My 2012 outlander sport Es 5speed manual revs to 2k rpms and stays for a few minutes then bounces between 1500-2000. This happens every time I start it and it is cold. The dealer told me this is normal and the car is warming up the cat. I know this is not normal warming up the cat. Has anybody had an issue like this?

 

My 2007 6cyl revs up to 2000rpm at start and then slowly drops down as the cat heats up. Always done that. My 2005 Sienna does the same thing and has for the last 7 years. It needs to get the cat temps up quickly to meet emission regulations.l

 

Ask your idiot dealer if he thinks Mitsubishi really paid someone to make a car do this? Then tell him you want tio cold-start several more and see if they do the same thing.

 

As stated above, Mitsubishi DID pay someone to do this. Almost every vehicle in production will high idle until a pre-set temperature is reached. This is for a few reasons, but as tcp said, mostly for emissions. The EPA claims that 90% of all vehicle emissions are produced before the catylitic converter heats up. Because of that, they require manufacturers to use different methods to heat the cats quicker.

Maybe you should go ask that "idiot dealer" a few questions and take some notes. Maybe you could even google something before insulting someone and then answering a question wrong.





OP, yes, it's normal. The tiny little 2.0 does warm up very quick, and so it high idles to help. Keep in mind also that such a light motor has very little rotating mass, and the high idle helps keep it revolving while the oil is cold and not lubricating as well.

 

My 08 XLS the previous 08 LS and my inlaws 07 outlander all do this in cold starting.

 

I'm a little surprised. My 1.8 l Mini Cooper s never rev'd this high. Maybe part of it is the lack of sound deadening material so it is very loud and annoying.

 

I know in the past BMW has used electric coild in the cats to heat it up quicker, so they may still do this and have passed that on the the Minis.