Cold Start

[c4sman]

Advice please on a change in behaviour!

So since I have had my car, cold starts have resulted in a very clean sounding flare of revs with the exhaust valves then closing within a second or two followed by a steady fast idle.

Last couple of weeks a couple of starts have followed a different pattern, which is no Rev flare, but just burbling into life (with the exhaust valves open end then closing), followed by a slightly lumpy idle that then cleans up after 4-5 seconds into a steady idle (not as fast as it normally is I think). It doesn't feel as if there is a doubt on the engine starting however.

Hot starts remain the same as they always have with a clean rev flare.

Anyone experienced this, and or have an idea on what if anything I need to worry about. I have a euro road trip in a few weeks and don't want trouble whilst I am away. The car hasn't missed a beat for the last 18 months of ownership.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Mine will generally do the big shouty start when it's cold (exactly as you describe) and from hot is a lot more measured. I would *guess* that the change is caused by the warmer weather. (A Clever Person may declare my guess to be **** and wrong, of course.) In any case I'd be inclined to get it checked over pre road-trip. Mine's up to Autoshield for some sweet 'n' tender loving (and new rear springs) before our family Euro-tour. A good check over and some clean oil never does any harm.

 

[c4sman]

Sounds like a good plan. Think I will take up an offer from Autofficina for a free pre trip check over. The change in starting did seem to coincide with warm weather and the move to storing the car in the garage.....

 

[Maser Sod]

Maybe check if the climate control button is on? If the engine powers the AC compressor then it may sound/behave different.

I actually doubt it's that from what you have described, but worth ruling out nonetheless.

 

[c4sman]

Climate is always switched on so shouldn't be a noticeable difference for me. Also, thinking about ambient temperature, this hasn't made a difference before last summer in the UK or visiting a very hot France last year.

 

[MikeyMaser]

Just drive it and stop worrying!

 

[StuartW]

Mine is shouty both from cold and hot but yes, well worth the once over before a long trip - good luck

 

[c4sman]

Just drive it and stop worrying!

So it turns out Mikey provided the best advice.

Sometimes a solution or cause is right under your nose. It turns out it's a change in my behaviour that is causing a change in the cars. Since I started parking it in the garage a few months back (funny that around the same time the starting behaved differently....) I have had a new routine.

After turning the car off I wanted to release the parking brake as the car was now kept indoors and I didn't want to risk them bonding solid if I could avoid it. To do this I have to turn the ignition back on to release the brake. I suspect that as well as priming the F1 gearbox, turning the ignition probably pressurises the fuel system. It is this that probably deposits some fuel into the injection system (and sometimes too much) resulting in a limply over fuelled start a few days later. In the recent good weather I stopped releasing the parking brake after I turned the car off and guess what, starting has returned to normal.....

 

[StuartW]

There you go then, no more worries!