Cold start problem

Dec 20, 2007 3 Replies

Symptoms: When left overnight engine off, followed by cool/cold weather the following morning: The engine starts right away as it should. But, it chugs and sputters, if you will, until the cold start cycle is complete some 30 seconds or more later. Then runs fine.



Did the drip test on the cold start valve, not leaking by. The auxiliary air valve is obviously cycling off per the approximate 30 second timeout. The thermo time switch is obviously working as the car starts (actuates the cold start valve), and doesn't run rich after the approximate 30 second timeout. Idle speed is around 900 rpm. Differential pressure regulator current is approximately 10 mA.


88VW Fox, 1.8L, CIS-E. Going by the Bentley manual.

check out your Coolant Temperature Sensor for the fuel injection.

Was thumbing through the Bentley manual this morning. Big Ole basic schematic view of the Digifant system on one page. Coolant sensor is one of the key players feeding the control unit, with the control unit at the center of the schematic. Sensor is at bottom of the cylinder head coolant outlet.

Backtracking in the manual, there's a schematic view of the CIS-E fuel injection system. Rather than feeding the control unit here, the coolant sensor leads to what they call the oxygen sensor control unit. The oxygen sensor control unit then feeds the differential fuel regulator. I don't know if they mean the oxygen sensor, or the control unit. My guess it they mean the control unit, using oxygen sensor input, controlling the differential pressure regulator. One of many mystery description terms in the Bentley manual.

Opposite of what I expected. Zero ohms/continuity. Both mulitimeter probes were only contacting each terminal on the temp sensor. Checked 3 times for my piece of mind. Replacement on its way via UPS.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas.

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