Bad start ?

mar601 · Post by **mar601** » 11 Jan 2023, 08:57

Educate me on this please.

Can you have a "bad start" on a vehicle? I have a 98 S70 T5 and the other day, rather than give it a nice key press, I sort of (mistakingly) just hit the switch very quickly...yet, the car started but it did so very roughly with a lot of exhaust smoke and probably like an idiot, I just kept giving it gas and eventually it worked it's way out of it. (I probably should have immediately shut it off and then tried again?) It's started fine since then but does seem like it's idling a bit rougher than it was.

So the question is....
Can you actually have a bad start like this? Does it do any damage? (Maybe the plugs are now fouled etc?) -- thanks
Car had new timing belt installed so that's not it.

rrres · Post by **rrres** » 11 Jan 2023, 09:12

I'm guessing that the quick flick of the key fired up some of the cylinders while others have not had a chance to build compression.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Jan 2023, 09:34

It could also be wear in the electrical portion of the ignition switch. With age you may have some fuel pressure leak down so as rres suggested maybe the pump did not have time to build the fuel pressure sufficiently.

I would take the car for a good run and see if it improves. If not there maybe something else going on needing further investigation.

Neil.

mar601 · Post by **mar601** » 11 Jan 2023, 09:57

Ok. Yeah, that it what it sounds like -- not all cylinders firing. Great deal of exhaust smoke and very rough. It's been fine since, just got back from a drive. I probably should have shut it off and restarted.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Jan 2023, 11:02

Hey, we can all be smart after we do something nuts! Hopefully no long term effects.

Neil.