Normal engine startup?
 

I'm wondering if my cold engine startup is common. When I start my engine from cold in the morning, it idles up to maybe 1500rpm or something, but here's the strange part: in the first few seconds, there are several rpm dips, accompanied by a clunking noise. The dips are only 100 or 200rpm, but they occur when the clunking does, maybe three or four times in the first few seconds. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? Thank you. :-)

I get the same exact thing.

Is your A/C or defroster on? could be the compressor turning on and off.

don't spend it all in one place

http://file.netmarble.com/img/Forum/...0820001814.jpg

No AC. I'm OCD about turning everything off before I shut the car off. I'm actually so OCD that I usually drive with every accessory off so that I can monitor my car. My wife tells me I have Fiat PTSD. (My last fun car was a resto-modded 1970 Fiat) I know what you mean about the AC though, it's just a small "tick" followed by a small rpm bump. No, this is something specific to startup, and only when the car has been sitting for a while.

Sounds like a misfire during the cat warm up cycle. The noise disappears after a little bit, right?

Yes. I experience maybe three or four "pops" accompanied by rpm dips, but only in the first six or eight seconds. After that I never see it happen all day. Should I be worried about this?

I wouldn't loose sleep over it if I were you.

Sounds like what I have. Once in a couple of days, I get a loud clunk with rpms drop for a second when I start it up in the morning.

Yup. Loud "clunk". Exactly. Thank you for the reassurances everyone. I'm still curious as to what it is, and if it affects engine longevity in any way. I'm guessing not or there'd be more threads about it.

I get the same thing here when its cold outside. Nothing to worry about its been a year now.

I get the same thing as well. Almost sounds like a muted or muffled backfire/misfire accompanied by a very brief and slight RPM drop.

I only notice this after a tune (soon to be reviewed). I don't like it, I've never had a car do that, and it just sounds wrong - cringing at the sound does not inspire confidence in pushing it hard.. I'll see what happens with my updated tune.

What kind of tune? Like every great vintage sports car, these things seem to have a weakness for every strength. I'm nearing the point where I will start looking into a tune myself, although I don't know where to start. I'm annoyed that my RPMs dip to 500 occasionally when I roll to a stop and my gearbox shifts into 1st. (Automatic) I've never had a car that idled at 650rpm under normal conditions. My car reminds me so much of an old Fiat or Alfa, temperamental, but worth every moment. Despite the low idle, crickets and lack of torque, I wouldn't trade it for anything else. :-)