car dies when cold??

[ngc414]

I bought my first 87 Turbo-T last week. The car runs great, but when its cold it seems to have trouble staying running. When you first start it it starts up and idles great, then the rpm will dip and it will stall out sometimes. If you put it in drive before it is warm it stalls. once warmed up it runs and idles great. I just got my scanmaster yesterday. It showed no error codes and all the parameters were within the limits on the sheet that came with the scanmaster. Any suggestions?

 

[johnnyttype]

when car is cold start it up, walk out to the engine and unplug MAF sensor. if car idles better, changes, and does not stall u have found ur problem. just a quick free check that can be made! i have had two stock MAF's do what u r describing:smile:

 

[ngc414]

I will check it tonight. If I do need to replace the MAF; what should I replace it with? I see some guys using LS1 and LT1 MAFs. Would there be any benefit to using a LS1 or LT1 MAF? I would rather upgrade if I need to replace it anyway.

 

[johnnyttype]

alot of people like to go to an ls1 MAF 3.5" and a translator which is needed to use the new style MAF's on our cars. they r less restrictive than the stocker. quicker spool, less pressure drop before turbo. there is a new product out sold by full throttle that is a 4" tube with an integral MAF which also uses the translator. depends on how much ur willing to spend and what ur lookin for. to run the bigger inlet pipes i believe u need an angled IAC block that is also available through our vendors. hth!

IAC block: FULL THROTTLE SPEED - Item Description Page
Translator: FULL THROTTLE SPEED - Item Description Page
MAF's: FULL THROTTLE SPEED - Items Page

 

[turbo nasty]

Sounds like a crap old school chip.

Reds/Quad Air & Ken Bell are notorious for cold stalling and tip in stumble.

What kind of chip u have???

 

[REM3200]

I know this is going to sound strange but I had the exact same problem for years (old Kenne Bell chip). It would kind of come and go. then one day, for no real reason, I just held the starter on for a fraction longer than I had been doing-just a tiny bit longer. I never had a cold start problem again as long as I use the same proceedure. It will still stumble if you apply throttle while it is still stone cold but never dies or cycles up and down at cold idle like it used to. May be just a simple coincidence but thought I would pass it along anyway.

 

[ngc414]

The car is bone stock. I just orderd a turbo tweak, but have not got it yet.

 

[ngc414]

when car is cold start it up, walk out to the engine and unplug MAF sensor. if car idles better, changes, and does not stall u have found ur problem. just a quick free check that can be made! i have had two stock MAF's do what u r describing:smile:

I started the car and unplugged the MAF. The cars idle did not change it still would dip low in the rpms and stall. didnt seem to make a difference if it was plugged in or not. So I assume the MAF is not the problem correct?

 

[ngc414]

I wanted to check and see if the car has a performance chip. Where is the chip located?

 

[johnnyttype]

MAF should be ok then. the chip is located behind the pass. side kick panel. under glove box on floor area. i cant remember which way to pull the kick panel to get it off, i think there is a light down there that i take off because it always burns my hand. once u pull the kick panel off, u will find the ECM, on the back of the ECM will be a plate held on by two tiny bolts, like 6-7mm. remove plate and the chip is the bigger of the two chips in there. the small one is the calpak which u do not need to touch! hth

 

[ngc414]

I got my turbo twaek chip yesterday. I installed it and the car runs absolutly perfect now. Smoother faster and no idle issues at all! Hands down the best $80 I ever spent.

 

[workingdan]

when car is cold start it up, walk out to the engine and unplug MAF sensor. if car idles better, changes, and does not stall u have found ur problem. just a quick free check that can be made! i have had two stock MAF's do what u r describing:smile:

Is this realy how you check this? My car does the same thing. I pulled the wires off and idled great.When I pluged the wires back in it stalled.Is mine bad? Thanks

 

[johnnyttype]

Is this realy how you check this? My car does the same thing. I pulled the wires off and idled great.When I pluged the wires back in it stalled.Is mine bad? Thanks

yea, i think that is a calibration issue meaning it is not reading the correct amount of air. my car always idled lean because of the MAF until i replaced it. i had a turbotweak chip that was supposed to be idling around 800millivolts but on my scanmaster it was always below 400 or 450. i got a cardone reman. plugged it in and the car ran great.

 

[workingdan]

Cool thanks. Now I have an excuse to upgrade to a 3.5 or 4" maf!!!

 

[johnnyttype]

Cool thanks. Now I have an excuse to upgrade to a 3.5 or 4" maf!!!

yea before u spend the money though it is always a good idea to check something like this with a known good unit just to be 100% sure!