Discussion
in the recent cold weather, have noticed on first starting the Griff can take up to a minute of lumpy unhappy idling at about 1000rpm before eventually picking up to 1400 rpm (presumably where it should go to straight away?)
Why does it take 30 secs or so for the mixture to richen?
Is it a case of TADTS?
Is it a classic case of clean the stepper motor?
Thanks for any advise offered
Why does it take 30 secs or so for the mixture to richen?
Is it a case of TADTS?
Is it a classic case of clean the stepper motor?
Thanks for any advise offered
Quicksilver.
Mine too, I thought that when the coolant temp sensor was changed it may make a difference. Didn't.
Cleaning stepper motors as everyone will tell you is always worth a go. Mine had a poor seal between stepper and plenum which caused an eratic idle, bit of plumbers tape sorted it though.
Cheers
David
Mine too, I thought that when the coolant temp sensor was changed it may make a difference. Didn't.
Cleaning stepper motors as everyone will tell you is always worth a go. Mine had a poor seal between stepper and plenum which caused an eratic idle, bit of plumbers tape sorted it though.
Cheers
David
In my experience (three winters now) the V8 will fire up pretty quickly and start idling around 1100-1200.
As it begins to warm there is a noticeable period when the first pressure on the throttle is accompanied by a drop in revs
Then it gets past this stage and the revs start to drop towards the usual idle of about 900 and the water temperature needle will begin to move.
It should be fine to pull away, if a little lumpy. I keep it to roughly 2,500 until the needle reaches the bottom end of the scale and 3000 until it reaches operating temperature by the way. "Roughly" here is usually in both senses!
Now then, in my experience things get "interesting" if:
-you've gone about 5000 miles since last service and it's in the 1000 before the next
-the oil level is a little low
-coolant level is low
-you're daft enough
to try and manouevre from cold without being prepared for the revs to drop ('cos then you stall and the ECU won't play until the unburnt fuel has dried out - about 15-20 minutes)
At some times mine has been a right PITA. In the early days of our relationship we would have kangarooing, and a general desire to run at 2000 revs when warming up
At one stage it got to the point of giving up idling properly at all!
Typical "improvements" in practice have included:
-service (when stepper motor gets cleaned)
-new HT leads
-new plugs
-a good clean of the dizzy
-cleaned off substantial corrosion that had built up on the ECU connectors (which might have suffered in the hands of a steam clean by a previous owner/garage)
-Optimax
I wouldn't place too much emphasis on any ONE of these factors. It's not always going to be the stepper motor. Some people notice no difference from using Optimax.
One factor that I know has helped has been REGULAR USE. They don't like standing around twiddling their proverbial thumbs - get out and use it!
There may be 101 other things - and hey what do I know! But, whatever is a problem is probably something simple and can be improved. Although it's not possible to categorically state "they all do that, Sir" - there's a lot of common symptoms!
As it begins to warm there is a noticeable period when the first pressure on the throttle is accompanied by a drop in revs
Then it gets past this stage and the revs start to drop towards the usual idle of about 900 and the water temperature needle will begin to move.
It should be fine to pull away, if a little lumpy. I keep it to roughly 2,500 until the needle reaches the bottom end of the scale and 3000 until it reaches operating temperature by the way. "Roughly" here is usually in both senses!
Now then, in my experience things get "interesting" if:
-you've gone about 5000 miles since last service and it's in the 1000 before the next
-the oil level is a little low
-coolant level is low
-you're daft enough
to try and manouevre from cold without being prepared for the revs to drop ('cos then you stall and the ECU won't play until the unburnt fuel has dried out - about 15-20 minutes) At some times mine has been a right PITA. In the early days of our relationship we would have kangarooing, and a general desire to run at 2000 revs when warming up
At one stage it got to the point of giving up idling properly at all! Typical "improvements" in practice have included:
-service (when stepper motor gets cleaned)
-new HT leads
-new plugs
-a good clean of the dizzy
-cleaned off substantial corrosion that had built up on the ECU connectors (which might have suffered in the hands of a steam clean by a previous owner/garage)
-Optimax
I wouldn't place too much emphasis on any ONE of these factors. It's not always going to be the stepper motor. Some people notice no difference from using Optimax.
One factor that I know has helped has been REGULAR USE. They don't like standing around twiddling their proverbial thumbs - get out and use it!
There may be 101 other things - and hey what do I know! But, whatever is a problem is probably something simple and can be improved. Although it's not possible to categorically state "they all do that, Sir" - there's a lot of common symptoms!
Thanks Beano - the car is used daily so that is definitely not the problem - use Optimax only so that is ruled out - serviced in August so that should not be the problem - coolant topped up only a few days ago as was oil so shouldnt be that -
leaves only the stepper motor and more patience to wait for P&J to get in the mood !!! (must be female)
leaves only the stepper motor and more patience to wait for P&J to get in the mood !!! (must be female)
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