Does anyone know what this means? Almost every time I start up my car, the engine turns over fine, but then almost immediately starts to sputter and then die out. But then when I try to start the car the second time around, it always starts up just fine.

What going on here?

Thanks,
Jason

 

HRmm.... sounds like when I got my s2k new from the dealership! I don't see how, this can happen though. My only theroy is that when it is rather cold outside and you got your S2k new. The ecu is trying to adjust to the extremely cold temperature, which will probably cause it to shut off. Usually this will happen a few times, maybe once or twice.

Though I don't know really what would be your case for your S2k, since it is summer (unless you live in a really cold place right now). What type of oil do you use? Not really sure though.....

Alan

 

AzNxKuKu is correct in his observation. Some cars will exhibit this "brain fart" when there is a change from one season to a colder one. Mine used to do this the first couple of pre-winter seasons. It would do this for about 3-4 cold starts and then it would learn and never do it again till one year later. It has since "learned" to not do this and has not done it in almost 2 years.
Yours is odd because of where you live and the time of year. Assuming it is a similar thing, don't fight it by giving it gas. Just let it die and restart it and hopefully, in time, it will learn to correct for this on its own.
Let's assume that it isn't. First try the "MAP whack" and ECU reset (same as CEL reset):
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=209708
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=183490
If this doesn't cure the problem, then you've got other problems. Begin to look into things like a malfunctioning Idle Air Control unit, diryt injectors, weak fuel pump, fouled plugs, etc.

 

I've noticed a similar problem when I parked for several days at a hotel at an angle. The hotel was located at several hundred meters elevation, and the car parked slightly uphill. After starting, two seconds later the revs would drop and stall.

When I got home, everything was back to normal.

Last week I went on an Alpine driving tour up to 3000m, and the car really wanted to stall easily at those elevations!

///Robin