Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve?

1814 Views 16 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Mk2JettaGLi, Feb 8, 2002

Mk2JettaGLi

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2002

4

BTW it's a 89 Jetta 16v with CIS-E Jet.
It actually does more of a stumble while trying to start rather than actually running.
When it's cold to chili outside say 0-50 deg F my car struggles to stay running when it's on a cold start. Eventually I would get it running but right now it's 29F and I can get it to stay on. It fires just like it would on a warmer day but won't even try to stay on. It'll run for a second or two and then shut off. I sat here and did this for 20min and ended up missing my class.

I think it is the cold start valve because it seems like it isn't getting enough fuel. So how do I check that? This has been an on going things since I bought the car but I can't stand to miss any more of my classes.

Thanks for your help.

[Modified by Mk2JettaGLi, 6:32 AM 2-7-2002]

[Modified by Mk2JettaGLi, 12:58 PM 2-7-2002]

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

negativl

· #2 · Feb 7, 2002

2

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Mk2JettaGLi)

remove the cold start injector, point it into a gasoline safe container, cover the hole it left in the intake manifold, and try to start the car? Should spray gas. You might need/want to remove the thermotime switch cable and jumper the connectors on the harness to ensure activation of the cold start.

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JethroWV

· #3 · Feb 7, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (negativl)

The bentley explains how to test it with out removing the injector. Mine was dead when I got the car and I had similiar problems. Got it fixed and it really helped

aburchell44

· #4 · Feb 7, 2002

2

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (1987&2001Jettas)

I am from Canada= King of Cold.

This is what to do: Take the wire plug off of the cold start valve on the end of your fuel rail. Cut it off and wire power to it thru a switch. Now it acts like a choke/primer. You can use this with your ears to flick the switch on/of when it is running. This is the best thing to do!!! Trust me. My and a buddy of mine(he has a 16V in a bunny and I have a 16V swap in a GTI) did this on our rides

i hope this helps
ANdrew

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negativl

· #5 · Feb 7, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (aburchell44)

Well, he doesn't have a fuel rail (CIS-E uses a separate line off the fuel dist), but cool idea. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
The Bentley does explain how to test both the CSinjector and the thermo time switch which are the main parts to the system, but the instructions I recall do say to remove the injector to test it. You don't need to remove the injector to test the thermotime switch.
Does it work to just hold the revs around 2000rpm for 10 seconds? That usually does it for me, tho we rarely get below 40F around here.

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Mk2JettaGLi

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 7, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (negativl)

Well I just checked it and it sprays fine. I checked it they way negativl said to do it.
Now it seems like it's ignition related. The spark may be weak, but haven't checked that. My plugs do have about 20k miles, so I might change them.
It's about 50deg out right now and it still won't start. It doesn't actually start up and stay running but it kinda stumbles as I am cranking. Any else have input?
Thanks

Batan

· #7 · Feb 7, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Mk2JettaGLi)

It could also be coolant temperature switch

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Phateless

· #8 · Feb 7, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Batan)

checked all the obvious stuff? cap/rotor, air filter, etc etc?

negativl

· #9 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Phateless)

Good reminder dude. Always return to the basics. It always comes down to 3 components: fuel, air and spark. If it's not fuel ya need to eliminate one more. You can pull each plug to verify they're sparking, though it can be hard to tell how good that spark is. That fuel is spraying means the AFM is happy enough to allow it, so there shouldn't be any air problems past the AFM. Air filter is a good candidate, just pull it out, look at it, tap it on something. I've recently used my timing light as a quick check for cylinders 1 and 4, figuring that if there's going on to fire the light at the right time (looking for the flywheel mark) sometihng must be good, but I also just changed my plugs so I figured they're good anyway. Cold weather does lower battery output, does the car crank slower on start? If so it could also be impeding spark... Hmmm. Not sure what else to suggest.

Blitz16v

· #10 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (negativl)

Hubzi maybe is your coolant sensor on da side of the head its wack after you did your enrichment? Now that I think about it I am surprised my car start's cause I did a chop job down there , ya know a lil of this lil of that.

The_Jerbel

· #11 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Blitz16v)

I would test the thermo time switch. Most likely is the TTS, could also be the coolant temp sensor (doubtful). Also check all the usual stuff, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, etc.

Mk2JettaGLi

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 8, 2002

3

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Blitz16v)

Woohoo....figured it out that its ignition related. I pulled the plugs tonight and they were so fouled it's amazing how they ran before. They were covered in black soot. I cleaned them off with a wire brush(didn't have anywhere to get decent plugs like bosch or NGK) popped them back in and started right up but it still stumbled. So I look futher at my dizzy and found oil in there and the hall sender plug was broken at one time and glued back on. Think I'm just gonna break down and get a new dizzy.
Now I haven't check the coil but it seems to me that the dizzy is the culprit here. It was having a slight misfire so I took it all apart and sprayed just about a half a can of electrical cleaner. Put everything back and ran a lot smoother.
What are symtoms of a weak/bad coil? Should the fouled plugs prevent all spark or was the spark weak to begin with?
Thanks for all the help.

for everyone.

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negativl

· #13 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (Mk2JettaGLi)

Fouled plugs can indicate either too much fuel or not enough spark, so that's one of your indicators of weak coil, but the dizzy would result in the same thing. If you get rid of the oil problem there, change/clean plugs again, and then inspect them after a few hundred miles (fouling won't take long to show up on plugs). The Bentley has a page in the Lube/Maint section showing some examples of plug indicated problems.

canadian_gti_mk2

· #14 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (aburchell44)

quote:[HR][/HR]I am from Canada= King of Cold.

[HR][/HR]

Yeah me too, but instead of f*ckin with that stuff.... I own a winter vehicle!!!
hahahah

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negativl

· #15 · Feb 8, 2002

7

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (canadian_gti_mk2)

quote:[HR][/HR]I am from Canada= King of Cold.

Yeah me too, but instead of f*ckin with that stuff.... I own a winter vehicle!!!
hahahah[HR][/HR]

My VW is my winter vehicle.

Man I love California...

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Crispyfritter

· #16 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (negativl)

My VW is mine too. Of course, I've only had mine a week, but it starts faithfully the last 6 days.

Chris

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Mk2JettaGLi

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: Car won't stay running when cold...cold start valve? (negativl)

Thanks for all your help negativl!! I ran into another problem. One of the bolts holes int he head for the distributor is stripped or something. I took it off and saw that there was locktite on there. Is there anyway to heli-coil the hole with out taking the head off. It stays tight enough with just the one bolt on the other side. I've been driving around like that this whole time, so I guess it's fine.

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