Hey guys,

When i start my car up in the freezing cold as it is here in the NOrtheast at 5 in the morning, my car seems to have a rough start. It starts right up and sounds fine but the spedometer jumps to 150 mps and all of the gauges go crazy. They all then drop back to as low as they can possibally go(gas shows empty for example) and then after it reaches that it shoots back up to the normal reading. The whole thing takes 5 seconds. Then its fine. Also, when this happens, the trip is reset. Is something wrong?!

 

I would have to say yes!

 

Check your ignition componets, your plugs and wires and your fuel componets, too (ingjectors, filter etc.) It could be a computer glitch, too. I wouldn't drive it till you fix this, but I am a very cautiuos man.

 

Let me guess..........................ummmm.............. it's a 99?

99s have a guage cluster/battery voltage problem that causes symptoms like yours. Try cleaning the battery cables or a fresh battery.

 

i have a similar problem. It almost always takes two turns (sometimes even 3) of the key to start my car. I put the key in turn it to ON, and let the fuel pump prime the lines for a second, then START. turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn.........nothing. Turn turn START!!!! (with a good vroom too). I had the starter checked by a trusted mechanic, and he said it checked out ok. I've got good plugs and wires, so its not that. I've done an engine flush and cleaned the entire fuel system. Is my ignition going out?

 

As far as slprocks problem I would say that it is a going bad gauge cluster, or your battery is starting to go bad!! That is the diagnosis I have heard so far for your symptoms

As for gofast, I would think that is a fuel management problem or maybe a spark plug/electrical thing if it is giving you a high rpm (higher then normal) right at startup, because maybe it has too much fuel!!!

 

well, when it does finally turn over, it just does a single rev to like 1600 rpm then drops to normal 700/600 rpm idle.

What do you mean by fuel management? Since i cleaned out the system i went from 14 mpg city to 20 mpg city, so.....i don't think that would be the problem....but hey I'm grasping at straws right now. Can you give some more details?

 

Well, I meant it just having trouble getting fuel when I said fuel managment. Maybe its a coil going out. Have you checked the plugs to see what they look like? Otherwise, I'm not sure!!

 

the plugs all look good. i've got a new fuel pump and the lines are clean, so it should be getting the right amount of fuel. Are there other symptoms when a coil pack goes out?

 

my 99 had the same problem...Look at your battery, my'n had lots of corrosion on the red terminal. I replaced the battery, and its never done it again. So try that, its a helluva lot cheaper than replacing what some others have mentioned...and i can almost guarantee it will fix it.

 

I agree check your battery connections. I've heard of this happening before, and I think it was caused by a loose connection. Hope you figure it out.

Mike

 

There was a TSB put out for atleast 99's. Mine did the same if it sat for more than a day. Took it in to dealership under warranty and they replaced gauge cluster. No more problems

 

Well, the battery terminals are good and tight and clean. The battery is only 6 months old. Any other ideas? I don't mean to be throwing out each thing you guys suggest. Its just really embarrassing when a bunch of people are watching you get in, waiting to hear it start, and then it takes two or three tries.

 

could it be the timing? I was watching "Rides", and the development of the new Shelby Cobra, and when they went to start it, it did the same thing that my car was doing (only to a worse degree). They adjusted the timing on it and it started and ran perfect. What do you think?

 

I have a 99 and mine did the same thing....

It was only the battery cables....they were loose and had corrosion on them. Every time you disconnect the battery, the computer is reset and it has to "re-learn" the timing/fuel settings for your altitude, temperature, etc. This also resets the tripometer and sometimes the radio settings, and causes you to get crappy mileage if its a constant probelm(every time you start it)

So everytime you try to start it, it loses the connection for a second, and the starter clicks(tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick then craaank craank crank! with a loud Vroooom)

When it loses that connection and the computer is reset, it also sweeps the gauges to see reset them as well, thats why your tachometer and speedo go all the way up then all the way down before going to the actual reading its supposed to show.

If you dont correct it, and take off the cables completely and grind them down so they get good contact, it should work like normal. Make sure everything is really tight and spray some kind of anti-corrosion agent on it.

I did that about 3 months ago and havent had any problems up til now, but I only cleaned the cables to the battery so now Im going to completely take them off and inspect them, clean them, and put'em back on and it should be gone forever.

I am also going to buy a new battery since its about time anyways...this ones pretty old.