QuestionHello Roland, I picked up an 89 reliant k car, and the only problem i have with it occurs on cold mornings below 40 degrees, it is sluggish when first started, and when you give it some gas it kind of hesitates a bit, after about 5 minutes it is fine though. It has new plugs and wires, and next month when i have it inspected i was going to have a new fuel filter put on it, can you think of anything else that may be the culprit? I also did run some high quality fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank.
AnswerHappy New Year, Marc!
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Hi Marc,
Take advantage of the self-diagnostic capability of the engine control system:
One thing to definitely try: see if there are any fault codes stored in the engine computer which would give us a clue as to why it won't run well when cold. Turn the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light, which remains 'on', to start to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat the process to be sure of an accurate set of flash counts. Then combine the counts in pairs in the order of appearance to form the 2-digit fault code numbers. The last 2 sets of counts is always 5 in each, forming the code 55 which means 'end of readout'. The other numbers will be useful to solving the sluggish start. Let me know the numbers and we can go from there; or go to www.allpar.com/fix/code.html for a code list.
I would suspect a mixture issue which may be due to an inaccurate coolant temp sensor or some other important sensor, which will probably set a code. The other simple service would be to clean the throat of the throttle body and the butterfly valve plate on both sides and the idle air side passage, with solvent.
Lastly, you may have an egr valve the is sticking slightly ajar. I assume you have a 4 cyl engine and there would be an egr on the side of the engine next to the firewall on the passenger-side (front) of the engine. You will find it has a vacuum hose attached to it round top and just underneath that is a flange inside of which is a metal rod with a circumferential slot (the valve stem). Try moving that stem back and forth with the tip of a screwdriver, against spring-action in one direction that attempts to close the valve. If it is hanging up slightly ajar then spray some WD-40 on the stem where it enters the body of the valve below the flange area. That may solve the problem also. Also, tell me which engine is in the vehicle, and the model.
I would not believe that the fuel filter is the cause.
