Cold Start, and accelration problems

[gravetolife91]

I new to to the CA18 forums. I have been on nico for quite a while. So here is what i got: first thing in the morn i go to start it up, I have to hold the pedal to the floor, as she sputters and pops for a min slowly climbing to around 2k she takes off running smoothly. I usually hold it at 2k for a few then she idles fine. Then i back out the drive way and theres a hesitation problem under heavy throttle until warmed, then all seems great but the is still hesitation coming out of vacuum, and into boost. Just a little bit before 0 and not much after on my boost gauge. In vacuum it runs great, and in boost it runs fine warmed up. It also seems there is a little bit of humping in my idle not extreme or anything bit slightly to the ear. The tach appears steady and vacuum does too.

From what i have searched there is a fast idle valve but it seems that is connected to the a/c system and i am not running any of that. That is my first suspect, any thing after that i am unsure.

[sjbsuperman1425]

mine ran like poopy when i first got it. really slow acceleration and such. took off the IACV and cleaned it with Throttle Body Cleaner and it was a whole new car. try that, it might not do anything, but i can't hurt to try?

[ca18detgabby]

search please......... there are a million and 1 suggestions as to how to solve the cold start issues some claim to experience, and others never see such a thing.

come report back once you have tested a few things.

Coils, plugs, extra grounds, vac leaks, FPR, ECT

there are several others I just cant think of them.

[rico05]

I have had my CA for 4.5 years (yeah...old school ) and for about 4 years of that, I had the same issues.

I cleaned the IACV, replaced the air regluator with a brand new OEM one, new CAS, new MAF, new coils, added grounds, installed a Nismo FPR and tiknered with settings, ran NGK iridium plugs, rehipped the ECU, redid the ENTIRE harness...still nothing.

Know what finally fixed it? I cleaned the place that the ignitor mounted with sandpaper to bare metal. The ignitor grounds to the chassis where you mount it with a bolt through the holes in the corners. Viola! Like a whole new car. I also foul plugs much less often (I run a vented BOV so I still foul em).

[sjbsuperman1425]

hmm..maybe i should mount my ignitor than next year when i get my car out lol i have it sitting in the corner of the engine bay by the window wiper motor :P my wiring harness is kind of a mess

[gravetolife91]

I have had my CA for 4.5 years (yeah...old school ) and for about 4 years of that, I had the same issues.

I cleaned the IACV, replaced the air regluator with a brand new OEM one, new CAS, new MAF, new coils, added grounds, installed a Nismo FPR and tiknered with settings, ran NGK iridium plugs, rehipped the ECU, redid the ENTIRE harness...still nothing.

Know what finally fixed it? I cleaned the place that the ignitor mounted with sandpaper to bare metal. The ignitor grounds to the chassis where you mount it with a bolt through the holes in the corners. Viola! Like a whole new car. I also foul plugs much less often (I run a vented BOV so I still foul em).

I guess i will try that its not mounted all that well anyway.

mine ran like poopy when i first got it. really slow acceleration and such. took off the IACV and cleaned it with Throttle Body Cleaner and it was a whole new car. try that, it might not do anything, but i can't hurt to try?

And i will definately do that.

I will continue my search, and still suggestions will be nice.

I see what i can get done this afternoon, it may not be a whole lot its cold and rainy out.

[rico05]

Mounting the ignitor is easy, just take some low grit sandpaper and clean the mounting spot to bare metal and remount it. The IACV will take like 30-40 minutes including cleaning time.

[gravetolife91]

i didnt get a chance to do anything today rain never let up enough, It sucks not having a garage.

Not to get off topic rico05 i seen you were in dallas, you all have very many meets down there i am only 2 hours away in OKC.

[rico05]

Lots. Haha. There are ones for 240SXs, imports, exotics and everything in between. Check out:http://www.ricekiller.comhttp://www.dfw ... mports.net

[RM12577]

Rico, you rule, i have been driving my 240 for a year with it having rough idle and backfiring when i shift. my ignitor, when i got the motor, had rubber grommets on it so i just mounted it with the rubber still there so it wasn't grounded at all. now that its grounded it doesn't backfire and it idles like it should, now if i can just figure out why it idles down when i roll my windows up or down....

[mod_mastaz]

The idle down is because your fast idle valve is broken or removed. That bumps the idle when the alternator gets some load and bumps the idle. It does it when the rack get max lock also(if the ps switch is wired up).

