[427]

I was hoping to get some feedback regarding the cold start idle on your XLR ... More specifically, I was wondering if mine was considered "normal".

Here is my New England winter scenario: Starting my '06 XLR in the morning (or after sitting several hours), about 83.9741% of the time the cold start idle seemz too erratic for me. The initial RPM is around 1250-1300 ... Then it drops to 1000RPM (with a mild flutter that almost appears it will soon stall) ... It then immediately climbs to 1500RPM before settling down @ 1250RPM again. BTW- When the engine is warm, there is no RPM fluctuation when starting.

The dealer said that just about all their experience indicated the cold start drop & surge was consistent on XLR's they've delivered ... But they were perplexed by the rough "flutter". There were no codes or data they could find as of yet ... They will be looking into the situation deeper for me.

Sooo ... Does anyone else experience the cold start drop & surge of the RPM? If so, are you also getting the rough flutter where you sense the engine is about to stall?

TIA,
427

 

[Jetboyphx]

I get the surging but I've never sensed it was going to stall. Seems to be anytime it is below 40 and the car has sat for several hours.

 

[elfred]

On ours the cold start goes as follows: Car starts engine rpm is on high idle, after about 10 seconds it drops about 400 rpm is there for about five seconds and then goes back to where it started on high idle until warmed up.

It is consistent every time and there is no "flutter". Hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

I confirm what elfred said..........exactly, but I'm in So Cal, but a cold engine is a cold engine anywhere.
Bob

 

[elfred]

427...have you had any diagnostic codes set? Are you with the OnStar diagnostic program where they will monitor your engine and send you an e-mail to tell you how things are doing?
If you are not on the program just push your OnStar button and the advisor will assist you. Good luck with finding out what the flutter is. :thumbs

 

[427]

Thanx to all who took the time to respond ... It is much appreciated.

elfred- According to the service rep, there have been no codes set by the computer. I do subscribe to the OnStar diagnostic program (semi-impressive email, but not very helpful for details when pressed for help).

Has anyone else experienced the cold start "flutter"?

 

[motorboat]

flutter

427,

I don't work on cars but if it were a fuel inj. motor in a boat I would be looking for a vacuum leak, a MAP sensor not working right, or a IAC controller not working right.
The Map and IAC will not set a code unless they get out of there parameters then the computer will set a code and put in a default value.
If it has a vacuum leak then the IAC will try and compensate for that but then the MAP will be telling the computer something else. So it takes it a few seconds for the computer to make a fix. "idles down"

I maybe wrong but thats what I would be looking for.
Let me know what they find.

motorboat

 

[427]

motorboat - Good ideas ... Thanx for passing them along. I did relate to the tech how I once had a TPS in my Vette off by 1/10 of one volt and caused all kindz of havoc (took a while to diagnose it too).

BTW- I need to get this squared away before I put on the Corsa ... I don't want them telling me to return the exhaust to the originals before they attempt to cure the problem.

 

[Caly]

I too would be looking at temp sensors and vacume leaks.

If they haven't yet, you might ask them to re-flash the computer (sort of an OS reload). Sometimes that fixes some strange problems. (An Olds I once had would start accellerating when the AC was turned on after a service call. They reloaded the computer and I never had that problem again.)

 

[dunerider]

my 05 does what you describe to the T. I just figured it was the nature of the beast till i read your post now that almost confirms it. I also had to jump start the battery today, it has been sitting for 3 - 4 weeks you know. I am in the northwest corner of Oregon and we have been having a cold winter as well.

 

[Guest]

I had an 04 sitting in the garge for close to a year waiting for a buy back (lemon law). Had to start it every two weeks and let it run for a half hour or it would be dead by the third week. There's not enough amperage in those small batteries to keep it up for any length of time.

my 05 does what you describe to the T. I just figured it was the nature of the beast till i read your post now that almost confirms it. I also had to jump start the battery today, it has been sitting for 3 - 4 weeks you know. I am in the northwest corner of Oregon and we have been having a cold winter as well.

 

[motorboat]

Battery

dunerider

I did not use my car that much the first year "2004" and the battery also kept going dead if I did not drive it every two weeks or so.
My dealer replace it with one that had more cranking amps and I also added a float charger.
I just plug it in after I use the car. It has not given me anymore trouble.

motorboat

 

[dunerider]

yeah i really think the battery tender is the way to go as far as keeping the battery alive. the way the car will idle real high then back off and then idle ok, its kind of weird though.

 

[Guest]

Mine does the same thing and I just ignore it.

yeah i really think the battery tender is the way to go as far as keeping the battery alive. the way the car will idle real high then back off and then idle ok, its kind of weird though.

 

[427]

THANX for all the input and replies! BTW- I recently had a "Check Engine" light come on and they found a vacuum hose was dislodged. Since this was fixed, the cold start "flutter" seemz to have gone away ... Time will tell.