View Full Version : no power when engine cold.


beerbaron105
09-23-2005, 12:49 PM
K i dont know if anyone else has had this problem, but lets say i start up the car and after like 30 seconds go, teh temp is around 18C and i dont push it or nothing, but driving the car has about 15 horsepower from 1000-2000 rpm then it starts to move a bit, i shift into 2nd at around 2500, rpm drops and car falls flat on its face before it starts to move again.

i dont know if the engine is retarded timing alot on a cold engine, or cutting all boost on a cold motor, but once it starts to warm up the problem goes away.

R33P3R007
09-23-2005, 01:03 PM
let it warm up

Supersleeper
09-23-2005, 02:01 PM
Yeah that happens if you dont let the motor warm up mine used to do that to just let your car sit for like a min and it wont happen

Taro
09-23-2005, 02:10 PM
Thats wierd it was in the negatives here this morning and i have no problem starting the car and going.

OneLunG
09-23-2005, 02:30 PM
OMG Finally someones car who does the same thing. It feels like the fuel just cuts out or somthing doesnt it? It just like stalls but doesnt.

If you notice when you do this, you'll also be pumping out black smoke. I have mine in our shop to get worked on cause our techs agree it should not due this even if it is cold because the computers should know how to adjust.

Hopefully we'll have an answer soon.

Permafried-
09-23-2005, 02:36 PM
Thats wierd it was in the negatives here this morning and i have no problem starting the car and going.
Oi....glad I'm not in AB...I thought 15C was bad...leather feels more like 2 :lol:.

Permafried-

BeastlyTA
09-23-2005, 02:50 PM
Oi....glad I'm not in AB...I thought 15C was bad...leather feels more like 2 :lol:.

Permafried-

Dang its close to 100 F here today.

astrocrep
09-23-2005, 03:25 PM
The Cobalt Manuel says "To Let the car warm up for about 10 seconds nothing longer is needed"

I personally start my car, put my seat belt on, and the go... Full power right from a dead stop...

I would talk to the dealer... maybe ecu problems?

-Rich

OneLunG
09-23-2005, 03:35 PM
At this point in time we are leaning towards a running rich problem, but it still kind of has us stumped seeing as its not throwing any codes and this thing is usuaully incredibly picky.

OneLunG
09-24-2005, 03:57 AM
Well, we ran a fuel pressure test on the fuel lines, at first it appeared it was due to a leaky injector, we completely removed the fuel rail and re-tested and it wasnt leaking....so, as of now we are at a loss...

skoshi130
09-24-2005, 04:07 AM
Go figure I had the same thing happen to me this morning right after I read this thread

Sarbae
09-24-2005, 07:30 AM
Have them flash and update the PCM.

zinner
09-24-2005, 01:38 PM
Do you have an SS/SC?

I pretty much can start up the car, let it idle for 30 seconds to get the oil moving and go. Never felt any power loss when the engine is warming up.

tiny
09-24-2005, 11:25 PM
if the car is cold, you will obviously feel a loss in power
just take it easy when u first start out, maybe go to 3000 rpms?

beerbaron105
09-25-2005, 02:29 AM
im obviously not racing it on a cold engine

but i want to be able to accelerate with more power then a 50cc trail bike, cuz thats the feeling i get until the car starts to warm up a bit.

Frenstall
09-25-2005, 10:42 AM
Block heater time?

patathSS
09-25-2005, 11:13 AM
OMG Finally someones car who does the same thing. It feels like the fuel just cuts out or somthing doesnt it? It just like stalls but doesnt.

If you notice when you do this, you'll also be pumping out black smoke. I have mine in our shop to get worked on cause our techs agree it should not due this even if it is cold because the computers should know how to adjust.

Hopefully we'll have an answer soon.

I would check your fuel filter and see if you have particles in it. It might be worth changing. If there is a buildup it will limit the flow of fuel and be extremely noticeable at cold temperatures and startup. A lot of times the vehicle will operate normally after extended warmup. Funny story is that I have seen this happen in John Deere tractors also LOL

Chevy4Life85
09-25-2005, 12:36 PM
That happens... just warm up your car...

happend to me in my cavalier this moring, I was late to work and took off too quick

Zonomar
09-25-2005, 05:27 PM
OMG Finally someones car who does the same thing. It feels like the fuel just cuts out or somthing doesnt it? It just like stalls but doesnt.

Same thing quite often first thing in the morning just after I start off to work.

Sarbae
09-25-2005, 10:10 PM
Did you check the PCM?

If there's nothing wrong with your car you may want to wire up a remote start to help you warm it up.

OneLunG
09-25-2005, 10:51 PM
my PCM is completely up to date. As far as warming it up. I can let it sit for 20minutes wamring up, and it still does it.

I can put it in my garage all night. Still happens. You'd have to have it happen to realize what its like. its not just "low power" its a complete loss of power. And the accompniying black smoke I get cant be good lol...

Sarbae
10-04-2005, 01:30 PM
OneLung or beerbaron105 -- any updates??

OneLunG
10-04-2005, 01:42 PM
no updates at this time - the car is acting better however. It still acts like a run really rich condition

TimDang
10-04-2005, 01:47 PM
Mine does that every morning before giong to work too. I'll start it and let it sit for 5 or so minutes idling while i finish getting ready, go out and when i pull out, almost like jerks forward slowly, i have constant pressure on the pedal but it feels like i keep letting it off. Seems like a fuel issue. This is in my 2.2 btw.

OneLunG
10-07-2005, 04:46 AM
Looks like the problem is resolved - PCM update out for rough idling/ cold weather driveability.

When we updated to this previously our Tech2 didnt update properly, we just discovered that today - reprogrammed the pcm again, BEEN WORKING GREAT EVER SINCE!

Sarbae
10-07-2005, 01:34 PM
Muahahhahaha... I was right! ;)

Glad to hear all is well, OneLung!

OneLunG
10-07-2005, 05:36 PM
well, it was fixed for a night, now its doing it again :S.....back to the drawing board.

We did however, find somthing extremely strange. When the key is in the on position and the Tech2 is hooked up to it, the throttle position reads 8%, then randomly jumps to 31% without being touched. GM Specs say they should read 4-4.2%.....Odd...

OneLunG
10-07-2005, 11:25 PM
checked the compression tonite, 2,3,4 were all around 230, 1 was 220.....Ran a fuel rail test, ran fine. Checked the spark plugs - they had really really bad carbon on them for only 8k miles. Cleaned spark plugs. Started car, ran worse than before. Hooked up Tech2 Misfireing at least 2 times every time you give it gas. No check engine light EVER and it would almost stall....WTF? Gonna run a fuel injector flush tomorrow, hook up the VDR, call GM techline on monday figure out WTF is going on....Thinking PCM may be bad cause the injectors are putting way too much fuel in sometimes.