Scud question on startup..

Newer scud owner - had the car just over a week. Question - when I start the car the idle seems rather rough - just want to make sure this is normal. When it turns over it idles up, then immediately down very low before it establishes a normal level. This only happens when the car is cold.

Just checking to make sure that sounds logical. The entire process I am describing takes only a few seconds but I notice my brother's 430 doesnt start the same way.

 

My 360 had a rough/inconsistent cold start sometimes and a indy shop manager said that after awhile that is pretty typical of the 360 and F430. The fix is to clear the ECU's adaptive values, then start it, let it idle until fully warm, turn it off and dont' drive it. Let it fully cool for a few hours. Do this three times and it will start MUCH smoother. It does take 2 days to do properly.

I had this done during the major service and it made a huge difference on cold start smoothness and consistency. Previously, it sometimes coughed to life of started cold, then idled too low for a second before getting to proper idle, but now it smoothly and aggressively jumps to life with an aggressive bark out of the tubi/test pipes and always properly idles on cold start. Truely, I LOVE the sound of starting the car up . Starts up like a brand new car IMO.

Not positive that is what is going on with your Scud as I think it's more of a long term symptom, but it did definately help my 360's startup.

 

I have not received mine yet,but when I went to view/drive it, the weather was around 50 degrees and I noticed this thorny issue. After about two minutes it tamed down...be curious to see what other owners say...

 

Jeff, Mike- My 575M, which has basically the same Bosch injectors as the V8s, had the same problem. Chased it by having my techs check the MAF wire sensors, but those were clean as a whistle. Finally decided it might be an injector problem and added a can of Techron, the same fuel additive Chevron uses in their gasoline. Presto, problem solved.

From what my techs tell me, Redline fuel injection cleaner gives the same result, but I can vouch for the Techron working on my car. I now get a clean cold start, with the car immediately going up to a stable high idle and rpm reducing steadily as the engine warms. Try it. Will not hurt anything and it is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to having your injectors rebuilt (not that expensive at $20-30 each).

 

Love that Techron, I can vouch for it's effectiveness. Nice to see you around here again Taz., we missed you.

 

Thanks Terry. I will give it a whirl.

 

Subscribed to try to remember this Techron deal. 2 of my cars cold start this way.

Thanks for info guys

 

You can also consistently buy Chevron gasoline, makes a huge difference over the life of your car, just not as strong of concentration.

 

My Scuderia does exactly the same when cold...

 

My 16m does it also, only the first start of the day. It has even died a couple of times.

 

This has been discussed in previous threads.. Quite normal for Scud and 16M

 

Normal.

 

It might be normal but isn't correct. My 16M did it, cold start, rough idle etc. From then on once warm would be fine. Mentioned it at service, they investigated, tried a couple of things but was still the same for next cold start. Went back, they spoke to Ferrari and got an in depth fix procedure back from the factory (not sure what but it wasn't mechanical, was electronic setting for start control somewhere, mentioned some menu setting - sorry I'm not technical), ever since then has been absolutely perfect.

 

Love this Forum, will have Craig check this when my car gets to Studio 47 next week. Thanks Russell.

 

My friend's 2008 Scuderia had a really rough idle too, and Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale fixed it through an electronic update.

 

Not sure we talk about the same thing here. Mine doesn't have a rough idle, it just stumbles the first few seconds and then goes into stable idle.

 

My 16m does the same things, after talking with few Ferrari mechanics they all says it's normal on the 430's, then when you read here many say it's fixable? Hmm don't no what to think anymore

 

I don't notice a rough idle when starting my standard '07 430. The only start-up quality I have noticed is when the fuel switches over to the winter blend. Then the car starts-up with a sharper, more aggressive growl. As I understand it, the oil companies change the fuel a bit so it ignites quicker/easier during cold starts in cold weather.

 

Mine also starts like that when cold after 5 secs is normal.

 

Like I posted, if the rough / inconsistent cold startup and occasional low idle for the first few seconds bothers you on your 360/f430, try clearing the ecu's adaptive values, start it and let it idle until fully warm, turn it off (do not drive) until fully cold several hours later (perhaps 6+ hours unless very cold out), and repeat at least 3 times not driving it at all. It did marvels at making my 360 roar to life consistently and aggressively like I think these cars are supposed to when it previously did the same thing everyone else is discussing here.

It kinda seems like all those temporary internet files that get congested in your browser after months and months of remembering data/cache, then you delete them all and your internet browser runs much quicker instanteously.

 

Posted a thread on this last year. My dealer had the car for three days and nothing improved so it is just the nature of th beast.

Good news though...all you have to do is to start it twice and it immediately fixes the problem

 

My Scud does the same thing and occasionally the engine would cut out, but the idle stabilizes with in 15-30 seconds. I always thought its normal.

 

If you have not had the "new" cold start MAP loaded it will continue to do this. You can stop it by shutting down the car immediately and restarting. It is not harming anything and usually clears itself up after a minute or so. The cold start re-map will fix the issue, but it is not uncommon for the car to do this on occasion regardless.

Most dealers do this for free.

 

My 09 Scud idles just a bit uneven at cold start, I wouldn't go as far as saying it is rough. I have noticed the cold start idle takes a little longer to even out if it has been sitting for for a long period, say two weeks.

 

The cold start stumble I am referencing seems like the engine is running on half-bank. It is very noticeable. A smooth but uneven idle is nothing to worry about.