RE: PH Blog: The curiosities of cold-start driving
Discussion
I remember balancing a manual choke, having half my right foot on the brake and blipping the throttle with the other half, just to keep it going when approaching junctions (Capri 1.6).
These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
Old 924S flat refused second gear the first ten minutes of the journey in winter. Still a few minutes in summer.
I have to admit I like this coaxing into life of older cars. I bit of patience; a physical reminder of why warmth is so important before applying lead right foot. A strange kind of enjoyment with older motors, but much more frustrating with newer ones where most of the time you just want a plug-and-play approach, especially with the commute.
I have to admit I like this coaxing into life of older cars. I bit of patience; a physical reminder of why warmth is so important before applying lead right foot. A strange kind of enjoyment with older motors, but much more frustrating with newer ones where most of the time you just want a plug-and-play approach, especially with the commute.
Like most post already seen on here, my Renault Sport Clio 172 was a pig in the morning. Engine ran so lumpy that it made you look like you were still learning to drive and brakes didn’t exist till you used them more than 5 times. Some of my other cars took a different approach to its dislike towards cold driving…
My Mk2 MR2 GT Rev1 would kangaroo like a bucking bronco
My Saxo VTS would struggle to get into 2nd and crunched into reverse
My Leon Cupra would over boost and launch you into the firing line of a busy crossing junction, although this
decreased somewhat when I removed the remap.
I remember the clutch on my Z4 3.0i being even worse than it usually was.
My E36 M3 pretty much drives itself for the first 5 minutes of driving. I don’t touch the go pedal at all. The box is slightly more “knochy” than usual but more than manageable.
But the winner out of my cars is my Nova 1.2 Luxe (The first car I ever owned). This little diamond had a manual choke that was never needed. It started so quick the starter motor hadn’t even had chance to brush its teeth before kicking into action. It always felt like it was going to stall, shaking itself to pieces, but never did. And if you tried to use the choke, it would and wouldn’t start until returned the coke to its original position.
Ok, so the Nova and its cold start behaviour is the reverse to what Mr Harris is asking but still gave me something to talk about on wonderful of topic of ‘qwerky’ characteristics of our owned/pre owned motors!
My Mk2 MR2 GT Rev1 would kangaroo like a bucking bronco
My Saxo VTS would struggle to get into 2nd and crunched into reverse
My Leon Cupra would over boost and launch you into the firing line of a busy crossing junction, although this
decreased somewhat when I removed the remap.
I remember the clutch on my Z4 3.0i being even worse than it usually was.
My E36 M3 pretty much drives itself for the first 5 minutes of driving. I don’t touch the go pedal at all. The box is slightly more “knochy” than usual but more than manageable.
But the winner out of my cars is my Nova 1.2 Luxe (The first car I ever owned). This little diamond had a manual choke that was never needed. It started so quick the starter motor hadn’t even had chance to brush its teeth before kicking into action. It always felt like it was going to stall, shaking itself to pieces, but never did. And if you tried to use the choke, it would and wouldn’t start until returned the coke to its original position.
Ok, so the Nova and its cold start behaviour is the reverse to what Mr Harris is asking but still gave me something to talk about on wonderful of topic of ‘qwerky’ characteristics of our owned/pre owned motors!
as you mention the ST170.. I've been driving one recently and notice that the steering is strangely 'notchy' for the first few miles..
by 'notchy' I mean there is additional resistance to the turn of the steering til about 20 degrees, then it kind of slips past the point of resistance and moves normally...the sensation dissappears after a while, once the car's warmed up.
just wondering if this was normal or if it's signalling a problem with the steering or suspension?
by 'notchy' I mean there is additional resistance to the turn of the steering til about 20 degrees, then it kind of slips past the point of resistance and moves normally...the sensation dissappears after a while, once the car's warmed up.
just wondering if this was normal or if it's signalling a problem with the steering or suspension?
corcoran said:
The brakes on my Focus ST170 are always a bit exciting (read: non-existent) until it's warmed up a bit and you pump the brake a couple times in test before needing to do anything dramatic (like stop).
That really sounds like something you might want to get looked into...My Jag (X308) could be left for a couple of winter/spring months.... Blip the alarm, fall in, turn the key and it will start strait off the bat, idle smoothly and drive perfectly.
Infact last year i left it for 9 months (although i did condition the battery)i started it, it ran perfectly drove it 3 miles to the MOT centre where it past easily and flew through the emmisions.
I love starting my E30 Motorsport Edition Convertible after a few days of no use, early in the morning..... It has a full scorpion exhaust and a lumpy idle when cold, and with its single cam 6, heavy power steering and Manual transmission, it feels like i am driving an old classic from a bygone era. Then i remember i am driving a classic from a bygone era!!! Lovly!!
Infact last year i left it for 9 months (although i did condition the battery)i started it, it ran perfectly drove it 3 miles to the MOT centre where it past easily and flew through the emmisions.
