Renault Espace petrol engine start then cut out

[dmccormick]

Hi All,
We still have our 3.5 V6 petrol Espace going strong at 176000 miles. However, it has a starting problem:-

When cold if you press the start button, the engine fires and starts quite easily but immediately cuts out after the initial automatic rev. If you hold the accelerator pedal down slightly when starting then it is fine.

When warm after starting the revs drop almost to cut out and then recover.

It seems that the computer ignitiion is not giving enough throttle immediately after it starts.

Once it's running it's fine at idling.

Last year I had to replace the MAF so it may be something to do with that.

I have a Clip tool and so can read the status parameters but there are no faults showing and the coolant temp gauge looks normal.

Any ideas what else I can check ?

 

[Belle427]

If the engine utilises an idle control valve then it would be a good place to start by removing and cleaning it, also engine vacuum leaks from hoses etc can also be a source of poor idling/stalling.
The throttle body can get gummed up too so this is also worth checking.

 

[dmccormick]

Thanks ch. I don't think it does have an idle valve. I'll have a look at taking the throttle valve off and giving that a clean.