Car is almost impossible to cold start

[kikcaffine]

So my car's recently started playing this game with me after installing the FMIC that it just does not want to start when its been sitting over night. I will crank for car for no less than 10 minutes to get it to finally stay running. It will sputter and cough inbetween when I first turn the starter and when it actually stays running. I've replaced the TPS and cleaned the IAC out (was full of oil, turbo blew from previous owner and everything got coated badly). I dont have a vac leak (i dont think anyway) because the car will hold a nice steady idle, but it will drop boost a tiny bit (about 1 pound) from when it initially comes into boost until redline. I have the car tuned with an SAFC-1 also. The FMIC uses all the stock SMIC piping but it runs across the front of the car infront of the crashbar (NO BUMPER CUTTING FTW!). Any help on what I can do to start tracking this down would be awesome!

[Liquid_Neon]

I would start by checking over all of your connections, both piped and electrical again. make sure u didnt unplug anything or leave ANY pipe slightly loose of not all teh way on, trust me... a tiny lil gap in a fmic setup will cause big problems.good luck.

[Cams]

Check for codes on the ECU. You might be flooding the engine with fuel at cold starts, and most of the time this is due to a bad Coolant Temp Sensor.

[float_6969]

And the bad CTS won't always show up in the codes.

Is the fast idle valve working? The car should try to idle up to about 1500-1700 when it's cold and you first start it, and then slowly come down after that.

The fast idle valve is the one right under the throttle body.

[kikcaffine]

No, I dont reckon it is. Ill check it when I get home to see if its plugged in or whats going on with it. You said its below the throttle body, is it directly below it?

Ill also probably just replace the water temp sensor, I can't imagine its an expensive thing to replace

[drifting circles]

if you need a water temp sensor lmk. I have a few of them brand new

[kikcaffine]

if you need a water temp sensor lmk. I have a few of them brand new

Thanks for the offer drifting circles, I can grab one from my buddy at napa and get it at cost. I appreciate it though!

[Liquid_Neon]

I just noticed you said you have a safc, do u have that thing set to the right sensors in and out??

Again, if it started happening after u changed something... like installing a fmic, then make double damn sure u hooked everything back up right.

[float_6969]

Yea, right below the TB. There should be a pretty big hose that comes out of it and connects to a nipple right behind the throttle body on the side of the manifold facing the motor.

[bradt]

I had this issue too. I'm sure it was my CTS as well. My very odd fix until I replaced it? Duct Tape. I found out that when I cupped the MAF and restricted the flow, the car would smooth out until warm. Instead of sitting there like a retard covering my MAF, I kept some duct tape in the car.

I would take off my filter, cover half the opening start the car, finish doing morning stuff and let it idle, then when I was ready to go, all I had to do was take the tape off, replace my filter, and voila!

Once I changed the temp sensor, I never had to do that janky s*** again.