Kinda like it's lookin for some fuel... I don't drive it every day and technically drive it once or twice a week. The weather just started turning a bit warmer and I did just put a NGK Iridiums in... .050 gap - thinking about going .035 gap this weekend. I just drove it yesterday and tonite it did the same thing... it drives flawlessly - but just takes a couple of extra cranks to get her going.
Also - after 1800 miles I have to ask... is it normal to have a little bit of white smoke while idling? I mean... nothing obnoxious as an obvious indicator of problems, but more like a lit cigarette. It's done this since 2 miles and I find it odd. I never really payed attention to it that much since i'm not burning much oil, coolant level is fine, etc...
rice_eater
04-13-2006, 11:09 PM
Maybe your car just likes a certain temperature better than others? I know my car (though it isnt an SRT-4) will start with the flip of the key in the summer, but come winter time, even on a mild day, it will crank 5-7 times before it fires up. I've just grown accustomed to it. some engines just have there weird things like that.
Blue smoke is burning oil, black smoke is running rich, isnt white smoke running lean??? If its just a little i'm not sure that you should be too concerned with it though... it may just be water vapor. check the plugs, see if they're white or tan. (white=lean)
Andy
04-14-2006, 09:45 AM
After stage 2 and new plugs and wires, my car cranks for a second or so before starting. (cold starts only) Before those, it started instantly everytime. Don't really have any info on that.
As far as smoke, my car doesn't smoke at all. Like he ^ said blue is oil and black is rich... Are you saying it puffs a little smoke at full operating temp? If so I would look into some more if you're sure its smoke and not just condensation or whatever from being cold.
And as far as going to .35 gap, unless your upping the boost or having spark blow out I don't think thats recommend.
Ninja-Matic
04-14-2006, 06:34 PM
It just literally looks like cigarette smoke coming from the tailpipes - not full out like oil or AF or rich/lean... Just a little trickle - it's done that ever since i've had it... probably just condensation like you said. It does sit for a few days at a time and i remember when they started the car to move it off the showroom i noticed that... along with the 3 other cars they moved. ???
Plugs look normal to me, as well. About the hard starting, a few extra cranks and then when it starts, it's like it almost stumbles when i'm starting it... I told the wife about it this morning and she said she's been having starting issues with in the past few weeks as well. One thing we did do is switch to a new gas station closer to our house. They just put up a BP about 1 block from us... we're still on our first tank of gas from them... and both having issues starting... possibly some bad gas? They have the single nozzle type - so god knows how much fuel that hose holds all the way to the tanks when switching grades and what low-octane crap i got along with my fuel... I'm gonna try to burn the rest of my tank between tonite and tomorrow... then refuel when the light goes on with the stuff i was using before.
I'm not getting any codes or performance issues once running, so that's about all i can think of.
Ninja-Matic
04-14-2006, 07:03 PM
I'm losing my mind... starting fine, no trickle of anything cold or warm after running it... wtf? I did just reset my ECU the other day and blah blah barely drive it blah blah.
Leaning towards condensation and a possible bad batch of gas.
God... don't you hate it when you like something a lot and you can't let anything happen to it?
Andy
04-14-2006, 07:30 PM
Sounds like you were just seeing the condensation... If you see it again after you've driven for awhile I'd look into it then.
About the start up, could be some bunk gas. Mine takes longer to crank, but doesn't have the stumble you described. Unless it starts happening everytime or a lot, I wouldn't worry too much.
I know how it is though... If theres something that doesn't seem right about my car it just drives me insane thinking about it.
And I never thought about the gas stations that have only one nozzle. Makes you wonder indeed how much of the previous selection is still left in the system that comes with yours.
elchicoyes
04-15-2006, 12:03 PM
God... don't you hate it when you like something a lot and you can't let anything happen to it?