I love starting my E30 Motorsport Edition Convertible after a few days of no use, early in the morning..... It has a full scorpion exhaust and a lumpy idle when cold, and with its single cam 6, heavy power steering and Manual transmission, it feels like i am driving an old classic from a bygone era. Then i remember i am driving a classic from a bygone era!!! Lovly!!
Edited by richard300 on Tuesday 3rd April 17:51
fwaggie said:
Tyres.
Some days when it's cold I've set off and I could swear someone had nicked all the balancing weights off a wheel or two the vibration is that bad. After a couple of miles it's gone.
I'm convinced if the tyre pressure is a little bit low or it's just a crap tyre, sitting overnight with the bottom of the tyre squished a bit due to the cars weight, the "squished" shape doesn't immediately return to it's correct shape, taking a few minutes to recover.
I know if I've slept in an odd position sometimes, it takes me a few minutes to get my arms or legs to move again!
I know what you mean ! My car is half on and half off a kerb (plus stiff coilover suspension) so the left hand side tyres, particularly the front, always gets a bit squashed and must take a few miles until it's back to normal !Some days when it's cold I've set off and I could swear someone had nicked all the balancing weights off a wheel or two the vibration is that bad. After a couple of miles it's gone.
I'm convinced if the tyre pressure is a little bit low or it's just a crap tyre, sitting overnight with the bottom of the tyre squished a bit due to the cars weight, the "squished" shape doesn't immediately return to it's correct shape, taking a few minutes to recover.
I know if I've slept in an odd position sometimes, it takes me a few minutes to get my arms or legs to move again!
corcoran said:
The brakes on my Focus ST170 are always a bit exciting (read: non-existent) until it's warmed up a bit and you pump the brake a couple times in test before needing to do anything dramatic (like stop).
There was a software update for this. The update basically involves raising the cold idle speed to 2000 rpm which fixes the lack of braking power when cold.Baz Tench said:
I remember balancing a manual choke, having half my right foot on the brake and blipping the throttle with the other half, just to keep it going when approaching junctions (Capri 1.6).
These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
You're lucky your Capri had manual choke. Billions of years ago my 3000E Capri was a complete bThese days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
h when it was cold. On full choke, when I had to brake, I would use both feet on the brake pedal.One morning that lead me to problems. It was particularly icy and the 'free-litah' was on full choke (approx 1400prm) and I approached a junction. Using the usual 2 footed braking, everytime I pressed the brakes the car would lock up and start sliding on the ice. If I took my foot/feet off to 'cadence' the brakes I would accelerate because of the full on chokes.
Talk about being between the devil and the deep blue!!
nicknoo said:
Baz Tench said:
I remember balancing a manual choke, having half my right foot on the brake and blipping the throttle with the other half, just to keep it going when approaching junctions (Capri 1.6).
These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
You're lucky your Capri had manual choke. These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
If I tugged the choke lever, the whole unit would come out, but initially I didn't care. I coldnt wait to test drive it afterwards as like in your 3000e, the auto choke had driven me mad beforehand.
It was better but still not 'all that' as they say these days.
Sorry for going of on a tangent, sort of.
My Jag XJR-S is stupidly loud when cold, it seems to wake up everyone in the mornings,so bad that I didn't pass a noise test at bedford one time when started it from cold. The steering is a bit lumpy and the brakes are non existent ( Mintex 1155 pads ). The 3 speed auto seems sort of ok.
As for the ride, it is really stiff the first few miles with bilstein B6 shocks ( 6 of them ).
My XJ6 4.0 ( X300 AJ16) doesn't seem to have any issues from cold at all.
As for the ride, it is really stiff the first few miles with bilstein B6 shocks ( 6 of them ).
My XJ6 4.0 ( X300 AJ16) doesn't seem to have any issues from cold at all.
Baz Tench said:
nicknoo said:
Baz Tench said:
I remember balancing a manual choke, having half my right foot on the brake and blipping the throttle with the other half, just to keep it going when approaching junctions (Capri 1.6).
These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
You're lucky your Capri had manual choke. These days my manual M3 is a grump from cold. 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear changes are laborious from the off, and the engine note is a bit off-key. Still sounds great though! I'd definitely say it's got character.
The 'drainpipe' mod looks interesting though. I think I'll look into that.
If I tugged the choke lever, the whole unit would come out, but initially I didn't care. I coldnt wait to test drive it afterwards as like in your 3000e, the auto choke had driven me mad beforehand.
It was better but still not 'all that' as they say these days.
Sorry for going of on a tangent, sort of.
yonex said:
Gorbyrev said:
Did that on my Dad's Mk III Escort eons ago. That bi-metallic strip auto choke was a pig. But I digress, Jag HQ - why does Monkey have a lumpy XF when cold?
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