on a Cold Start

So this has been kind of an intermittent problem since I bought the car a while back. At first I would start it up in the morning, and it would sputter and stall out if I revved it to 2500 without letting it "warm up" for a minute or two. Here's where it get's weird: The same thing happens when I fill up the gas tank. It sputters, and stall when revved up (possibly fuel returning to the engine??)

So the car began throwing codes P1136, and P0441. I looked these up, did what most people suggested and cleaned the MAF. Disconnected, Reconnected the Negative terminal, and the codes disappeared.

However, I'm still having a problem with Cold Starting, and it won't start at all when the weather reaches 30-40.

Just want to see if there are any other quick & cheap things I can try before taking this to the German Auto place down the block where I will most likely have to shell out a paycheck or two.
 

Last edited by tyfin85; 11-30-2010 at 12:57 PM.
  #2  
Old 11-30-2010, 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by tyfin85
So this has been kind of an intermittent problem since I bought the car a while back. At first I would start it up in the morning, and it would sputter and stall out if I revved it to 2500 without letting it "warm up" for a minute or two. Here's where it get's weird: The same thing happens when I fill up the gas tank. It sputters, and stall when revved up (possibly fuel returning to the engine??)

So the car began throwing codes P1136, and P0441. I looked these up, did what most people suggested and cleaned the MAF. Disconnected, Reconnected the Negative terminal, and the codes disappeared.

However, I'm still having a problem with Cold Starting, and it won't start at all when the weather reaches 30-40.

Just want to see if there are any other quick & cheap things I can try before taking this to the German Auto place down the block where I will most likely have to shell out a paycheck or two.
have you replaced your fuel filter?
 
  #3  
Old 11-30-2010, 09:02 PM
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I have the same problem -also happens when it's damp out. But no problems after fill-up. You may want to clean your Throttle Body. I cleaned that along with the IAT and MAF. It was pretty dirty. While cleaning my MAF I found a crack in the sensor. I'm hoping this was the problem with mine.
 
  #4  
Old 11-30-2010, 09:14 PM
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Its got a bad MAF most likely. When the car is cold it goes into open loop, meaning it uses only the MAF sensor to calculate engine load and fuel delivery. Once it heats up the O2 sensors kick in and thats when it runs fine. I have no idea why it does it after you fill the tank, coincidence probably.
I would also clean the throttle body.
 
  #5  
Old 12-01-2010, 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by auditech79
Its got a bad MAF most likely. When the car is cold it goes into open loop, meaning it uses only the MAF sensor to calculate engine load and fuel delivery. Once it heats up the O2 sensors kick in and thats when it runs fine. I have no idea why it does it after you fill the tank, coincidence probably.
I would also clean the throttle body.
+1,000

I wasn't aware that the car goes into Open Loop when cold, and frankly I'm surprised my mechanic didn't either (he was suspecting a temp sensor, lol). Anyhow, I disconnected my MAF and it perked right up this morning. Looks like a simple cleaning didn't suffice, and I'll actually need it replaced. Will probably clean my throttle body next for good measure
 
  #6  
Old 12-02-2010, 12:53 AM
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^^^I trust mechanics as much as i trust doctors, most of them are C student idiots.
 
  #7  
Old 12-02-2010, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by tyfin85
I wasn't aware that the car goes into Open Loop when cold, and frankly I'm surprised my mechanic didn't either
Find a new mechanic immediately if your mechanic didn't know that.
 
  #8  
Old 12-03-2010, 12:58 PM
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while on the subject. can anyone recommend a place to buy an MAF for relatively cheap? Used or New
 
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