Hi everyone, just a quick enquiry, when i first bought my scooby sti 03 plate in june i noticed last few months there was a problem with starting up, an example would be like its struggling to find power to start up, i would turn key in ignition to start up as normal and the car would seriously cough, i would have to pump the accelerator for it to start up easier,

when i had the decat and map done to it a month ago now the engineer who done work to it explained that he believed it was me using normal unleaded petrol, and that the engine was being starved hence the reason it struggled starting up, how ever now i put super in as advised and also due to work i had done to it, at first it was perfect, no coughing and i thought the problem was solved.

now its only recently after the car has been sitting over night when i start her up after any time of just sitting there she still struggles every now and again to start up and its almost embarrasing, any ideas or clues to what it could be and what i could do to solve this problem,

thanks for ur time in reading this ill look forward to ur replys.

Matt

 

Could just be a n old battery or something simple like that. Have you anyway of testing the voltage?

Hth

Doug

 

did not even think of the battery, as the car has never died. but i could consider that and get it tested, i thought it might of been more to do with the ht leads?

 

I could be wrong, I'm sure there are other people that can help you further but it's an easy enough job to check. Hopefully it is that simple.

Doug

 

thanks for ur advice mate ill give that a try straight away soon as mrs gets home wid car :/

 

have you had a look at the spark plugs?

 

na mate i aint, been too busy with work but i need to get a proper day where i can just get it sorted

 

You say its after it has been left overnight, which could point plugs etc as others have said as a warm engine will always start better than a cold one especially with a dodgy battery

Alternativly check all the fuel lines for leaks loose connections etc, as it could be a bit of air in the the fuel system and it only happens over time suggestions it may be hard to find. I have found this once before

Also did you change the fuel filter. once started does it run well. Im assuming yes as the decat and map went ok and the mapper would have picked up on a problem usually

As said also check battery.

 

hate to be a scare mongerer but i have an 04 sti which has a very similar issue and coughs and struggles on startup, turns out it has low compression! as low as 85psi in cylinder 4! if you dont get any luck with the above suggested things then might be worth checking.

 

iv got an older car 1995 and it was the same wen i got it fans came on and wouldnt start...was water temp sensor...soon as i swapped it i reset the ecu now it jumps into life when it sees me comin with the key hehe..not too sure about your car tho...be worth checking before lookin at low comp and the plugs

 

I have an 03 STi and experience the same symptoms.
It will go for weeks, maybe months, starting perfectly first time, on the button. For no apparant reason it will start to have the symptoms you describe for a few weeks then correct itself again!
It's not the plugs. It's not the battery. It's not the crank or cam position sensors. It could possibly be the water temp. sensor BUT once it does fire up properly, it goes straight to it's 1500rpm cold start idle as if nothing had happened!
It's been doing it on and off for years! through 3 power levels with associated re-maps etc.
If you find a definative answer, please let me know

JohnD

PS "starved due to using normal unleaded"

 

i would be interested to know the people with the similar issues if you had a chance to do a compression test or are sue a service soon ask them to do one to see what the results are

 

Had same problem on my car it was the starter motor on way out

 

The problem is 'firing up' related. Starter motor working perfectly.
Like the OP said, holding the throttle open (in my case, a tiny amount) helped a bit. At the moment, it's in it's 'well behaved' phase!

JohnD

 

double post

 

ive got this same problem aswell sitting at 1500 rpm have to give it a blip to start it ticking down

should it really go to 1500 rpm its a pita in the morning

anything else that could be affecting this

steve

 

Once started, it behaves quite normally ie approx 1500rpm then dropping down as it warms. If I just touch the throttle it will drop to about 1200rpm and continue to drop as before. This is the normal cold start regime.
It's the cough and splutter on initial fire-up that's the problem, but as I say, it's behaving itself at the mo.

JohnD

 

coolant temp sensor id try guys got 1 yesterday for £9 not a genuine item but its brand new worth a shot at that price...

 

I knew I shouldn't have subscribed to this thread! - The car has just entered it's cough and splutter phase again I wonder how long it will last this time!

JohnD

 

mine has went from coming and going now and again to just not starting at all, changed all sensors still no joy thinkin it may be my fuel pump now!