(Home) Poor acceleration when cold

I've got a Liteace Mastersurf 2lt diesel 4x4 automatic. It starts up, no probs, but then I put it in 'D' and it takes ages to get going. Crawls up to 25 mls per hr, then, suddenly takes off. I can't pull out of junctions till there is nothing about!! When I first got it and had it MOT'd, the mechanic told me to put some diesel cleaner in the fuel as it had been standing for a while before I bought it. This made clouds of black smoke billow out of the exhaust. The smoke isn't too bad now, but the sluggishness is still there when cold. When it's warm, I can make it change down or up no probs, and can make it fly along. Are all Aces like this, or is it just mine? I'm wondering if the auto gearbox is ok. Any suggestions.....please? x

- (#9541) old bird, 24 Mar 04 11:35

Hello Angie,
it's quite normal for the Aces to be a bit sluggish first thing, but by the sounds of it, yours may need some new oil, air and fuel filters.

- (#9541) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 24 Mar 04 13:01

It sounds as though you may have a problem with the auto box as it seems as though you are not starting in first. Next time you start from cold, try manually selecting the 1 position on the selector when you pull away. If this improves things then you may have a sticking valve in the transmission when cold. Changin the transmission oil and filter may cure it. Otherwise its a case of removing the valve body and freeing off the offending valve. Let me know how you get on.

- (#9541) John Shaw, 24 Mar 04 13:50

sounds like the torque converter is duff....

- (#9541) neil rolfe, 24 Mar 04 13:52

Dave...this is the Ace that came from the salvage yard, so I don't know any history on it. But my mate got the air filter out and it looked brand new and the engine is spotless so I think it has been well looked after and serviced. We've checked the fluid in the gearbox and that is ok, not burnt or brown. Although I've driven for over 30yrs, and am now a class 1 driver, I've never driven automatics, so it might just be me!

John...I've tried starting in 1st but it makes no
difference, it's still sluggish.

Neil...I hope it's not the box.

Before I put the diesel additive in it was ok, pulled ok and no black smoke. I'm going to get the fuel filter changed, and since posting, I found the ace answers piece on 'black smoke' and 'auto boxes' which has helped ease my mind somewhat. I'm convinced now that it's something to do with the additive on the fuel, and Dave says change the fuel filter.....keep your fingers crossed for me. x

- (#9541) old bird, 24 Mar 04 14:45

My hiace has never smoked but on the one occasion I filled up with BP it did....never since though so it may be worth trying another fuel at next fill.
If you do the fuel filter 'Wynns' do something called 'deisel clean up'. You add it neat to the new filter (engine needs to be warm so a quick change is in order)- it will make your 'Litie' seem rocket propelled for the 1st mile or 2 and alledgedly cleans things up. (certainly smells like it may work).
The hiace too is painfully slow until the temp guage shifts. It may be more apparent currently with the cold mornings etc.

- (#9541) chris turner, 24 Mar 04 15:12

Have you checked the auto box fluid level?

- (#9541) Clive (Bristol), 24 Mar 04 15:29

My 4x4 was awful sluggish pulling away when cold, even if I held it in first. It would suddenly get it's breath and surge away and then it would be fine.

The auto box did go not long after, but the symptom for that I think was very poor reverse gear, jerking and jumping. Check that the plastic grommet at the bottom of the kick down cable isn't broken, that's where dirt was getting into my box.

- (#9541) Tom, 24 Mar 04 15:53

It may help if you can give your opinion on what is at fault?
Do you think it is the engine not giving power, or is it the auto not tansferring the power?
One clue may be if the revs seem unusually high for the slow speeds when cold - indicating the auto is the problem.

My impression is that you are saying there is no power from the engine when cold?

They are somewhat sluggish at first, but this sounds excessive.
Try a full engine oil and filter change as an overdue service can make this problem worse.
Otherwise it may be a fuel problem that is heat related?

Can you get to see someone else nearby to compare?

- (#9541) DaveW, 24 Mar 04 19:12

I'm going to let my brother take it for a spin, starting it off from cold. He might suss out if it seems ok, or if it is me!! He has an automatic and is used to driving them so he'll know if the auto box seems dodgy. I'll let you know what the verdict is. x

- (#9541) old bird, 25 Mar 04 02:16

I always let my Masterace warm up for Two or Three minutes before setting off otherwise it pulls like a slug from cold.
I do find that roundabouts and busy junctions can be a bit hairy but after five years with the old girl I have just about got used to it.

- (#9541) DAVE WILLIAMS, 25 Mar 04 04:24

I agree that these things can be very sluggish in the mornings. The first time I drove mine after buying it I thought that I had been caught with a duffer. I live at the bottom of a hill and I really thought it was not going to get to the top! After about a mile though it suddenly picks up and gets going. I was wondering if there was some device fitted to them that stops the turbo from producing boost until the oil is circulating as a protective measure, though I am not sure how this would be done.

- (#9541) John Shaw, 25 Mar 04 13:26

Big brother was working late, so I took the Ace to a garage, local chap who who is quite knowledgable. I explained what it was doing, and he took it a run round. He and my friend then proceded to discuss how to check 'box' fluid, and, on arriving back home, my friend checked the fluid again. The box took one and a half bottles of fluid, and might still need more!! We are going to check again, and keep an eye on it for a few days. We were checking it 'hot', but not with the engine running. We took it a run round later, and it is changing up and down the gears much quicker on it's own, and of course, I can still make it change by 'blipping' the accelerator. Because the gears are changing quicker, it has more go in it, and the gears are changing at between 2000 and 3000 revs, which is a lot better. The kickdown is not erratic now, that changes down calmly. I'll keep you posted on this one.

This morning I switched the overdrive off, started off in 1st, then 2nd then drive, and got a lot better response, but I was 'blipping' the accelerator to make the gears change as big brother had told me to do. I'm waiting to see tomorrow morning what the 'cold' performance is like now that there is some fluid in the box!!! x

- (#9541) old bird, 25 Mar 04 15:05

Auto box fluid needs to be checked hot and with the engine running. Get the Auto Fluid up to working temp ( a short drive will do it), select all gears and then put in park and then check the level.

- (#9541) Clive (Bristol), 25 Mar 04 16:16