Post start idle issue

[DARK SDE '02]

This is an issue that has gotten steadily worse over the last year or so and was only originally noticble after I started adding bolt ons (might just be more audible because of exhaust mods). Anyways after I start the car when it's been sitting overnight or for several hours it kinda struggles to stay at normal rpms. It doesn't surge high or anything but it sounds like I have a nasty big cam and of course I don't :rolleyes:

As soon as it warms up a bit and the choke lets up the car idles perfect and I don't have any issues with it at all. I don't think it's a battery, alternator, or starter issue; so my best guess is something with my fuel system? But if that were true wouldn't I have issues other than just after start-up? I'm not really experienced with this kind of repair so if anyone has had a similar problem I'd love to know how you went about fixing it.

[ianwells100]

pretty sure thats normal, its just getting setup when u first start it off, cold...

[peeeot]

Perhaps I'm dealing with the same problem, but for me it has just happened the past 2-3 times I've started the car. My symptoms are a very poor idle at startup, with the tach needle jumping sporadically between 500 and 1100 rpm. Once it stalled immediately after starting, and another time it dropped to 500 and stayed there temporarily.... once it's warm, the idle issues vanish, although I did get a stumble in acceleration once last night.

If this sounds like you, I'd start looking at your ignition system. That is where I'm going to start today. It has been raining the past couple days though and I've noticed some moisture under the hood; perhaps that's part of the problem.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Mine has done this for a few years. I start it, and when I put it in gear, the car surges hard like it has a monster cam. After 30 seconds, it stops and is fine the rest of the day. It only does it first thing in the morning. It has never stalled or ran bad after that 30 seconds. So, as weird as it is, if it ain't broke don't fix it. But if someone out there knows, I'd like to understand what causes it.

[justinP]

I have had that problem also, its only after I don't drive the car for a while, so I'm guessing its just getting the bugs out, but if anyone knows about it it might be nice to prevent, do any of you have MSD ignition? Cause I didn't know if it was that or not.

[DARK SDE '02]

Turns out it was the MAF screen... or lack of rather. I had forgotten that I removed it a while back and thought it was ok anyways since I have a 2002 but apparently not. As soon as I put the screen back in my problems disappeared! Seems like the car just runs better in general now. Who'd a thunk it?! LEAVE YOUR MAF SCREEN'S IN!!!