7AFE Runs rough when cold, Until the car gets close to warmed up, the engine runs poorly Options

[GriffGirl]

When I go to start my car, particularly in the morning after it's been sitting all night, the engine feels like it's kind of "chugging" or "hicupping" until it's warmed up. I noticed this right when I bought the car, about 6 weeks ago, and that the temperature gauge was taking forever to go up into the "warm" position.

So naturally, my thermostat must be sticking, right? Well I replaced the thermostat last weekend, and while the car warms up at a normal rate now, it still does this weird "chugging" thing from the time that it begins to warm up until it's about 2/3 of the way to temp.

I did notice that the day after I replaced the thermostat, the car didn't do this. I also noticed that there was a slight leak from where the upper radiator hose goes into the engine block (my fault - I took the wrong thing off in search for the thermostat housing, and didn't use enough sealant when I put the mounting back on). So when I fixed the gasket seal and put everything back together, it resumed it's chugging thing.

Could this be because of air in the line? I'd think it would overheat if there were air though. Bad coolant? It's almost as if there's a vacuum leak, but I can't find one anywhere, and it just seems directly related to the cooling system since the duration that the car does this has also decreased with the proper warm up time in place now.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[Bitter]

well its back for me as well. only seems to happen when its around freezing and only for about 45 seconds. the afr dips off way rich, past 10:1. i wonder if the IAT is slightly out of range and the cold temp makes it worse? i may grab a new one or pull mine out and toss it in the freezer and check its resistance against the specs it should be at.

[GriffGirl]

well its back for me as well. only seems to happen when its around freezing and only for about 45 seconds. the afr dips off way rich, past 10:1. i wonder if the IAT is slightly out of range and the cold temp makes it worse? i may grab a new one or pull mine out and toss it in the freezer and check its resistance against the specs it should be at.

I know this was only a few days ago, but I was wondering if you did that yet and what your findings were. I'm gonna attack this btch again this weekend, it's colder now and my car is running SO SO poorly before it warms up that I'm feeling VERY discouraged and hateful towards it.

I'm trying so hard to keep my chin up, but man, this thing sucks so bad it makes me wish I didn't have it at all... but I do so love the beautiful 6GCs!

So far I've replaced plugs (NGK Platinum), checked wires cap & rotor (look great, they're only a few months old); replaced IAT sensor, replaced thermostat. Oil changed last month w/1040 synthetic blend, name brand just can't remember which (red bottle, Castrol?).

Goal this weekend is to clean throttle body, IAC valve and quite possibly replace fuel filter.

Lemme know what you figure out, if anything. I don't have the money to take it to a mechanic, but I may just have to, at least to have it diagnosed. Unless someone in the Portland area is feeling especially friendly.