So I take the car out night before Christmas Eve and its accelerating with a slight skip, then I notice all my stereo settings are back to 0 (bass, treble etc) re submit them and after a visit to a store the same thing with the added bonus of an airbag light and it cranked a few extra revs before starting. After next stop, no airbag light, no hesitation, no messed up stereo settings. Car sat past three days and started right up this AM. After I left work it was hesitating slightly again. Then after a store stop, back to normal.

 

The purpose of the title is to give one a rough idea as to the subject of the thread. "Thoughts on this" does not fulfill that function. In years to come, when people are searching this forum for information on their problem, that is when a good thread title is particularly handy.

 

I logged out to see what that reply was (I thought it might actually be helpful, but alas, it was typical, know it all, Mark SF wannabe Mod) and only confirmed why Mark SF is on my "ignor" list. Bring something "positive" to the discussion, leave the mods job to the mods AND learn how the search feature really works, you can actually search "key words" in "Threads" or....wait for it...."posts" .....not just titles! AMAZING!

 

I suppose the first thing most people would ask is how old is the battery and how well charged is it?

Have you checked the fuses for the stereo? Is it base or premium system? I've noticed with these factory stereos the bass & treble settings can be set differently for each profile. So if I have radios bass at 6 I can switch to CD and it will be 4. Could this be the scenario with yours?

 

Thanks for the input Stu, I'm leaning battery, I just took it out and it hesitated on acceleration pretty good with no pending codes.

 

A couple of areas that will mimic the battery are the ground strap running from the engine the frame and the Bulkhead connector in the engine compartment. I would check and clean those along with a load test for the battery.
I had a similar problem and it was the ground connector corroded.

 

Take a look at the connections at the battery, and connections at the alternator. From there I'd get a charging system and battery check. Good luck!

EDIT:
Good call.

 

Thanks all, I checked all the ground strap, false bulkhead connectors the other day. Went to autozone and the battery was not only the wrong dimension but was over four years old and the wrong CCA. Put in the new on and it really his-cupped when I took off and kept up the hesitation. This really reminded me of a "water in fuel" hesitation. I was down half a tank so I pulled in Shell and put 8.5 gallons of premium V-power (only gas I run) took off and after about three miles it started running/accelerating better and then went to only occasionally hesitating. I came home and put a bottle of iSO/heet in the tank. I'll report back results after more driving.

 

So far no more "stereo" issues or airbag lights (knock on wood)

 

JT, on the east side of town yesterday, we had a heavy downpour. Did you get any rain on your side?? What I'm getting at is if the drain next to the fuel filler is clogged enough, water will get into the gas tank.

 

Solved the hesitation, cleaned the MAF filaments with some MAF cleaner and a q-tip, runs like a top now. Took it out twice and both trips no problem at all. I love it when you think you're chasing your tail and you find resolve!

 

With battery off it has to re-learn fuelling. Be nice to it so it doesn't learn badly. It'll drive rough.

On the thread title - help others to help you by using a sensible one. You risk people not even reading the thread when you don't.

 

As far as the thread title, it would read ..."thoughts on slow start, hesitation, intermittant air bag light, stereo audio setting won't stay occasionally, some times multiple cranks to start" Not my first time on an automobile Internet forum, I chose the thread title as it would spark curiosity and because the problems were multiple I didn't want to jam up the title space. I'm grateful for your input on the ECU drivability "relearn" but toutilage on forum thread titles isn't required. Cheers!😃

 

Glad You Got It Sorted!

 

No, your thread title just means everyone has to click on it to find out what the post is about.

It's "tutelage", btw.

 

I like a real title (fwiw). Instead of Heet, try BG 44 or SeaFoam (or the Gamout equal). Sounds like dirty injectors. It would be interesting to note if you have any codes (maybe the guys who sold you the right battery can check). When I first bought my last X308, in 2013, it was hesitating badly under load: cleaning the MAF sensor, cleaning the throttle bore and plate cleared everything up nicely.

Stereo problem is ok now, right? More important than a title is feedback on how and when your problems get solved -- that's how we amateurs learn.

 

Jim, I'm pretty sure I said the stereo, airbag etc hasn't come back since the battery change and the MAF clean cleared up the hesitation.