Start Engine = High RPM

[Z-Knight]

I have a Rogue 2011, AWD, SL with 18000 miles.

The current problem I'm having is that on cold starts (i.e. standing around for a couple of hours) the car starts up and jumps to high rpm (1800) and then, after 5 seconds, comes down to 1500 RPM and stays there for 15 seconds before coming back down very slowly. At about 50 seconds into the start it gets to about 1100 RPM and hovers there for the rest of the time until I put it in gear - then it finally drops down to about 800 RPM.

I can turn the car off and try it again and it will nearly repeat the same thing. After I drive it a bit and turn it off and on, it is fine. But I will wait a few hours and the same thing happens.

I took it into a dealer and told them what was happening and they diagnosed it to some controller unit (284B7-ET03A), which they replaced but it still does the exact same thing. One note on the first report they had was "Cause: IPDM wont communicate in pass".

I'm kind of getting worried...I'm having all of these little problems with this car and I have a feeling I need to document these in great detail and then make sure to go the dealer before my 3 year warranty expires and present it to them. And basically say that they fix it or else (not sure what else would be since the dealer I bought it from is in another state).

Also, I've only noticed this happening in the last 500 -1000 miles...I swear it feels like it starts rougher and I don't recall having these high rpms on start before. I know some of this is normal, but the length of time it is high is not normal behavior from before and the rpm jumping around even when I would think it was settling down, has me worried.

Any suggestions/ideas?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

yeah the hard starts may be related to the high RPM. Chances are your idle air control valve is opened too much for whatever reason, which is causing the high RPM. It'll also cause your start condition to be leaner than it is supposed to be. Engine starting parameters are based on only a few variables (usually coolant temp sensor or air intake temp sensor). Idle air control valve should be considered a constant by the ECU if I'm not mistaken.

Definitely keep bringing it back and hammering the dealership until the warranty expires.

[ImStricken06]

i know in the cold, it will idle slightly higher, and burn a tad richer - in order to "wake up" the catalytic converters.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah but he shouldn't really be experiencing any temperatures cold enough to really extend the startup/idle process like he's describing. If it was sub freezing, I'd say yeah.

[ImStricken06]

i know in NJ when i start my cooled down car (after a few hours of sitting still), for about 5 seconds it will be around 1200, then drops down. it allmost does it like this: (engine start) VVVVVVVVV-VVVVVV-vvvvvvvv(steady 700-800ish)

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah that's normal. He's talking about 50+ seconds of high RPM. In July.

[ImStricken06]

Yeah that's normal. He's talking about 50+ seconds of high RPM. In July.

"it gets to about 1100 RPM and hovers there for the rest of the time until I put it in gear" - yea this is weird. seems like a sensor is out of wack somewhere.

[Z-Knight]

Here's a video of what happens...I have another appointment next week to have them check it out.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5K0V5ARi-I[/youtube]

at about 1:14 I put the car in gear and it drops down....later (1:23) I put it in park and it again jumps above 1000 RPM. I then turn it off and repeat the process and effectively have the same result...sigh.

btw, I live in Houston and the temperatures in the garage are quite warm...this was recorded at night but the temperatures were likely still around 80.

[ImStricken06]

yes thats really not right. thats normal in like 40degree and below weather. i think somewhere your AIT sensor is off. seems its judging intake temps MUCH MUCH colder than reality

[Z-Knight]

so, should I avoid driving it until I get it checked out, or (for now) should I simply wait at start to have it come down before I drive out?

[ImStricken06]

try tapping the gas pedal. i think that would bring it down.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

You can drive it without worry. Worst case scenario is you have a sensor off or something, which is throwing out your air fuel ratios, resulting in poor(er) fuel economy.

[Z-Knight]

Thank you to all of you for reading and answering my post ... you all gave me good info and I appreciate it.

