MK1 2.3 engine splutters 2 minutes after cold starting

[keithvn]

After starting  from cold the engine runs smoothly but almost exactly 2 minutes later it splutters, almost stalls with battery light flashing and has no power for about 30 seconds as it carries on misfiring, then it is ok the rest of the journey. I normally just leave it to warm up until its had its splutter. If I am actually driving it getting it to rev high cures the splutter. worried it's going to stop and die on me one day

[insanitybeard]

Odd symptoms, does it do this without fail every time you start it? Normally with misfiring I'd suspect coil packs/ plugs or HT leads but I wouldn't expect it to happen at just one point in the cycle of the engine warming up from cold.

[SilverBeast]

Could it be engine temperature sensor giving a duff reading at a certain point in the warm up cycle and causing the fuel injection to supply the wrong amount of fuel.  My diesel showed temperature readings that jumped around when logged with VCDS-LITE.

As you have a Ford Petrol engine you will need a different reader to check this, unless it's obvious by watching the gauge, and some software to log the profile as it warms up.

If I recall (from the Forums, not experience) there is an idle control valve that also causes issues.

[keithvn]

Yes does it every time with out fail.  looks like I will have to get a diagnostic software and plug it in while warming up.
I did think it was no/low pressure in the fuel injector system, but depressing the bleed valve gets a squirt of petrol while it splutters.