cold start help

Heads, valves, pistons, rods, crankshaft, etc...

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

Post Reply
ugaucin
First Gear
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:58 am
Location: Aurora, Co

cold start help

Post by ugaucin »

My 94 L legacy has a very rough time when i comes to cold starts. Its on every cold start. I turn it on, it starts and then it goes into a very very rough idle and it dies. I have to give it gas to start up, after that it will run fine. Its everytime I try to turn it on after being off for a while. Any ideas it can be?
Uriel

1994 N/A Sedan-Daily driver
1994 Touring Wagon 4EAT-Project car #1
macipusy
Third Gear
Posts: 787
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:27 pm
Location: Denver, CO

Re: cold start help

Post by macipusy »

Mine does the same thing. I am suspecting the IAC as the culprit...it's almost as it's a little too closed when cold, before warm coolant runs through the IAC body.
maciek puszynski

01 Impreza | v6 STi RA | 5mt | ej236t
93 Legacy Turbo | TW | 4eat | ej22t
16 WRX | 6mt | fa20
98 Legacy GT | wagon | 5mt | ej25d


2.36L Turbo - RSTi Build
kimokalihi
Fifth Gear
Posts: 8360
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
Location: Tenino, WA

Re: cold start help

Post by kimokalihi »

Either that or the coolant temp sensor.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
lucas
Third Gear
Posts: 736
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:43 am
Location: tacoma washington

Re: cold start help

Post by lucas »

id start with the coolant temp sensor its cheaper.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
scoobydoo94turbo
First Gear
Posts: 152
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:21 pm
Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada

Re: cold start help

Post by scoobydoo94turbo »

Not sure what they call it out your way but its been -15 to -30 here for a few days and my idle has also been jumpy, I pulled the IACV hose off and sprayed some combustion chamber cleaner into it (one the motor was warm and engine not running) let it sit for 20 minutes, cranks over for 3 seconds then finally starts due to the iac being flooded with fluid but it works great now, ive done this in the past also, quick fix or quick clean call it what you wish! Sea foam is the same crap but combustion chamber cleaner is an aerosol can and sea foam is a pure liquid..
05 Forester XT 2.5L Turbo DD 250,000km R.I.P
94 Legacy Turbo Touring Wagon 412,000km ) R.I.P
91 Legacy Sport Sedan 136,017km (parts car) R.I.P
04 Impreza TS Wagon 230,000km timing idler failed, being rebuilt!
94 Legacy Turbo Sedan 285,000km Mint DD
lucas
Third Gear
Posts: 736
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:43 am
Location: tacoma washington

Re: cold start help

Post by lucas »

gotta be careful doing that as it can eat away the seals on the inside of the valve. Your correct is a super effective quick fix but could cause more problems in the long run. Best bet is to take that damn thing off go to subarus headquarters In tennessee or where ever and throw it through the window for designing such a retarded sensor. No seriously though go to the deal and but the subaru upper intake cleaner, or GM upper intake cleaner and clean it that way.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
ugaucin
First Gear
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:58 am
Location: Aurora, Co

Re: cold start help

Post by ugaucin »

Would a bad valve cause it to bog?
Uriel

1994 N/A Sedan-Daily driver
1994 Touring Wagon 4EAT-Project car #1
lucas
Third Gear
Posts: 736
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:43 am
Location: tacoma washington

Re: cold start help

Post by lucas »

its possible. Think about it these cars arnt getting younger so every year more and more crap builds up in that tiny little sensor, so every time we clean them we could possibly be destroying them. The guys down the street at my local subaru shop recommend I use GM upper intake cleaners. take it off soak some in there use q-tips to get the crud out of it.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
wtdash
Fifth Gear
Posts: 2348
Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 4:09 pm
Location: N. ID

Re: cold start help

Post by wtdash »

Try the CTS first...they are a 'maintenance item' as they tend to need replaced on many older Subies.
Turbo Subies:
'87 GL-10 Turbo - SOLD
'90 BJ EJ22T/DOHC & 5speed swap - SOLD
'04 FXT, Forged internals, VF39, STI TMIC, Cobb AP- SOLD
'93 Legacy SS - 5-speed, SOLD :-(
'02 WRX -SOLD
'96 BD-turbo'd-SOLD
'98 SF - NA-T
lucas
Third Gear
Posts: 736
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:43 am
Location: tacoma washington

Re: cold start help

Post by lucas »

^start cheap
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
ugaucin
First Gear
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:58 am
Location: Aurora, Co

Re: cold start help

Post by ugaucin »

But my legacy doesn't have a code.
Uriel

1994 N/A Sedan-Daily driver
1994 Touring Wagon 4EAT-Project car #1
kimokalihi
Fifth Gear
Posts: 8360
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
Location: Tenino, WA

Re: cold start help

Post by kimokalihi »

It won't have a code for the coolant temp sensor.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
ugaucin
First Gear
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:58 am
Location: Aurora, Co

Re: cold start help

Post by ugaucin »

Really? My wagon did.
Uriel

1994 N/A Sedan-Daily driver
1994 Touring Wagon 4EAT-Project car #1
kimokalihi
Fifth Gear
Posts: 8360
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
Location: Tenino, WA

Re: cold start help

Post by kimokalihi »

Well I guess it might but not guaranteed.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
ugaucin
First Gear
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:58 am
Location: Aurora, Co

Re: cold start help

Post by ugaucin »

I'll still change it out. It won't hurt.
Uriel

1994 N/A Sedan-Daily driver
1994 Touring Wagon 4EAT-Project car #1
Legacy777
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 27907
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:37 am
Location: Houston, Tx
Contact:

Re: cold start help

Post by Legacy777 »

The coolant temp sensor has a HUGE affect on all the fuel enrichment including cold starts. If someone is having a starting issue like you described, the coolant temp sensor is usually the first thing I recommend. Sometimes it can leave a code, but most of the time it won't because it's still within the appropriate range for being "warm" but isn't working properly at cold temps. The ECU's on these cars are not smart enough to know that.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Post Reply