When I start my car first thing in the morning it runs very unevenly until it's warmed up - I can feel the whole car shaking. It also hesitates when I try to accelerate. It's fine one it's warmed up and this only happens when starting in the morning.
A friend has suugested some overnight damp may be getting into the distributor leads - is this likely?
What can I do to fix this - it's only started happening since it got damp and cold overnight.
cheers
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JB - This is quite a common prob on some cars - ask anyone who used to run an old Escort. A night out in the fog would almost guarantee a non-start or rough running in the morning!
It's usually down to damp getting into (or just ONto) the distrib, the coil or HT leads, causing the high tension to 'track' away to earth. If you peer under the bonnet while someone turns the key, you can often see the blue discharge.
Cleaning the surfaces of the above can work wonders, but often you have to replace them. Hope this heps.
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JB, might well be the fast idle not working properly when cold. (It's not a Montego or 216 is it?) though I do agree with Andy re. the damp.
Mike
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My old Polo had this problem - solved it by cutting out the four fingers from a yellow marigold rubber glove and fitting it over the distributor, with the HT leads going in throught he finger holes. No more damp starting problems after that. BTW, I don't suppose the colour matters.
Chris
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Chris,
Bit worried the marigolds were so handy!
David
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I put a liberal amount of WD40 all over the distributer and ht leads at both ends on my better 1/2's polo. This seems to cure the problem.
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Are the plug leads covered in oil and dirt? Take them off one at a time and clean them with petrol. Do the same to the outside of the distributor cap and the top of the coil. Make sure you don't set fire to yourself, the car or the garage.
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Use the WD-40 trick and a cloth to get any gunk off, this has worked with an old Mk2 Fiesta and a mk2 Polo very well.
If that only helps but you're still getting a poor start. Get the dissy cap off, and uses a small, not to abrasive bit of emery paper (120 grade), GENTLY brush at the contacts to take off any oxidised metal. Look at the rotor arm for the same and repeat this GENTLY on that as well.
I had a time with a total non-starter with the Polo, luckily, I remembered this and set to the rotor arm with the car key, worked a treat.
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I bought some WD40 yesterday and sprayed the distributor cap and leads.
Started easily this morning and running brilliantly without any juddering - so fixed for the pricely sum of £1.99.
Many thanks folks.
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Ahhhh, sighed the future heroin addict, 20 quid to feel this good isn't a bad deal.
Be prepared to have the bonnet open every morning once the real damp weather begins next month.
Chris
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