Cold starting trouble

Recently I have been getting lean error codes on both banks. Cold starts are challenging, takes multiple attempts, but once warmed up starts immediately.

I did break a vacuum nipple off a junction kind of under the factory intake area. 1/4 inch nipple, much larger lines pass through.

I have extremely limited time off, so any good advice to fix would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom

Ensure you don't have any vacuum leaks, throttle blades close all the way and the IAC is functioning properly.

If that all checks out good, what does the ECM think the coolant temp is when you "cold" start it?

Sounds like the temp sensor in the water pump is stuck on the warm side.

Thanks, dashboard temp starts full cold and rises as I drive. Will check starting temp today. What is IAC? I'm pretty sure I have a vacuum leak. I need to replace the piece with the broken nipple.

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If anyone has a spare of this part, or knows of a source, please let me know. I hope to hit the yards and look for one. Time is not my friend and wagonfest ny is coming up fast

Pre start (cold) temp reads 88

Not concerned with what the dashboard temp says - it's what the ECU thinks the coolant temp is. This will require a scanner of some sort.

IAC = Idle Air Control, it's a little stepper motor that moves a plunger that meters air across the main throttle blades. The ECU controls it so when things like the A/C comes on, it opens a bit to give the engine a bit more power to maintain idle speed, then when the A/C turns off, it closes a bit.

Blue driver reads 88 pre startup. Will check again at work and update

Blue Driver?

88F or 88C

What is the temp outside?

ECM temp should be Celsius so if it is seeing 88 that puts it at 190 F which is way off.

Blue driver is the only odb2 reader I found that works with the 96 roadmaster.

Temp is displayed in fahrenheit commute ztarted at 88 finished 5ish miles later at 207. I'm leaning to vacuum leak somewhere. Will be tying to locate it with a can of ether tomorrow.

Got it - Thanks for the clarifications

As long as the temp of wherever you started the car was around 88F, I'd say it's not the temp sensor lying to the ECU.

Let us know what you find with the vacuum leaks. Once it's running, you can spray some brake/carb/etc cleaner (something flammable) in the various areas to check for leaks. When the engine speeds up/stumbles/changes idle, you've found it .

seems to respond to ether sprayed under home plate. I guess it's time to go buy a hockey puck.

OK so I found a leak with starter fluid. It's a 90 degree elbow into the intake manifold with what appears to be a reduced size connecting to a port on driver side just about dead center between front and rear of manifold. Leak is at end of red straw used to spray ether if I can get the picture to load

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Replaced a leaking vacuum hose. No change, still hard starting cold, easy starts warm.

Any chance there's a 2nd leak somewhere?

always a chance
just very frustrating

Shop wants to replace fuel pump, I'm not yet convinced

It was the fuel pump. Screen had fallen off. Shop replaced with a carter pump. Hopefully will last as long as the original.

Isurf wrote:

It was the fuel pump. Screen had fallen off. Shop replaced with a carter pump. Hopefully will last as long as the original.

How in the world did they get a Carter pump? I tried of weeks to get one. Carter listed them and said that local parts houses could order them. I tried every one that said purchased from them and none could/would do it. If the shop would give up the secret, that would be a good thing as they are alleged to be very good pumps if they are the same as in the past and not just another private label Chinese one from the same factory as all the others.

They told me they were getting a delphi. The box (yes i wanted to see the old stuff) says Carter.