Engine starting problem

nmcgrawj

Advanced Member
Sep 28, 2003
3,651
3
68
Indianapolis, IN
Any ideas what can cause the engine to start, and idle. Then i cut it off. Then try to restart and it not start?

The car has idled long enough and the timing is dialer in at 10*. But when i go to restart it, it acts like it is out of time and just turns over.


Don't really want to just "throw parts at it" so if anyone has ever seen anything like this, let me know.
 
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So it does restart eventually then? I'm guessing so. I have never had this problem but it seems to happen alot. The ignition module on the side of the fender will let the car start but once it heats up you have to wait for it to cool down before the car will start again. happens alot to foxbody guys more often cause it's mounted on the side of the distributor but our cars are on the pass side fender. The idle issue not to sure about though but without more info it's hard to diagnose
 
Well i am not worried about the idle issue at this point. The way i worded the post gave unwanted attention to that issue lol

There is pressure in the rails...in terms of the injectors firing, i have not tested it. The spark plugs are not lacking fuel though.

Also, the car does not heat up enough to get that module hot. I barely have let it get hot enough to get the headers hot.



Long story, got in an accident a few years ago. Car sat for almost 2 years. I went to fire it up last year....no fuel pressure. Solved that issue. Worked on it off and on. Car still didnt fire. Decided to work on restabbing the distributor, finally got it to start....and idle....long enough to set the timing with my timing light. Cut the car off. Go to restart...no fire. This has happened on 2 occassions.


Thing is, before/after my accident the car ran like a champ. Seems like everything decided to take a #$@# when it was sitting for so long.
 
Some ideas- Clean the ISC and MAF (with maf cleaner!), reset computer adaptive learning leaving neg battery terminal off for 20-30 mins. Still doesn't work, rent/buy a vac test gauge from auto store, check your pressure maybe theres a leak or bad hose. Gauge will give hints as to what it will be (leak/timing) written on the gauge.
 
Some ideas- Clean the ISC and MAF (with maf cleaner!), reset computer adaptive learning leaving neg battery terminal off for 20-30 mins. Still doesn't work, rent/buy a vac test gauge from auto store, check your pressure maybe theres a leak or bad hose. Gauge will give hints as to what it will be (leak/timing) written on the gauge.

None of those things will stop the car from trying to start....
 
My 95 starts up nice and clean after sitting all night...but after driving it around it won't start up right away unless I floor the gas pedal and let off as soon as it fires. It does this if the car sits anywhere from 20 min to a few hours. I haven't had a chance to address it yet...it hasn't left me stranded so I'm not too worried about it. To me it seems like it's either spark or fuel related. I'm thinking that maybe the fuel rail is going dry after sitting...gonna replace the ingition coil next week so I'll look into it then.
 
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My 95 starts up nice and clean after sitting all night...but after driving it around it won't start up right away unless I floor the gas pedal and let off as soon as it fires. It does this if the car sits anywhere from 20 min to a few hours. I haven't had a chance to address it yet...it hasn't left me stranded so I'm not too worried about it. To me it seems like it's either spark or fuel related. I'm thinking that maybe the fuel rail is going dry after sitting...gonna replace the ingition coil next week so I'll look into it then.

In case you aren't aware, pressing the gas pedal to the floor puts the ECU in "flood clear" mode by shutting off the injectors. I would check the battery to engine and engine to chassis grounds. Check DTC's and test the ECT sensor is particular.Thinking if the ECT is failing the ECU may be adding extra fuel on start up as if it were cold start.
 
My 95 starts up nice and clean after sitting all night...but after driving it around it won't start up right away unless I floor the gas pedal and let off as soon as it fires. It does this if the car sits anywhere from 20 min to a few hours. I haven't had a chance to address it yet...it hasn't left me stranded so I'm not too worried about it. To me it seems like it's either spark or fuel related. I'm thinking that maybe the fuel rail is going dry after sitting...gonna replace the ingition coil next week so I'll look into it then.


When you turn the ignition on, it should prime the fuel rails. I have a gauge on mine.
 
Worn/dirty cap and/or rotor, possibly PIP sensor? Sitting that long, bad gas maybe??

When mine acted up, I always checked the "dumb" stuff first. Usually ended up being something minor that was causing the issue.

Cap/rotor wasn't sitting on it that long. It is new. Pip sensor is in the dizzy right?

Gas has been put in.....I had the tank down trying to figure out a gas system issue prior to this.
 
What code could possibly let the motor run, then not even attempt to fire?

Codes control nothing, rather they are the result of a condition that causes the ECU to log an event. As far as something that can be on its way out giving an intermittent issue (engine running and then won't start) are many. Common problem areas are the PIP, TFI, coil, bad grounds, bad connections, etc. By pulling the codes you may be able to narrow the field.
 
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In case you aren't aware, pressing the gas pedal to the floor puts the ECU in "flood clear" mode by shutting off the injectors. I would check the battery to engine and engine to chassis grounds. Check DTC's and test the ECT sensor is particular.Thinking if the ECT is failing the ECU may be adding extra fuel on start up as if it were cold start.
I didn't know that, thanks for the info. Any ideas why this is the only way the engine starts up after sitting?