B18E lost cold start ability

[jamescarruthers]

My B18E (with the stupid sensors) seems to have became very difficult to start when cold. It runs perfectly when up to temperature.

When cold and finally coaxed to life after about 3-4 awful starts and stalls, it doesn’t do the fast idle thing at all.

As far as I can see, the trigger for cold idle is the coolant temperature sensor to the engine ECU. Fast cold idle is achieved by longer injection pulses and more air in at the idle control valve.

I’ve tested this at cold temperature and the resistance is correct. I’ve boiled it and the temperature and resistance behave correctly.

I tried a spare idle control valve from Jeff with no improvement.

Does anyone have any ideas as it’s made me stop driving the 480 and I miss the old girl now summer is here!

(I have a brand new unobtainium temperature sensor coming from Europe (plus one for Dave Kit!) as a bit of a stab in the dark just in case the original is a little off.

The ignition parts have just been renewed— except the ignition coil and it’s amplifier.