Hi guys..
I drive an automatic 380 (series 2) ES.
I recently got my car serviced at 95k km mark (the usual oil change, suspension lubrication..) and now its at 98k km mark.
Since yesterday, whenever I start my car (after a long interval), the car takes a 2-3 extra seconds to start rather than the normal start time. And once it does so, the rpm doesnt go over 3k mark even if I open the throttle completely.
But once I have driven the car for a few kms and I stop and start the car backup, the car starts up instantaneously and there's no loss of power.
I am not sure what is causing the problem but from a point of view of an amature, it looks like the full power can't be achieved if the engine temp isnt normal (temp indicator sitting somewhere in the middle of the range).

Any suggestions to the cause of the issue are most welcome.

(Y)

When was the battery last changed?

Sounds like it might be an old battery chucking it into limp mode because of heavy voltage drop on the initial cranking.

Since it is easier to crank warm, and given that the alternator has just topped off the battery, the second start does not cause such a severe drop and it doesn't go into limp mode??

That's my first guess.

Is it on LPG?

It's Petrol.
I understand that it could be battery issue (its a bit old) causing the car startup but could the battery also cause the low rpm issue as well?

It's Petrol.
I understand that it could be battery issue (its a bit old) causing the car startup but could the battery also cause the low rpm issue as well?

Yep, that's what flyboy means by limp home mode. RPM is limited to around 2,500.

It doesn't take much to invoke limp home mode on a 380 and either too little or too much battery voltage will do it.

Time for a new battery I reckon.

Just make sure it's at least 600 CCA

Thnx guys!

I had a similar issue a few months ago and found that it was bad petrol. Haven't been back to that petrol station again and it hasn't happened since.

The rpms didn't go over the 3000rpm mark even when I put my foot right down and there was also a loss of power at around 2500-3000rpms.

As stated above by others, it could also be a battery issue but in my case I was sure it was bad petrol as I had a new maintenance free battery installed around 6 months prior. lol