Hello! I have been looking at a 2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe, for a parts car so that I can get some of the missing parts on my current car, but he wants to meet somewhere so I was wondering how important a cold start is when buying a car... Thoughts?

 

Depends on what parts you want. Over a year ago, I test drove my G35 with a loose alternator belt on day 1 but when I went to pick it up on day 2, I was able to see the cold start and it made a squeal. I fixed the squeal eventually. So on a cold start a loose belt will make a squealing noise.

 

so thats it? just squeal stuff?

 

If it runs fine when hot, then the engine probably doesnt have any issues. Everything else is just minor problems that can be easily fixed.

 

No. Typically "cold start videos" (requested on sites like BaT, etc.) are done from the rear of the car, to see if there's any blue smoke or excessive smoke coming from the exhaust. That's besides the obvious data point of whether or not the car starts easily when cold.

 

oh okay. so just coolant or head gasket issues will emerge.

 

Piston rings, cylinder walls, running rich, etc...

 

Personally I require an actual cold start, I pop the hood and put my hand on the exhaust side just to make sure it's an ACTUAL cold start.

Reason being is I want to check for a puff of smoke on initial startup, it can be a bit tricky to tell if the valve guides are leaking. Fortunately the VQ engines don't have hardly any problems with this so for a VQ I might make an exception. Belt squeal is irrelevant, that's an easy fix and that would not EVER prevent me from buying a car.

 

okay... Yeah, agreed.. So, if I buy a car without a cold start it will most likely not be the end of the world, but would be a good idea aswell, if possible?