| Author |
Message |
Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member
Username: Artherd
Post Number: 506
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 5:43 pm: | |
cold start (either seperate injector or longer pulse width for standard injectors) seems to be active when hot too.
Or it could be fuel pumps/filters/pickup screens/acumulators.
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KCCK (Kenneth)
Member
Username: Kenneth
Post Number: 439
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 11:37 am: | |
I wonder whether the following might help.
When I had the Jensen Interceptor back in the 1970s, that was a time when many average cars still relied on manual chokes. It used to be a common technique that when starting the car from cold, the driver would apply a few quick jabs to the acceleration pedal in order to attain a richer petrol/air mixture for easier ignition.
With the Jensen Interceptor, it had an automatic choke, and a very "rich" one at that. The result? With a few quick jabs of the accelerator pedal, the Jensen would not start at all.
I then discovered that the cause was due to the ignition chamber being flooded with petrol. The car therefore would not start until after the excessive petrol had evaporated.
That could be a long and painful wait. The solution, if you were in a hurry, was to SLOWLY depress the accelerator pedal to the floor, JUST ONCE, and HOLD IT THERE. This way, the petrol in the ignition chamber would evaporate much faster, and you would be on your way much sooner than you otherwise could (although not immediately, of course).
It was an old-fashioned method, but it worked every single time.
With the 456, the manual says that one must NOT depress the acceleration pedal when starting. And all for a good reason. The automatic choke, again, is a very "rich" device.
I believe that the 550 would proably be the same in this regard, since the 456 and 550 are very similar in concept and in design.
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ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 1292
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 7:26 am: | |
it used to be....i have enjoyed a variety of usually older cars and each one has a different 'best' starting technique, some of them requiring a little gas pedal modulation on start-up. even now for example in my late year mercedes wagon, the owner's manual prescribes the start-up when cold to be preempted by a a turn of the ignition to the first stop, a stab on the gas pedal, then turn the key back to 0, then turn the key to full ignition.
the m5 did not need this, and of course the 512 doesn't need it, but not everybody is even aware of what they are doing with the gas pedal on start-up due to old (bad?) habits, so i thought it would be a good idea to check that out first before taking the car to a mechanic..... |
Dan (Bobafett)
Member
Username: Bobafett
Post Number: 877
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 5:40 am: | |
Ross,
Forgive my ignorance, but why would you gas the car while trying to start it up? Is this based on some habit of old, or is there another reason?
--Dan |
ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 1287
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 5:02 am: | |
never driven a 550 but here is a tip from the 512. i had some trouble starting the first day i owned it, but then managed to get through the owner's manual and discovered my mistake,....when starting do not depress the gas pedal, do not continue to turn the key; simply turn the key to the first detente, making sure all the lights light up and the fuel pump is ready, then continue to turn to ignition but then let go of the key, and no need to add gas, it does it by itself.
of course it could be any one of the other things people mentioned, but you might want to try this (if you haven't already), just in case.... |
Andrew (Enzo250gto)
Junior Member
Username: Enzo250gto
Post Number: 91
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 1:34 pm: | |
Next time let the car sit for 30-45 seconds in idle while parked before shutting it down. This should solve the problem. As others noted this can be common across the board. |
Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 16
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:26 pm: | |
"you should use 95 octane fuel in your t."
Trevi, I would if I could....but in California, most gas stations have only 91 octane. A rare few have 92 octane.
Hell, the only place I've regularly seen 95 octane is in Texas (Dallas to be exact).
The next alternative is racing fuel sold at only a couple of gas stations (100 octane). But at $4.50 a gallon, to me, it's more of a gimmick than a necessity. |
David Edward Carden (Dacycar)
New member
Username: Dacycar
Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 7:15 am: | |
Zak
I had NO problem with cold starts in 328 only hot starts, I had exactly the same problem as you describe,fixed by changing accumulator, talk to your dealer. |
zak dhabalia (Zaki)
New member
Username: Zaki
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 6:19 am: | |
Hi again, well I use high octane shell optimax which is 99 rated so i guess this is fine. The engine check routine gives all clear in the display so I'm assuming that its checking the fuel pressure in this process already. If it was the fuel pressure valve wouldnt I get the same problem with cold starts? |
Dan (Bobafett)
Member
Username: Bobafett
Post Number: 860
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 4:57 am: | |
Kenneth,
I realize what you are saying, but to me it's sounds like a unique problem (at least with reference to a 550).
