When Cold Won't Run

[Mike M]

If the ambient temp is about 40 deg or less my MM on first start just won't run for more then a few seconds..unless I keep throttle above 2500 RPMs which sucks on the first start. Basically the engine just shuts off. I think it may be related to the chip but I will have to remove this week to verify.
Anyone else have this problem?

[Petrograde]

Sounds like the same problem DetGeno reported here. (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6077)

hope this helps!

Tom

[bigslim]

I hope this is not a virus for our cars. My baby can't get sick. Two cases in one night, WOW! If you guys find out what it is please post results.

[RF Overlord]

My wife had to leave early on Sunday morning, when it was still about 17°F, and the Blackbird started up just fine...took maybe an extra second of cranking to catch, but otherwise NP...

[Mike M]

Also I have noticed my cooling fan never stops running ...even when starting up cold.

[RCSignals]

could it be your chip?

[Mike M]

I will pull it out tonight and see what happens tomorrow.

[Zack]

Sounds like the coolant temp sensor is bad, which would fool the engine into thinking it is warmed up and really lean out the fuel which affects cold starts.

[Mike M]

It is the DR chip. I started it this morning cold and of course it refused to run for more then a few seconds, I then pulled out the chip and restarted and it was fine. I warmed it for about a minute then put the chip back in and away I went. I guess Dennis programs these chips in FLA so they don't know what to do with 40 deg weather or less! :-)
Also Zack..if it was a sensor like a coolant sensor it would have left a obdII code, thanks anyway.

[8Pistons]

I had the same problem, the car stalled at idle, and took a long time before stalling stopped, even with the engine semi-warmed up. I had my car dyno tuned by Jerry, and have a 410 rearend in it. Anyway...I two footed it to the dealer, who diagnosed the problem to be P0605, Read Only Memory Error. They replace the PCM (Maybe the unit was bad - seems to me they could have just reflashed if it was due to the dyno tune) and now the speedo is way off and is running sub-optimally. I wonder if the low idle was due to the dyno-tune, but I am sure Jerry tuned it with Michigan in mind. Any ideas?

[Wags]

I am having problems with cold starts also (32 degrees or less). Last year, it had no problems at all. Now, when cold, it won't run for more than a few seconds. It takes at least 4 times before it will stay running, but is fine after that (until the next cold start). I am chipped this winter, but wasn't last year. I'll try to pull it out (the chip:D),and try to see if that makes any difference.

Wags

[TripleTransAm]

Scary... some cold-weather issues with the dyno tune calibrations?

[RF Overlord]

I had my chip for the coldest part of last winter, and now with my Jerry-tune, it's been in the high teens / low 20's several times in the last month...no starting issues at all...

[Mike M]

Rienhart has confirmed that it is a defective chip, I overnighted mine to him today.

[gonzo50]

Originally posted by TripleTransAm
Scary... some cold-weather issues with the dyno tune calibrations?
Is it just a coincidence that these symtoms are the same in Marauders that have the chip and or tune, just want to clarify that the parameters in the computer program are not being affected by the chip and or tune and different climates of the good ole' USA. are not a factor too. Thanks. ;)

[Mike M]

It seems it was a defective temperature sensitive chip or solder joint.

[8Pistons]

Just to ease everyone's mind concerning dyno-tuning, the idle stall problem is happening to me again with the new PCM, so obviously the problem is with the IAC solenoid and the dealership didn't catch it.

[mtnh]

This is funny. I had mine in last week for cold engine, barely-in-the-throttle surging when leaving my driveway, which lead immediately to a slight uphill rise, which I found to be quite like a varying fuel pressure issuenear the rpm cutoff for the fuel pressure regulator to change that fuel pressure. The car had never stalled in 20K miles. The dealership changed the IAC valve, which didn't correct the surge, but now, the car stalls or nearly stalls every day ever since the change! That's right, a new IAC and now it starts stalling. What luck. It is back in their shop today.

It has been cold here in NH since the repair, as well.

No chip or non-factory tuning is installed.

Mike

[Constable]

I don't know about stalling... but my MM is getting harder and harder to start now that the cold weather has arrived. I takes an extra 1-2 seconds of starter to fire her up. One day last week I got it fired up, the rpm's jumped to 1200 (instead of the usual 1900) and then it shut off. As soon as I tried again, it fired right up normally. This isn't sitting right with me.

[ahess77]

I have the same problem that originally started this thread, with a cold engine at air temperatures below about 35F my Marauder won't idle. It will start, do the short rev cycle for about 1 second, and then die. But, if you keep the throttle cracked (any amount of peddle pressure over idle speed) it will keep running. Once it's warmed up it's fine. Engine has 10045 miles and vehicle was built 3-19-03.

Dealer replaced the idle air control valve last week and that has solved the problem.

I had the exact same problem on my 99 Crown Vic, but not until 90,000 miles. That IAC went bad to cause the problem. The IAC had a design change, I believe as a running change during the 00MY. The new part is now designed to make a BOOOOOOO sound as the engine dies if it goes bad and can be caused by carbon build up or electrical failure of the solonoid.

Hope that helps for anyone else who has this problem that Ford hasn't fixed in 4 model years (sigh).

[Mike M]

Mine was a bad Rienhart chip which he replaced.

[8Pistons]

I removed the IAC, cleaned off all the deposits that had accumulated, and replaced. The car has been starting up perfect ever since, it took maybe 10 minutes for the whole process. I have only 8K miles.