Interesting Solution for Cold Start Drama

[rico05]

As those who know me know, I have had cold start issues for the entire ~3 years of my CA ownership. Well, I just reduced the issues by 90%, and here is what I did.

-Installed a new battery cable (dobut this is all of the fix, but the old was nasty, so this helps)-Installed a set of Bosch Platinum Iridium Fusion (stock# 4503, run $9.98 per plug at Advance Auto)

That's it. It still bucks a little, but for the most part, she runs like a champ when cold. I'm really happy that one more thing is off the list! Now, to just fix my damn dash lights and get a new windshield.....

[fitch9014]

man, forty bones for plugs??!! i think i'll live with the cold start...unless, how long do you think those will last?

[float_6969]

Iridium plugs are supposed to last much longer than a standard plug. I've had mine in for 2 years now w/o any problems and they still seem to be in pretty decent shape.

[dvd]

did you leave the gap on the plugs?

[RS12Turbo]

man, forty bones for plugs??!!

To me thats still cheap.......after living with my ca18et for so many years....which had 8 plugs, so $70-$80 was my average price

How do those Bosch Iridiums compare to the Ngk Iridiums, because their like $6 each. I'm still a firm beliver that Bosch plugs in a Nissan don't go together......but it's been many, many years since I've tried a set though, so maybe they've improved over the years?

[rico05]

Well, according to our parts system at work, there is no NGK IX application for the CA18DE/Ts. I had previously run BCPR6ES-11s, and they were going bad as fast as I could put them in.

You don't regap platinum or multi electrode plugs.

[RS12Turbo]

The NGK Iridium part number for the ca18et s12 is what I used

[240sxbobbis]

40 pesos for them sweet ill just get those instead of dealing with the cold start

[fitch9014]

i think the last time i bought plugs they were the copper ngks, had the best luck with them. i've used the ngk iridiums, platinums, and in one misguided adventure, the bosch platinums. at just over $2 a plug and the ability to gap, copper's fit the bill...however, i say the iridiums are better than platinums all around (smooth idle for sure, less issues on cold start probably), but for the money . of course, i do eat a lot of ramen...

[r34 gtr]

i have had many bosch plugs disintegrate on me, some even before i put them in a car! ive never used them on my car and i never will. bosch plugs are terrible. ive got denso copper plugs in mine (DIRT cheap) and ive had no problems in a long time. of course, my car bucks and pings and stuff but its not the plugs' fault.

[dvd]

isnt stock gap at .044 usually? if so, should I be running that on my stockish ca?

[rico05]

Well, these are holding up fine. I would kill copper NGKs in less than a week venting my BOV. Since switching to these, there is no more stumble on shifts with my BOV vented.

And I did find the SKU for BCPR6EIX-11s (NGK Iridium IX for CA18ET/CA18DE). I may try those if my Boschs go sour.

[c-rad]

I've been running NGK coppers with a vented BOV for quite a while with no issues. Never have a cold start issue and never any hesitation or bogging. Might want to look into your Air/Fuel ratio and verify your idle air unit is functioning properly. I didnt have a metal retaining clip on my IAV and the plug came off one time. The car would start cold but it would sputter and die out or idle very low. Also caused a lot of stumbling when the motor wasn't warmed up. Plugged the IAV back in and everything was kosher.

[rico05]

No stumbling, just bogs when I try to give enough throttle to go past 10inHg. BRAND NEW IAV as well.

Plus, don't you have an SDS chris?

[c-rad]

No stumbling, just bogs when I try to give enough throttle to go past 10inHg. BRAND NEW IAV as well.

Plus, don't you have an SDS chris?

Horsham Stg 3

[missionsix43]

I dont have:

Idle valve, warm up regular, or ficd thingy.

I have to help it along for about 30 seconds when I start it up in the morning and then its good to go.

[davidricardo86]

Would the air regulator or AAIV valve(something like that) have anything to do with this? Maybe the solenoids are just bad? Id do a resistance check and if possible back probe it with a scope. Is there power and ground to the regulator. What about the wiring from the computer to the sensor/solenoid. Seems like maybe the air regulator's internals like the bi-metallic strip are not working.

Its suppose to raise the idle when its cold to run more fuel, but it should lower idle by way of the regulator closing once it warms up.

[rico05]

See, I get cold start rev up, and the car doesn't want to die or anything, just used to buck real bad when I tried to throttle it. Now, it's a ton better, but not 100% perfect. No biggie. 30sec-1min of babying it never did any wrong.