Of course, my gut feeling is that a 360 coupe might be more reliable than the 550, but I couldn't tell you for sure.
--Dan |
Ermin Trevisan (Trevi)
New member
Username: Trevi
Post Number: 22
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 3:17 am: | |
brian
you should use 95 octane fuel in your t. however, the t and the 348 have a common problem starting when the engine is hot.
trevi
"con saluti cordialissimi" |
KCCK (Kenneth)
Member
Username: Kenneth
Post Number: 433
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 2:07 am: | |
Thanks for the observation, Dan.
I think if the problem is peculiar to the individual car concerned, then of course it does not affect its overall rating. All cars have particular matters going wrong, every now and then, here and there.
But if the problem is common amongst productions of that model, then I think it may begin to erode from the general reliability of the car.
Of course everything is relative, but I have heard so many good things about the 550, I just wonder how far the elation could do. |
David Edward Carden (Dacycar)
New member
Username: Dacycar
Post Number: 12
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 8:09 pm: | |
Zaki
Had the same problem with my 328 several years ago. Solution was to change the fuel pressure accumulator, since then no problem and no more embarrasing moments at the shopping mall. |
Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member
Username: Jaguarxj6
Post Number: 627
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 7:39 pm: | |
Vince, my thoughts exactly! Prime the rail and have PSI checked.
Sunny |
Vince (Manatee)
Junior Member
Username: Manatee
Post Number: 241
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 7:15 pm: | |
Dumb question - if the problem was due to fuel pressure leakdown, then would leaving the ignition key in the 'on' position for a little while pressurize the fuel pumps before trying to start the car? If so, would this be a laymans way of checking the fuel pump check valve?
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Brian W (Jetx)
New member
Username: Jetx
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 6:10 pm: | |
I'm having the same problem with my Mondial T. I am using 91 octane fuel. |
Dan (Bobafett)
Member
Username: Bobafett
Post Number: 856
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 5:32 pm: | |
Ken,
If no car had any problem whatsoever, why would service departments exist?
Rock solid and never ever having a problem are two different things. Any car from a Daewoo to a McLaren will have some issues.
--Dan |
Ali Haas (Aehaas)
New member
Username: Aehaas
Post Number: 44
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 3:26 pm: | |
It sounds like a vapor lock problem. There are numerous causes including fuel type, fuel age, proper fuel flow under the hood. Are you using name brand premium level fuel?
aehaas |
KCCK (Kenneth)
Member
Username: Kenneth
Post Number: 432
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 2:27 pm: | |
I thought people said that the 550 is "rock solid" not so long ago.
But I am afraid that this is now the second time that I have to raise the same query.
Does "troublesome starting" count in this equation? |
Dave Helms (Davehelms)
Junior Member
Username: Davehelms
Post Number: 71
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 7:03 am: | |
Only car I had this happen on proved to be a bad check valve in one fuel pump. After sitting, the fuel pressure leaked down and it took awhile to pump up and bleed the fuel rails. Quite easy to check for on the 550, as the service ports for checking pressure are right in the front of the manifolds |
zak dhabalia (Zaki)
New member
Username: Zaki
Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 5:18 am: | |
Hi there, I have bought a 3 year old 550 with 10,000 miles on clock and love it to bits. When I turn the key on a cold start it fires into life with an aggressive growl and everything is fine. However, when after a drive I stop and restart about half an hr later it often takes several attempts to start and then it is a very limp kind of start as struggles to kick in. This has improved very embarrasing around town when half the street is watching and waiting to hear a thunderous growl. Can anyone explain if this is unusual or what it means and offer tips? |