Hesitation problem when cold

[LEOMAC23]

Hey , ever since i bought my 97 firebird 3.8 a couple months ago it has a hesitation when i first start it up and leave my drivway, i hit the gas and it takes a few seconds before it gets going , almost like its not getting the feul or somthing, the rpms do not increase at all for a few seconds. Im not too woried about this just wondering if anyone knows a quick fix that this could be, no trouble codes or anything, and does not do it atall when its warmed up to normal temp,just in the morning,thanks for the help!!

[LEOMAC23]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

any ideas??

[pace2006]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

Are you letting it warm up at all in the morning? Parts and components in motors don't work as efficiently until they've warmed up. So if you just start up a car and go, it's not going to run very well until it's warm. This can also be damaging in the long run. You have to let the fluids cycle through the engine in order for it to work properly.

If you haven't already, let the car warm up for a few minutes in cold weather before putting it in gear and driving. It'll run a lot better at the time and it'll last longer in the long run.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

It shouldn't be hesitating when cold, though. None of my cars do. They run fine all the time. Even my beater runs great at startup. Here's what I would check:

Are the plugs and wires old? That's the first thing to check. Then work your way back.

Is there an abnormally strong exhaust odor? Maybe it's running too rich. You'd think that if it was a misfire it would be setting a code, though.

If ignition looks OK, then I would check the fuel pressure. Maybe the fuel pressure regulator has something wrong with it. See what the fuel pressure does at startup, when it's hesitating, and then when it's running normally.

It's a problem that's probably not too hard to figure out, it's just getting the tools to do so. But you don't want the problem to get worse to where it leaves you stranded somewhere.

[HeadyFirebird'00]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

you could have a vacuum leak somewhere too. try seafoaming it.

[ssms5411]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

How many miles on it? Is it properly maintained? Might need a good seafoaming to get the carbon cleaned out of it like suggested^.

[LEOMAC23]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

it only has 60000mi on it and i think it was properly maintained, i just bought it so i cant be sure , i dont know if i have ever seen seafoam around here in canada,the wires are boshe so i dont think there original,the car seems to run really good beside the hesitation for the first minute after start up and there is a ping that i cannot get rid of,i tried high octane gas and booster and it did'nt help,could these problems be related??

[GixxerSteph]

Re: Hesitation problem when cold

it only has 60000mi on it and i think it was properly maintained, i just bought it so i cant be sure , i dont know if i have ever seen seafoam around here in canada,the wires are boshe so i dont think there original,the car seems to run really good beside the hesitation for the first minute after start up and there is a ping that i cannot get rid of,i tried high octane gas and booster and it did'nt help,could these problems be related??

Google Carquest.ca, they have locations in Canada and some in NS. They sell Seafoam.