cranky starting

redbarina · Post by **redbarina** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:14 pm

I have a Holden Barina Swing, I believe it is the Australian market equivalent of the Corsa Swing. It is a 1998 model, 1.4 multipoint EFI manual. Assembled in Spain.
We have owned the car for several years, bought it with 70,000 km, now up to 170,000 km. Since we bought it we have had a very infrequent problem with starting. It seems to be worst after it hasn't been driven for a few days, and on colder mornings - cold by Aussie standards, below 10 degreesC. The car is kept in a garage so it doesn't get really cold.
When it plays up, at worst it won't start, engine turns over fine but it doesn't fire. It seems to spin very fast like it could have no compression, but I'm not sure about that. (It might just be starter motor noise - usually it starts so fast you don't notice the starter motor.) If it is left to stand a few minutes it will start, it starts very roughly, blows smoke (bluish), carries on like it was flooded, and must be kept running at reasonable speed, if left to idle it will probably stall. It clears in a few seconds, runs slightly rough and idles lumpy for a minute or two, then clears right up and will behave perfectly all day.

Sometimes it starts right away, still runs rough/smoky a little and clears up quickly.

Most of the time there is no problem at all.

When we bought the car in about 2002 it did this several times (including not starting at first) - it went back to the dealer several times but they could never find a fault. I fitted new plug leads, put some injector cleaner in the tank. Dealer stressed that only 5w40 oil should be used, heavier oil jams up the hydraulic lifters on cold mornings. (the Holden owner's manual said 20w50 but that was a misprint...!) I had used 20w50 so we changed the oil, too. Also started using only 95 RON petrol instead of 91.
The refusal to start seemed to go away, though we still had the occasional rough start - coughing, smoke for a few seconds. It always seemed to me like flooding. Dealer tested overnight for injectors leaking fuel but they tested OK - pressure held up overnight.

Now after several years of pretty good behaviour, the refusing to start has returned. If left to stand a few minutes, it will start but run rough till it settles. It only plays up for the first start of the day.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Chris.