Why does the Jimny shake when cold and have weak acceleration?

[AveryDella]

Jimny shaking when cold and weak acceleration reasons are as follows: Fuel system failure: Many people think throttle carbon buildup affects engine acceleration performance. But I believe throttle carbon buildup only causes unstable idle, with little impact on engine acceleration. A clogged or waterlogged air filter reduces air intake, leading to over-rich mixture, incomplete combustion, and poor acceleration. Electrical circuit failure: Problems with the mass airflow sensor reduce air intake, causing over-rich or over-lean mixture, affecting acceleration. Damaged spark plugs in individual cylinders (i.e., misfiring) impact acceleration. Also, ignition wire leakage. Overheating or faulty temperature sensors similarly affect acceleration. Clogged catalytic converter or faulty oxygen sensors can also cause poor engine acceleration.

[McChristian]

Last time when I went camping in Northeast China with my Jimny, I also encountered the cold start shaking issue. After checking, the most common causes are aging spark plugs or ignition coils. The Jimny is quite picky about spark plugs - the factory-installed nickel alloy ones tend to misfire during cold starts after about 30,000 km. When I disassembled the ignition coil myself, I found that cracked rubber boots can cause electrical leakage, making it harder to ignite the richer air-fuel mixture during cold starts. Another easily overlooked issue is intake pipe leaks - those rubber tubes become stiff and leak vacuum when frozen in winter, messing up the MAF sensor readings. Last month I helped a fellow Jimny owner with a similar situation - cleaning the throttle body and idle valve showed immediate improvement, since carbon buildup can prevent the valves from drawing in enough air. Also worth checking is insufficient fuel pressure during cold starts - a clogged fuel pump filter or faulty pressure relief valve could both lead to inadequate fuel supply.

[VonMicah]

My 2012 Jimny has been experiencing weak acceleration when cold after eight years of use. Focus on checking three key areas: First, inspect the fuel system. A clogged fuel filter causing insufficient fuel supply is particularly noticeable, and excessive deposits on the injectors during cold starts lead to poor atomization. It's recommended to add a bottle of injector cleaner every two fuel tanks. Next, check the intake system. The layer of sludge on the back of the throttle body directly causes abnormal air intake. Previously, an endoscope inspection revealed carbon buildup so thick that the metal was no longer visible. Finally, examine the ignition system. Cracked ignition coils are especially problematic in sub-zero temperatures, as aged rubber allows moisture to seep in, resulting in weak sparks. I remember once in Zhangjiakou at -15°C, replacing the coil made an immediate difference. A faulty oxygen sensor can also cause an overly lean fuel mixture, leading to hesitant acceleration when the ECU miscalculates the fuel injection.

[VonColeman]

Cold engine shaking should first rule out engine mount issues. When the engine vibration dampening pad ages, vibrations are directly transmitted into the cabin. Jimny's engine mounts typically collapse in about three years - the improved version with better rubber lasts longer. For ignition problems, prioritize checking spark plug wires. A friend's vehicle had aftermarket wires installed by a repair shop, causing insufficient high voltage when cold with reddish sparks. For the air system, inspect the PCV valve - a damaged diaphragm allows crankcase gases to disrupt air-fuel mixture. Regarding fuel system, pay attention to the charcoal canister purge valve - when stuck, it creates excessive fuel tank vacuum preventing proper fuel delivery. For sensors, focus on the coolant temperature sensor - when sending incorrect low-temperature signals, the ECU over-fuels causing excessively rich mixture that won't ignite.

[LaPreston]

Poor performance of the Jimny during cold starts is usually a comprehensive issue. For the intake system, check if the air filter is excessively dirty and obstructing airflow—after the last heavy rain, water entering my car's air filter box directly caused surging. For the ignition system, besides spark plugs, pay attention to the distributor; older models with distributors are prone to moisture leakage. For fuel system issues, observe the fuel pressure—connect a pressure gauge at the repair shop to measure the fuel pressure during startup; if it's below 250 kPa, the fuel pump needs inspection. On the electronic control side, don't overlook the ECU's self-learning function; disconnecting the battery's negative terminal for ten minutes to clear adaptation values can sometimes work wonders. For the mechanical part, also check the valve clearance, as cold starts are particularly prone to ticking sounds and vibrations.