Car sputters on startup when it's cold outside.
10-24-2006, 08:56 PM
#1
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,119
Car sputters on startup when it's cold outside.
This just started happening when the temp dropped in Oct.--If my car is completely cooled down and it's around 50 degrees or colder, the engine sputters for maybe 5-10 seconds and then fires right up and runs perfect.
If the temp is above 50, it starts right up.
Could this be a coolant temp sensor? How do I check that. There's no SES lights on either.
**I'm pretty sure my car has a bad head gasket because coolant comes out of the radiator cap when I drive it hard. Could this be related to the starting problem? There's no coolant in the oil and I don't see or smell any in the exhaust on startup.
If the temp is above 50, it starts right up.
Could this be a coolant temp sensor? How do I check that. There's no SES lights on either.
**I'm pretty sure my car has a bad head gasket because coolant comes out of the radiator cap when I drive it hard. Could this be related to the starting problem? There's no coolant in the oil and I don't see or smell any in the exhaust on startup.
10-24-2006, 09:17 PM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: TX
Posts: 3,523
Low compression from that head gasket could be a reason for rough running. I'd be willing to bet it is part of the issue here. Things like this stiffel people forever. If I had to guess at it from here I would say do a tune up and it will probably clear up.
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