Corolla Gti

[Maxed Corolla GTI]

A friend of mine has a Corolla GTi....1989. it has done around 173000 miles. Upto now he has had no problems at all with the engine going wrong or the car not starting! When it does drive it is so smooth you wouldnt know how much miles the car has done!

BUT he is having a cold start problem. When the car is left for a couple days and he goes to start it the engines does not start! he has to keep trying to a few times before it eventually kicks in! and then everything is normal. He had an induction kit and exhaust system on the car and thats it.

What could be causing this? anyone have any adivce that i could pass on? thanks

[Abssi]

has he serviced the car recently?? sometimes the plugs can get to worn that the engine struggles to fire?? especially if left for a few days??

abs :)

[Rash@R.A.Motors]

OR maybe a weak battery/Alternator.....

[Unity Jon]

check the induction kit and make sure whoever fitted it hasn't binned the VSV's from the filter or intake, one measures incoming air temp and fuels the ignition correctly, without it it cannot measure the cold air and uses a 'basic fuel map' and just squirts a little fuel as if it were a nice warm day. In cold temps the extra air going in will overpower the small amount fuel in the chamber and the mixture will be too weak and it will take about 3-5 tries before it will fire.

In the summer it will be ok(ish) but without the vsv's it will never be 100% or as good as it could be.

[Maxed Corolla GTI]

sorry for the delayed reply...been busy wid uni!

the car had a major service done only few months ago in which the spark plugs were changed and the induction fit totally cleaned out. He really takes good care of his car...thats why he has no idea how this has started to happen. The Battery and the Alternator are both only a year old and they were checked a month ago when he had an amplifier drainin the Battery....but that is all sorted and everything is in workin order.

He usually starts the car at least once a day and everything is absolutely fine! Its just when he doesnt for a couple days...thats when he gets the problems. If it was any of the above he would have a problem each time he tries to start wouldnt it? what else can he look for?

[dawesy]

could be fuel draining back but fuel pump should prime the system quite quickly

[TOYMOTA]

Could be the conection between your ignition coil and the coil lead getting damp at this time of year. Mine does it too. I just wack a blanket on the engine over night to keep it a bit drier. Or you could get a new one from Toyota, it'll set you back about £98 though. Next time it does it, wack some WD40 on it and try again.

[hvac1000]

Cold Start Injector!!! Actually it probably is the Cold Start injector Time Switch instead of the injector. Location of cold start time switch is in the cooling system usually close to the thermostat. Been there done that one.

[Maxed Corolla GTI]

thanx for all your help....he is goin to get it checked out and im sending him with all your advice.

Thanks again