Katana runs rough when cold

[drchris1]

Originally Posted by JUNGLISTluder

Is it normal for my Katana Elise to run really rough until it is warmed up to ~160 degrees? When I first start the car, it will start right up, but when I touch the gas it wants to bog down. I have to really rev it up to keep the car from stalling until it is warmed up. Idling is fine, this is only when I'm pressing the gas. After it is warmed up, it drives very nice.

Thanks!

Mine has been doing exactly the same thing, especially the last 3 weeks or so. Install of Katana was last October. I am looking forward to any solutions.

[charliex]

Its emissions related, we wanted to go for CARB approval so it has to stay in, my NA exige and my S does it too.

[JUNGLISTluder]

Originally Posted by charliex

Its emissions related, we wanted to go for CARB approval so it has to stay in, my NA exige and my S does it too.

I don't understand. What has to stay in, and why is it causing my car to bog?

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by JUNGLISTluder

I don't understand. What has to stay in, and why is it causing my car to bog?

+1

[drchris1]

Yes, the stalling thing for about the first minute, not all the way up to 160C. And it's not 'undrivable', just have to rev to shift in first and second.


"I've also had an issue a few times now where the shift light will come on around 6k. Not sure why it would do that."

I have had exactly the same thing, car warmed up already, only about 2 times in the last 4 or 5 thousand miles.

[MaineLotus]

My 05 does that. Almost to the point of stalling (sometimes does) when it's cold. But once it's warmed up, runs great.

[charliex]

Well it does have to stay in for emissions testing, theres another thread on et from last year where lots of people we talking about it on the stock cars.

I could take it out but you run the risk of failing sniffer test.

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by charliex

Well it does have to stay in for emissions testing, theres another thread on et from last year where lots of people we talking about it on the stock cars.

I could take it out but you run the risk of failing sniffer test.

VA doesn't sniff at test time, so that may not be a real issue for me. Even so, wouldn't that just affect the running while the engine was cold?

Edit: it occurred to me that I'd be willing to pay for a dual tune, one that had good cold weather performance, and another for CARB. If you could make it switch to the good performance tune when a jumper connector was plugged into the OBDII port, and switched to CARB without the jumper, that would be perfect

[charliex]

I'll take a look at it then.

[JUNGLISTluder]

I'm sorry, but I still don't understand. What are you leaving in and why does it cause my car to bog?

Sorry for being a pain, but I would like to understand why my car is doing this. Thanks!

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by charliex

I'll take a look at it then.

Thanks, Charlie. PM or email me when you've got something ready.

[charliex]

We set out to make the tune CARB compliant, and part of that is matching as close to the factory tunes as possible, the supercharger itself is not involved in the idle at all, so it doesn't need to be modified at that point. The 06 DBW cars definetely show it more aggressively than the 05's but there are some 05's that exhibit similar behaviour.

Modifying emissions equipment is one thing, removing it or defeating it all together is entirely a different kettle of fish.

It isn't something thats modified with the Katana, its stock from Lotus.

[Darth G-F]

My car did this pre-katana. The stock Elise I drove before buying mine did this as well. It's not worst or better with the Katana.

Charlie, had I known that you could defeat that behavior, I'd had pay for it. I live in a place where there's no visual, sniffer or anything. Maybe you should advertise this for those living in areas that don't care too much about this. Or label it as off-road only...

[Boondock Saint]

My stock '05 Elise does the exact same thing. It has nothing to do with the Katana kit as stated.

[charliex]

there are a lot of things i can alter that i don't just because the law is so strict about doing it, they base it somewhat on the number of installs, if its a couple of cars that are used for track only its ok, if its a lot more then its not ok and the 'off road only' thing doesn't protect me/you.

I also like having the minimum amount of tunes, the katanas have one for 05, one for 06 that way its easier to administrate for me.

It shouldn't last very long at all, i know some people in the midwest and cold places have to wait a while for the cars to warm up though, I'd be curious to see if running the AC alters the behaviour any.

[JUNGLISTluder]

Originally Posted by Boondock Saint

My stock '05 Elise does the exact same thing. It has nothing to do with the Katana kit as stated.

My stock Elise did this also, but it is MUCH worse after the Katana install.

[charliex]

Its definetely dependant on a lot of things, temperatures, humidty/pressure and fuel.

My S won't do it for months then one day i start it up and its all over the place and almost stalls.

Its a bit like the various idle maps, some of the later firmwares improve idle, some worsen it, you'll often see reports of someone going for the latest dealer reflash saying its much improved, while others say its much worse.

[charliex]

JUNGListLuder, next time you go out in the car from cold when it'd normally bog down, let it idle for at least 30 seconds after start, before you touch the throttle at all and see if it happens.

[JUNGLISTluder]

Originally Posted by charliex

JUNGListLuder, next time you go out in the car from cold when it'd normally bog down, let it idle for at least 30 seconds after start, before you touch the throttle at all and see if it happens.

Will do. I'll report my findings.

[Boondock Saint]

Originally Posted by JUNGLISTluder

My stock Elise did this also, but it is MUCH worse after the Katana install.

The DBW probably plays a big part in that. I tell you what, remove the kit, send it to me, I'll install it on my car and see if it does the same thing. You won't get the kit back but we will get to the bottom of this issue.