Cold start

Tiny
ALAN SHIELDS
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
First start of the day or cold start it dies. After it warms up it will run but idal goes down below500 rpm when stopping. Getting it to a shop it has already warmed up and not detected on computer.
Thursday, February 10th, 2011 AT 4:28 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,917 POSTS
Temperature-related problems require the vehicle to be left overnight at the shop so they can have it when the conditions are right.

What you described is typical of what happens after the battery was disconnected or run dead. The Engine Computer loses its memory and has to relearn "minimum throttle" before it will know when it must be in control of idle speed. To met the conditions for that to take place, drive at highway speed with the engine warmed up, then coast for at least seven seconds without touching the brake or gas pedals.

After this is done you should also get the nice idle flare-up to 1500 rpm for a couple of seconds each time you start the engine. If that doesn't work, the automatic idle speed motor may not be working. The dealer can connect their scanner to raise engine speed in 200 rpm increments up to 2000 rpm. That will verify whether the AIS motor is working.

Caradiodoc
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Thursday, February 10th, 2011 AT 6:01 PM

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