Technical Starting in damp weather

[dgreen84]

I've a '97 Brava 1.4SX which I've recently bought. Everything has been fine apart from starting in damp weather. First time you start it you have to keep revs on just to keep it going otherwise it will cut out. This happens until it gets warm, once it gets warm it doesn't fully cut out but idling speed seems 'chuggy', like it's on the verge of cutting out.

Took it to a couple of garages but both days it was due to go it has been perfectly fine so they couldn't really diagnose anything. Had new plugs and leads and both garages have cleaned and sprayed bits. This happened last Monday and it's been perfectly fine until today, now it's being a complete b*****d!

Any ideas? I thought maybe trying Wynns Injector Cleaner as it lists cold start and idling problems as something that it may help with. Is it worth it?

Thanks

 

[dave]

welcome to the forum

Injector Cleaner is worth a try

 

[dgreen84]

Thanks for the welcome!

I will try the injector cleaner and maybe get some Holts Damp Start spray, I've tried WD40 before and sometimes it works, sometimes not. When it does work it's only for a day or so before it plays up again, depending on the weather, though I wonder sometimes whether I'm spraying the right places!

Thanks again

 

[dave]

you usally spray the plug leads but as they are new its strange if they need spraying. have a look at the plugs on the coil packs from the input wires the thin ones pull them out an see if they got rubber seals on they might be missing

 

[Dry_Flood]

I would strongly recomend that you dont use any cold start products that you spray into the air filter, after you have used them a few times you will find that your car will not start without it!!!

I had a fiesta that was fine when i bought it but the next day wouldnt start, changed plugs and leads and air filter and still nothing, bought a can of easy start from halfords, 1 quick squirt and it started but then every day i had to give it another spray just to get it going.

 

[dgreen84]

Thanks for that, I'll stick to trying the injector cleaner first and see what happens.

It only had a service a couple of weeks ago (changed oil and air filters, plugs and new leads) and it passed its MOT only a week before that, just after I bought it.

Can't wait for summer - it'll probably work fine then!

 

[rich.]

every winter i spray all my leeds with 1 off those things that put a coating on your leads,poundland have it sometimes.it does make your leads look a bit of a mess,but seams to work.both on my mini and brava.i always park the opposite way round to the prevailing wind,so the wind blows dew at the boot and not under the bonnet.sounds daft,but have you ever watched the wind blow mist on a cold night.

 

[harney7]

My wifes car a Fiat Brava 1.6 automatic has the same problem ,changed plugs ,leads.As you say once it gets hot it feels as though it is going to cut out but always with a whining noise. I find the same when stationary say at a junction or lights,garage wants to put chemicals in to clean the systems as they say the valves will become sticky like glue,so we are going to try this route.I have had so many problems with this car that its going to sold in the New Year