Cold Start Question

bammercole · 01-02-2008, 05:37 PM

I have a 2002 A4 1.8T Quattro. Occasionally during really cold times of the year, when i start the car it will not idle at a higher rpm like it normally does when the engine is cool for the warm up cycle. Does anyone know if this is normal? Usually only happens when the temperature is below 20F outside. Also around that temperature, the little snowflake which is normally next to the outside temp does not always come on like I expect it to. I think that covers it. Thanks for thoughts.

crysis · 01-30-2008, 03:43 AM

could be the air flow regulator although this is unlikley, there is also a chip in the engine which changes the fuel mixture according to temp from a lean to a rich mix. they sell these chips on web claiming it increases the horse power of the car, which technically it does.... what it actually does is leave the car in a permanent winter mix and will ultimately damage the engine, could this be your problem? i dont mean you bought one of these, the original one might be gone faulty. this would tie in with the car being normal when temp increases as it would revert to a normal mix

bammercole · 01-30-2008, 08:09 AM

this is a good thought. I'm thinking along the line that some temp sensor is malfunctioning when it gets to a certain temperature. This only happens when the car has been sitting out in the extreme cold (<20F) for a longer period of time. I'm confused though because the outside temp reading is always correct, but the little snowflake next to the temp only shows up between about 22F and 38F.

Also i'm wondering if it doesn't initially idle higher on a extreme cold start to save the car from running harder when all the parts are so stiff??

I guess no car really loves 0F temps....

crysis · 01-30-2008, 09:39 AM

No, this is not normal. the car should be running correctly in all tempratures- maybe you can take it to an Audi dealer for a diagnostic, their computer will detect the fault in a few minutes, this is the quickest way

bammercole · 01-30-2008, 01:15 PM

Ok, I didn't think it was normal, but didn't know for sure. I'm not taking it to the local dealer they are absolutely horrible. I've got a code reader and it comes up clean. It really doesn't affect the car at all, so i'm fine with it.

01-02-2008, 05:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
bammercole Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 66 Gallery: (0)	Cold Start Question I have a 2002 A4 1.8T Quattro. Occasionally during really cold times of the year, when i start the car it will not idle at a higher rpm like it normally does when the engine is cool for the warm up cycle. Does anyone know if this is normal? Usually only happens when the temperature is below 20F outside. Also around that temperature, the little snowflake which is normally next to the outside temp does not always come on like I expect it to. I think that covers it. Thanks for thoughts.

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01-30-2008, 03:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
crysis Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 7 Gallery: (0)	could be the air flow regulator although this is unlikley, there is also a chip in the engine which changes the fuel mixture according to temp from a lean to a rich mix. they sell these chips on web claiming it increases the horse power of the car, which technically it does.... what it actually does is leave the car in a permanent winter mix and will ultimately damage the engine, could this be your problem? i dont mean you bought one of these, the original one might be gone faulty. this would tie in with the car being normal when temp increases as it would revert to a normal mix

01-30-2008, 08:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
bammercole Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 66 Gallery: (0)	this is a good thought. I'm thinking along the line that some temp sensor is malfunctioning when it gets to a certain temperature. This only happens when the car has been sitting out in the extreme cold (<20F) for a longer period of time. I'm confused though because the outside temp reading is always correct, but the little snowflake next to the temp only shows up between about 22F and 38F. Also i'm wondering if it doesn't initially idle higher on a extreme cold start to save the car from running harder when all the parts are so stiff?? I guess no car really loves 0F temps....

01-30-2008, 09:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
crysis Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 7 Gallery: (0)	No, this is not normal. the car should be running correctly in all tempratures- maybe you can take it to an Audi dealer for a diagnostic, their computer will detect the fault in a few minutes, this is the quickest way

01-30-2008, 01:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
bammercole Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 66 Gallery: (0)	Ok, I didn't think it was normal, but didn't know for sure. I'm not taking it to the local dealer they are absolutely horrible. I've got a code reader and it comes up clean. It really doesn't affect the car at all, so i'm fine with it.

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