1.0 Cold start problem

  1. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #1
    My brothers 1.0 SPI Saxo has developed a cold start issue.
    Depending on how cold sometimes it doesnt even start and when it does it runs bad until its warmed up and when you are out driving it bogs down and almost cuts out.

    The car is regularly serviced. Ive cleaned out the inlet top of oil. Any other common things i can check?

    Cheers
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #2
    Try fitting a new coolant temp sensor mate(on the thermostat housing)
  3. Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2011 alfreton Posts: 533 saxoo vtr mk1, 104bhp
    #3
    or the coilpack ? (if its the engine with a coilpack)
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064
    #4
    Check health of battery & alternator.
  5. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #5
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Try fitting a new coolant temp sensor mate(on the thermostat housing)
    I've just replaced that and didn't fix it,
    Alternator and battery are good, I took some videos I'll upload in a sec
  6. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by burgin2011 View Post
    or the coilpack ? (if its the engine with a coilpack)
    What he said.

    Mine did this and then when it did start it kept wanting to stall and mis fired.

    I saw Beeniemoo and they put it on the computer and said its my coil pack on the way out.
  7. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by logic_guy View Post
    What he said.

    Mine did this and then when it did start it kept wanting to stall and mis fired.

    I saw Beeniemoo and they put it on the computer and said its my coil pack on the way out.
    I can't see how it's the coilpack when it runs fine when warm.
    Surely it would run bad all the time.
  8. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423
    #8
    You do have a point there.

    Mine was mis-firing in the cold so I gave it a few revs and it sorted its self out but the EML was still on, this is when I saw Beanie.

    It did it the other day when It started, I gave it a little rev and it sorted its self out and the EML went off by its self this time.
  9. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #9
    Nope, coil packs can be temperature sensitive too. My old mx5 did the same but was great once it was warm. That was also the cool pack
  10. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by holdawayt View Post
    Nope, coil packs can be temperature sensitive too. My old mx5 did the same but was great once it was warm. That was also the cool pack
    Maybe so but I've just spent £15 on a coolant temperature sensor and I'm not going buying loads of stuff that might fix it without knowing for sure, the car is only worth scrap and he just wants a cheap fix to get it working.
  11. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #11
    Right this is what it does when trying to start it:


    Then when I finally got it running:


    Notice it cuts out as soon as I rev it.

    Still running rough always sounds like it wants to cut out:


    About a month ago the manifold shield fell off with the bit of pipe, will that have made a difference? Also theres a blow in the manifold so dunno if that also is the reason.

    Cheers for ideas guys really want it sorted, piece of shit lol
  12. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 31279 Citroen Saxo VTS, S60 D5
    #12
    Petrol filter?
  13. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Prickle View Post
    Petrol filter?
    Nah got serviced just last month did the lot.
  14. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423
    #14
    Sounds like your mis-firing.

    Have you checked the spark plugs? I'm still believing its the coil pack. The video backs it up as mine sounded the same.
  15. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #15
    Yep another one for the coilpack still lol.
  16. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423
    #16
    Ali. I've just noticed its a Mk1 Saxo.

    It might be worth checking the coil pack cables (the ones that run from the coil pack to the spark plugs). I took them off the spark plugs and looked for small blue flashes inside the cable housing. These failed twice on my 1.1 and cost around £9 new to replace.
  17. Newbie Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 20
    #17
    Got a similar problem with my own(1.1i). I have nothing to back this up really but as it tends to happen when it's been colder/wetter and that it goes away when warm, I think somehow moisture's getting into the ignition system and possibly the coil pack/leads. My brother touched the top of one when it was running and got a nasty shock, said something about being poorly insulated so could correlate? Personally my car knowledge isn't too great though, and given it's an intermittent problem atm I'm currently reluctant to bother spending money to replace stuff if it might not fix it.
  18. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #18
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by logic_guy View Post
    Ali. I've just noticed its a Mk1 Saxo.

    It might be worth checking the coil pack cables (the ones that run from the coil pack to the spark plugs). I took them off the spark plugs and looked for small blue flashes inside the cable housing. These failed twice on my 1.1 and cost around £9 new to replace.
    The AA man went to start if for my brother this morning and he thinks the car is flooding the engine with fuel when it's cold. But that could be bad sparking.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BobbertM View Post
    Got a similar problem with my own(1.1i). I have nothing to back this up really but as it tends to happen when it's been colder/wetter and that it goes away when warm, I think somehow moisture's getting into the ignition system and possibly the coil pack/leads. My brother touched the top of one when it was running and got a nasty shock, said something about being poorly insulated so could correlate? Personally my car knowledge isn't too great though, and given it's an intermittent problem atm I'm currently reluctant to bother spending money to replace stuff if it might not fix it.
    Yeah same here lol
  19. Saxperience Addict Joined: Apr 2007 Sunderland Posts: 10341
    #19
    Right a small update, my brother is back now for winter so last night I took the coilpack off the car and the leads and left them on the radiator, last night it got down to about 3c and rained all night, usual conditions where it wouldn't start the next day.

    Went out this morning, refit the coilpack and the leads, went to start it, to my surprise it instantly started, took it out for a drive and no stuttering.

    So you guys were right, but what does this mean? Does it mean I need a new coilpack or leads? My dad says spray damp start on both but I can't see how that would be a permanent fix.
  20. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #20
    Damp start won`t be a permanent fix mate,i`d replace the coil pack with either a good condition used one,or a new one.