Cold start problem

32valves · 12-14-2017, 03:20 AM

Ever since I did my valve cover gasket the other week my car runs like sh*t for 2-4 seconds on the initial cold start and after that it's flawless. But Tuesday morning it was 20'f and the damn thing never started but tried. Then I ran the battery down. No check engine light but I haven't threw my snap on scanner on it yet...

Miko226 · 12-14-2017, 11:53 PM

Sounds like a fuel issue. Could have a failing injector or pump.
Glow plugs / module normally causes a CEL
Your diesel could also be gelling up in those temps try a diesel additive.

Adieu · 12-14-2017, 11:58 PM

Too cold for low quality diesel without additives

Miko226 · 12-15-2017, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adieu

Too cold for low quality diesel without additives

+1

mefferso · 12-15-2017, 02:14 AM

I had those same symptoms of "runs like sh*t for 2-4 seconds on the initial cold start and after that it's flawless". It was the GPM. SES was on for me though. Definitely worth at least checking for fault codes first. Have you checked coolant temps lately?

32valves · 12-15-2017, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mefferso

I had those same symptoms of "runs like sh*t for 2-4 seconds on the initial cold start and after that it's flawless". It was the GPM. SES was on for me though. Definitely worth at least checking for fault codes first. Have you checked coolant temps lately?

I drove to work (35mi) and temp was at 155'f when I got there using my snap on scanner.

robnitro · 12-15-2017, 04:59 AM

Can the gpm be acting up but not throw codes? Or is it sensitive?

335stoner · 12-15-2017, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 32valves

I drove to work (35mi) and temp was at 155'f when I got there using my snap on scanner.

sounds way too cold that is 68°C... it should be closer to 88°C which is 190°F.

BUT I would not think that would cause a cold start problem unless is has gone on unnoticed for quite sometime and it has caused your GPM to go bad.. if it has it is a 15 minute max swap I posted a video on how to change it out in under 7 minutes

starting with an additive would be the cheapest and easiest place to start.

Owen81 · 12-15-2017, 08:43 PM

Are the coolant temps close to ambient when you are starting? If the sensor is bad, maybe your plugs aren't even coming on?

32valves · 12-15-2017, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owen81

Is the coolant temp close to ambient when you are starting? If the sensor is bad, maybe your plugs aren't even coming on?

That's how it acts as if none of the glow plugs are hitting

32valves · 12-22-2017, 03:38 AM

Thanks to 335dsleeper my car starts up silky smooth. I got a glow plug module off him. Strange I had no stored codes but that's what sh*t the bed on my car. So apparently I had no glow plugs working when doing a cold start and it started rough above 30'f. And it would even start below 30'f.

mefferso · 12-22-2017, 04:45 AM

Glad you got it fixed. Now you need to get that thermostat changed so the GPM problem doesn't come back.

32valves · 12-22-2017, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mefferso

Glad you got it fixed. Now you need to get that thermostat changed so the GPM problem doesn't come back.

I know that's my next maintenance item.

JayNC335d · 01-09-2018, 08:15 AM

Where is the best place to buy the module. I found it at ESC for 115, but not sure if there is a better price somewhere else. Mine started to throw codes and have a rough start up. Hoping its just the module.

I went a head and ordered one from ECSTuning. They had a nice assortment of kits, but I just got the module. Hopefully that addresses my faults.

12-14-2017, 03:20 AM	#1
32valves Captain 109 Rep 934 Posts Drives: 2011 335d sport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: DC area iTrader: (0)	Cold start problem Ever since I did my valve cover gasket the other week my car runs like sh*t for 2-4 seconds on the initial cold start and after that it's flawless. But Tuesday morning it was 20'f and the damn thing never started but tried. Then I ran the battery down. No check engine light but I haven't threw my snap on scanner on it yet...
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12-14-2017, 11:53 PM	#2
Miko226 Captain 61 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 11' 335d Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (0)	Sounds like a fuel issue. Could have a failing injector or pump. Glow plugs / module normally causes a CEL Your diesel could also be gelling up in those temps try a diesel additive. __________________ 11' m57 335d 165k Miles - JR 2, ATM Full Exhaust & Intake, Wagner FMIC, AAR Boost Pipe, AAR Swirl Delete, AAR EGR Delete 08' n54 135i FBO E85 - SOLD
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12-14-2017, 11:58 PM	#3
Adieu First Lieutenant 73 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: socal iTrader: (0)	Too cold for low quality diesel without additives
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12-15-2017, 02:14 AM	#5
mefferso Second Lieutenant 44 Rep 241 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Covington, Louisiana iTrader: (0)	I had those same symptoms of "runs like sh*t for 2-4 seconds on the initial cold start and after that it's flawless". It was the GPM. SES was on for me though. Definitely worth at least checking for fault codes first. Have you checked coolant temps lately? __________________
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12-15-2017, 04:59 AM	#7
robnitro Captain 160 Rep 803 Posts Drives: x5 35d e70 2011 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: NYC area iTrader: (0)	Can the gpm be acting up but not throw codes? Or is it sensitive? Last edited by robnitro; 12-15-2017 at 05:12 AM..
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12-15-2017, 08:43 PM	#9
Owen81 Lieutenant 83 Rep 432 Posts Drives: 335d, 17/22 TDI Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alberta, Canada iTrader: (0)	Are the coolant temps close to ambient when you are starting? If the sensor is bad, maybe your plugs aren't even coming on?
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12-22-2017, 03:38 AM	#11
32valves Captain 109 Rep 934 Posts Drives: 2011 335d sport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: DC area iTrader: (0)	Thanks to 335dsleeper my car starts up silky smooth. I got a glow plug module off him. Strange I had no stored codes but that's what sh*t the bed on my car. So apparently I had no glow plugs working when doing a cold start and it started rough above 30'f. And it would even start below 30'f.
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12-22-2017, 04:45 AM	#12
mefferso Second Lieutenant 44 Rep 241 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Covington, Louisiana iTrader: (0)	Glad you got it fixed. Now you need to get that thermostat changed so the GPM problem doesn't come back. __________________
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01-09-2018, 08:15 AM	#14
JayNC335d Private First Class 26 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2011 335d w/ Sport pkg Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Wilmington, NC iTrader: (0)	Where is the best place to buy the module. I found it at ESC for 115, but not sure if there is a better price somewhere else. Mine started to throw codes and have a rough start up. Hoping its just the module. I went a head and ordered one from ECSTuning. They had a nice assortment of kits, but I just got the module. Hopefully that addresses my faults. Last edited by JayNC335d; 01-09-2018 at 01:24 PM..
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