Cold running

[FTRXR8]

Hi Guys

I have a 12 WS Metal, twice when reasonably cold the engine on take off has given a slight backfire and felt near stall.

This has only occured with very little engine warm up time

Its a 1.6, runs 98 octane and only mod is a K&N panel filter and onyl has 4300 kays

I dont thrash the car and the obvious thing is to allow the car to warm up longer but given its a German built car I would have suspected it would withstand cold weather alot better, could anything else be provoking this?

[trumpy73]

It has happened to me a couple of times with my WS on cold mornings. I run E10 and K&N panel filter.
It wouldn't hurt going to the dealer and asking for the latest ECU firmware update. They're generally happy to do it especially if you mention a specific issue.

[FTRXR8]

Thanks Trumpy!

I was hoping I wasnt the only one who had noticed this so thank you for the response and tip!

[kiwijohn42]

Still happens on my WQ as well.

[GoesLikeAZetec]

From memory there was a thread on WS cold start issues ages ago...

a few members had the same problem

ours did it as well

[brydie76]

Originally Posted by GoesLikeAZetec

From memory there was a thread on WS cold start issues ages ago...

a few members had the same problem

ours did it as well

Possibly my thread- http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11365522

Never was fully fixed, I just ended up "driving" around it i.e. giving it a heap of gas on first taking off when cold. Probably not good for it in the long run, but it stopped me getting t-boned and I don't have the car anymore...

[FTRXR8]

Thanks Brydie

Lots of good responses and possible answers so that's for digging up your thread!

[brydie76]

Originally Posted by FTRXR8

Thanks Brydie

Lots of good responses and possible answers so that's for digging up your thread!

No worries! As I said my issue was never "fully" fixed by the PCM update, but it definitely did improve it, so worth a try. The best way I worked around it was giving the car a few seconds to warm up before setting off, so I would start the car up and then put my seatbelt on-typically all the time it needed. As I mentioned above on some cold starts I did have to give the car a but of extra throttle to really make sure, but that was a the "T-intersection" near my house and probably a unique issue. Hope yours is fixed soon! : )

EDIT- easiest way to get the ECU/PCM (same thing) update under warranty is to say the car is running rough. That is always the first thing they try to diagnose that, especially when you can't demonstrate the symptoms to them.

[vhcbm]

Mine still does it to this day. Just seems to be the way they are. giving it 30 seconds to idle in the morning seems to fix it though and it seems to definitely be worse in winter. Almost non existent in Summer.