Topic: Cold Start Problem

[oHIobellboy]

Bingo! Manifold gaskets. The stock plastic gaskets seal poorly. On a cold engine they can leak. Once warmed up they seal and the problem is masked.
You can confirm this by spraying injector cleaner around the base of the intake manifold on the cold engine. You will hear the rpm change and the engine stumble. Once the intake is removed you can see the poor seal the stock plastic bound gaskets offer.

Replace them with the steel gaskets. I use the FelPro w/ PermaDryPlus set.

BTW, I tried to blame the EGR valve, IAC valve, Carbon deposits in the TB, etc.

Cut to the chase and fix the intake gaskets. Not too bad a job. Half a day at a leisurely pace.

Sounds like some pretty informed info there. Thanks Henry.

[Rescue 1]

I had an '81 Chevette years ago that didn't like to start in the really cold weather until I changed the distributor cap on it. I just remembered that.

You had a Chevette....

[HenryJ]

Sounds like some pretty informed info there. Thanks Henry.

Thanks. I just did a set on a 2002 yesterday. When I first chased this problem, I Googled and found someone else who solved their problem. They too found the gaskets to be the problem. I have run into similar issues in other models as well.

[Red Baron]

Hi Guys,
I cleaned the MAF sensor and that did the trick.
Thanks for all of your responses and advice.
I started with the easiest and figured I would ellimante them before replacing the manifold gaskets.
I did have a buddy with his manifolds gaskets on his sierra, and I was leaning that way.
Thanks again

[oHIobellboy]

Hi Guys,
I cleaned the MAF sensor and that did the trick.
Thanks for all of your responses and advice.
I started with the easiest and figured I would ellimante them before replacing the manifold gaskets.
I did have a buddy with his manifolds gaskets on his sierra, and I was leaning that way.
Thanks again

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