Regarding your cold start issue, change the coolant temp sensor and see how that goes. Clean the air regulator also. As for cold start drivability, my car misfires or lags SLIGHTLY when cold, but you shouldn't be driving the car hard when it's warming up anyway. It is still drivable though. Lucky for me, I got no issues after I changed the major sensors and got a good maf. No lifter tick either.

[rico05]

Make sure that the main ground that goes to the passenger side strut tower has a clean (ie bare metal with dielectric grease) connection. Also, add some extra ground straps. Here's how!http://texasnissans.com/tx/for...=2748

I forgot to mention I tired 2 new coolant temp sensors before my issue was resolved. 1 BWD, 1 OEM. Nothing. Give my ideas a try. Almost 5 years with the motor means I have struggled with most issues you may come across.

Too bad I have some SICK lifter click. I need to bite the bullet and just drop the $300 to replace them all...

[gravetolife91]

Well i still havent made it far. Hopefully I will get some time this weekend.

But a new problem has come up and I am trying my hardest to fix, So you got the wastegate actuator arm, theres the part that screws on that and also hooks the lever of the wastegate....not sure how but it fell off.

I have not done alot of research but it seems you cant just buy that piece. I have been working on making something to work... but it has been too busy at work to get it accomplished.

[rico05]

SO the actuator rod fell off? That means that the diaphram ripped and the w/g is toast. That could have been your issue as well all along (vac leak). Sounds like you need to find someone that will part with one or buy an HKS adjustible one for about $100.

[mod_mastaz]

Hey rico, have you tried changing your maf? or made sure you have the right one? I had an SR20 maf because the previous owner didn't tell me what MAF it was. I figured it out the hard way. The car ran like **** cold, it ran better warm, but still rich as hell. I swapped it out and everything is smooth as butter. I just need to change my PCV because the dipstick pops out after a hard run.

[gravetolife91]

Not the whole rod, just the end that hooks to the turbo.

[greensx]

Mounting the ignitor is easy, just take some low grit sandpaper and clean the mounting spot to bare metal and remount it. The IACV will take like 30-40 minutes including cleaning time.

So where exactly did you mount the ignitor? Trying to find a spot but no where flat enough

[rico05]

Hey rico, have you tried changing your maf? or made sure you have the right one? I had an SR20 maf because the previous owner didn't tell me what MAF it was. I figured it out the hard way. The car ran like **** cold, it ran better warm, but still rich as hell. I swapped it out and everything is smooth as butter. I just need to change my PCV because the dipstick pops out after a hard run.

I am on my 3rd KA24E MAF with a ROM suited for that MAF specificaly.

[mod_mastaz]

Hrm very odd. Maybe a faulty wire in the harness? Never know haha. My car is completely stock with stock ca18det everything to rule out issues. Going back to stock isn't going to work for you is it?

[rico05]

Dude, you have a motor for half a decade and you keep it stock lol. And I have done the harness 3 times.

Plus, I don't have the issue anymore. Scroll up and read.

[mod_mastaz]

Hey, I'm stock cuz I'm broke! Well actually, I'm doing all suspension mods til I'm happy, then I'll look into more power. Besides, a 110 speed limiter doesn't give me room for much. I'd rather canyon carve anyway. Anyway, enough thread jacking. I hope this guy fixes his issues soon!

[rico05]

Haha. I have a TON of suspension, brake and chassis mods. Don't worry.

[gravetolife91]

Well got some work done, regapped plugs, mounted Ign. chip, ordered a new coolant temp switch. And all for nothing. So setting there being bummed, a good friend says it sounds like its outta time...my first thought ok yah right but...i was wrong it was out of time. She starts fine and will really rip though gears. this is the first time driving that car working properly. oh well lesson learned.

[sjbsuperman1425]

Well got some work done, regapped plugs, mounted Ign. chip, ordered a new coolant temp switch. And all for nothing. So setting there being bummed, a good friend says it sounds like its outta time...my first thought ok yah right but...i was wrong it was out of time. She starts fine and will really rip though gears. this is the first time driving that car working properly. oh well lesson learned.

its all good. think of it as getting a few things replaced just for reliablity or something lol. glad you got it running good.

[rico05]

Awesome. Half a tooth on the cam gear will do crazy thnigs. Yay for good buddies with trained ears!

And trust me...we have all had issues setting timing. You get to a point where you figure out your own tircks/processes for setting the timing belt. Haha