[ImStricken06]

Thank you to all of you for reading and answering my post ... you all gave me good info and I appreciate it.

thats why i love this site. our mods are VERY knowledgeable, giving, and love to help. being apart of the team on this site makes me feel honored.

[Z-Knight]

So I went to another dealer and they told me that this was actually normal behavior for COLD starts. In fact, they took me over to another AWD Rogue and started it up while I watched and it matched...it did the exact same thing. So, right now I guess I'm fine....the "rough" start that I initially went to the dealer for may have been solved via the replacement controller and this high RPM looks like a normal thing - I hope.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

hmm... I wonder what it determines as "cold"....

[zengshengliu]

I just checked my car
it is similar
When the engine is cold(1 bar), it stays at 1200-1500rpm until the temperature rises
then the rpm drop

[ImStricken06]

i told you, mine does something similar

[Z-Knight]

sorry, dude, I must have missed it...I no reed sow goude.

I was worried that it was related to the hard starts that I had and it just didn't feel normal to me, but I don't really have that much experience with cars. I appreciate all the help, thank you.

[ImStricken06]

i started keeping an eye on mine, and it did it yesterday too. sat at like 1100 rpm and its 90 here. i shifted into D, and it dropped to like 900rpm and quickly back up too around 1000 and sat there. after it warmed up, it was normal.

[Great White North]

Regarding high RPM's that occur in cold weather when you start out.....I live in a cold winter climate and this winter I've had to park my 2016 Nissan Rogue SL outside unplugged.....At -15 or -20 Celsius I noticed after starting the vehicle for approx 5 minutes, when I put the CVT trans into gear and leave, the RPM's climb quickly at very low speeds.....

For a few KM's, until the CVT warms up, the RPM's are at 2500 to 3000 or higher at low speed ( 30 to 40 KPH )......

I just picked the vehicle up his afternoon from my local Nissan Dealer Service Dept after leaving it out overnight and was advised this is completely normal for the Nissan Rogue.....I advised I had previously owned two other Nissan Altimas with the same engine ( 2.5 ) and didn't notice this happening....The service rep stated that the older Altimas and the 2016 Rogues have slightly different CVT transmissions which might account for this not being noticed....

Not that I don't trust Nissan Service but I'm just a little nervous heading out and crawling along at 30-40 KPH for a few minutes to keep the RPM's under 3000 .....

Any one else notice this happening????? Clarki e.....Great White North

[datechboss101]

Regarding high RPM's that occur in cold weather when you start out.....I live in a cold winter climate and this winter I've had to park my 2016 Nissan Rogue SL outside unplugged.....At -15 or -20 Celsius I noticed after starting the vehicle for approx 5 minutes, when I put the CVT trans into gear and leave, the RPM's climb quickly at very low speeds.....

For a few KM's, until the CVT warms up, the RPM's are at 2500 to 3000 or higher at low speed ( 30 to 40 KPH )......

I just picked the vehicle up his afternoon from my local Nissan Dealer Service Dept after leaving it out overnight and was advised this is completely normal for the Nissan Rogue.....I advised I had previously owned two other Nissan Altimas with the same engine ( 2.5 ) and didn't notice this happening....The service rep stated that the older Altimas and the 2016 Rogues have slightly different CVT transmissions which might account for this not being noticed....

Not that I don't trust Nissan Service but I'm just a little nervous heading out and crawling along at 30-40 KPH for a few minutes to keep the RPM's under 3000 .....

Any one else notice this happening????? Clarki e.....Great White North

I've noticed this too on my 2016 Nissan Rogue on cold starts. Unlike you, my climate here is hot year around, where the RPMs start around 1800 for a few moments then drops to 1500 and then drops to 1100 while idle. However, it drives normally once I put it in drive.

[drummerguy]

My 2015 does this in cold weather but I am kind of used to it now. It is annoying though when I drive straight to the expressway and have difficulty getting the speed up until it warms up a bit........I find if I plug it in this is not an issue. Dealer says the same thing......its normal.