Car sluggish starting after a few days idle, normal?

wayne0308

Hi,

I was just wondering if its normal for a car to be a bit sluggish starting up if it's been idle for say 4 or 5 days?

Basically it's happened a few times now as its only driven at weekends. Basically when I start it up it tends to sound a bit rough and will hover at about 250-300 revs/min for a sec or two and will then climb up to about 1200 revs/min and hover there and then fall down to a normal value of about 600-700 revs/min.

If the car has been driven only a few hours ago, it will start normally. There no roughness and it will go straight up to about 1000 revs/min and slowly settle at about the 600-700 revs/min mark.

I was speaking to my dad and he reckons it's just that over the week the oil settles and so it's not as easy for the car to start. I was thinking that maybe my battery is on the way out, but maybe this is normal for a car that hasn't been driven for a few days?

It's a 01 polo 1.0L with just over 43,000 on the clock.

Cheers,

knick_knack

typical the one time boards fails me is on a saturday morning when the car is feeling sluggish. its a bit late I know but after a google search I came across this list of things to check. Just putting it up here in case anyone comes across this and needs a place to start

taken from http://www.ehow.com/how_2343900_make-sluggish-car-run-better.html

1
A number one cause for a car not climbing a hill like it use to, or bogging down when you try to accelerate quickly, is a dirty air cleaner. If the air filter is not as white as writing paper, assuming it was originally white, take it out and give your car a test run, unless you may have to follow another vehicle down a dusty road. If improved performance of your car is obvious, drive to an auto parts store and get another air filter. Mission accomplished.

2
Another possible cause for a sick vehicle is 87 octane gasoline. Many cars with 87 octane fuel in them will fowl plugs or have clattering valves, especially in hot weather. Try fueling up twice with 89 octane. If you're currently using 89 octane fuel up twice with 93 octane gas.

3
When your vehicle is missing, suggesting a fouled plug, turn the motor off and pour a cup of Marvel Mystery oil or carburetor cleaner into the carburetor. Let it set for 5 minutes or more so the mystery oil can seep down to each cylinder and hopefully clean any dirty plugs. Sometimes this must be done 2 or 3 times before a plug clears up.

Off to try driving her to a petrol station its down a bit (no warning light yet) but will put in half a tank just in case thats the problem. Taking a good book with me as well just in case the worst happens :P

langdang

I'll give ya one good tip for life - if you put a question into google, disregard all results from ehow.

I'd say battery is a bit dodge but probly something else too? When was it last serviced? Plugs and an air filter would be cheap anyway.

Sorry half my response was based on the first post FROM 2 YEARS AGO, and what sounds like different issues to yours...