FRITZ.....PLEASE>>>HELP or any other TECH Savy GURU

[WhiteIce]

Fritz or others,
My 98 Lude has only 28k miles on it and it is making a wierd noise. It only happens on the very first start and that is it. I don't live in a cold region and I take it to all the required check ups. Every morning for the past week or so...when I go to start it...it makes a POP and it does start....it just makes like a METAL POP!!!! Do you have any idea what it could be?

Thanks,
WhiteIce

[fritz_269]

Nothing immediately jumps to mind.

Does it make the sound no matter if the engine is warm or cold when starting it? e.g. After driving 15+ min, shut her down, wait 5 sec, and start her up again - do you get the noise then?

Is it a 'pop' like a champagne cork, or more of a 'click' like a rimshot?

Have someone else start the car while you listen for it with the hood up - can you locate approximately where the sound is coming from?

Other than your Thermal, what mods do you have?

Are you still under warranty?

[WhiteIce]

Fritz,

It only makes it on the first start....my Thermal is the only Mod that I have done. It will not reduplicate the sound again...until the next day the first start. It sounds like it is coming from the engine bay.......Like a POP!!!

Thanks in advance for any input,
WhiteIce


I am not under warranty.....just ended...

[fritz_269]

Strange. Again, nothing really comes to mind.

As a wild guess, I might say that you have a ever so slightly leaky fuel injector, and you're getting a small intake manifold backfire after it leaks down the residual pressure in the fuel line overnight.

You might try running a bottle of fuel system cleaner like Techron. As I said, it's a wild guess - but it couldn't hurt to try.

Good luck.