3rd problem in three weeks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
3rd problem in three weeks
Hi: This is the 3rd time I've posted a question about a problem with my 85. All were different. Perhaps I should mention that this was a flood car, which explains what I am dealing with here.
Anyway, I had it out yesterday and it ran pretty well. One thing I did notice was that when I started it cold, it started up in a fraction of a second. After driving for about 1/2 hour, turned it off, went into a store and came back to re-start it, it turned over for almost 10 seconds before starting. This is a normal occurance.
Any idea why it is so hard to start when its hot?
Thanks.
Anyway, I had it out yesterday and it ran pretty well. One thing I did notice was that when I started it cold, it started up in a fraction of a second. After driving for about 1/2 hour, turned it off, went into a store and came back to re-start it, it turned over for almost 10 seconds before starting. This is a normal occurance.
Any idea why it is so hard to start when its hot?
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 16,488
Likes: 25
From: USA. Northern Virginia
How old is the battery and the starter?
As a battery ages it will become harder for it to send 100% power out to turn over the starter. Also batteries don't live long in a heated enviroment
As a battery ages it will become harder for it to send 100% power out to turn over the starter. Also batteries don't live long in a heated enviroment
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 16,488
Likes: 25
From: USA. Northern Virginia
Its a flood car?
Holy cow
Flood cars are full of problems, shorts, bad grounds, dirt in connections,
The main issue with a flood car is that even when it is cleaned up...its never really clean, microscopic dirt in the water and even fine silt finds its way into every crack, crany and inside electrical connectors, coating contacts and messing up the path of signals and current flow...a real nightmare...you can scrub, wipe down and clean every place your eye can find...but its not truely clean.
I don't mean to be a buzz kill, just letting you know from past dealings with a flood car...they are a real bitch to trouble shoot
But I would check the battery and starter first
Holy cowFlood cars are full of problems, shorts, bad grounds, dirt in connections,
The main issue with a flood car is that even when it is cleaned up...its never really clean, microscopic dirt in the water and even fine silt finds its way into every crack, crany and inside electrical connectors, coating contacts and messing up the path of signals and current flow...a real nightmare...you can scrub, wipe down and clean every place your eye can find...but its not truely clean.
I don't mean to be a buzz kill, just letting you know from past dealings with a flood car...they are a real bitch to trouble shoot
But I would check the battery and starter first
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,517
Likes: 1,304
From: Windermere FL
Gosh, I hate to continue the badgering, but a 25 year old flood car, you are doomed forever. The rest of us are fighting these 20+ year old cars as it is...
Could be a lot of things. Start with the simple and work to the more complex.
1. Battery test
2. Starter test
3. Fuel pressure test.
4. Spark Test
5. Scan tool
Don't just throw parts at it is the best advice I can give you. Test and replace only when something tests bad.
Could be a lot of things. Start with the simple and work to the more complex.
1. Battery test
2. Starter test
3. Fuel pressure test.
4. Spark Test
5. Scan tool
Don't just throw parts at it is the best advice I can give you. Test and replace only when something tests bad.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 16,488
Likes: 25
From: USA. Northern Virginia
Also check you battery and starter connections...they can loosen up
Think small problems first before you start to empty your wallet
Keep posting on here...we might be able to save you from life of
as you tend to the needs of your Vette
Think small problems first before you start to empty your wallet
Keep posting on here...we might be able to save you from life of
as you tend to the needs of your Vette
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Hi: This is the 3rd time I've posted a question about a problem with my 85. All were different. Perhaps I should mention that this was a flood car, which explains what I am dealing with here.
Anyway, I had it out yesterday and it ran pretty well. One thing I did notice was that when I started it cold, it started up in a fraction of a second. After driving for about 1/2 hour, turned it off, went into a store and came back to re-start it, it turned over for almost 10 seconds before starting. This is a normal occurance.
Any idea why it is so hard to start when its hot?
Thanks.
Anyway, I had it out yesterday and it ran pretty well. One thing I did notice was that when I started it cold, it started up in a fraction of a second. After driving for about 1/2 hour, turned it off, went into a store and came back to re-start it, it turned over for almost 10 seconds before starting. This is a normal occurance.
Any idea why it is so hard to start when its hot?
Thanks.
eng coolant sensor.. in the intake under the TB...(there are at least 4 temp sensors, what you see on the dash comes from a different sensor) and wire harness
ohm test fuel inj and fuel filter w/pressure
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 4
From: Argillite KY
Flood car or not, it shouldn't take that long to start. If it's still cranking good the battery is probably OK and since it does it often and is repeatable, I'd tend to think it may not be flood related. The first thing we're going to have to know would be where the problem is. How is the fuel pressure and do you have spark? A fuel pressure gauge from Harbor Freight would be a good first step. You'll probably need it more than once in this lifetime.
I'd prefer to think of it as a hard start problem and not flood related. No sense jumping to conclusions. Tape the fuel pressure gauge to your windshield with duct tape and the next time it's hard to start just record the pressure. Since we've got to start somewhere it may as well be there. Good luck. ---Gunny---
I'd prefer to think of it as a hard start problem and not flood related. No sense jumping to conclusions. Tape the fuel pressure gauge to your windshield with duct tape and the next time it's hard to start just record the pressure. Since we've got to start somewhere it may as well be there. Good luck.
---Gunny---
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
My guess, injectors are leaking after a run. It has to turn over a while to clean out the excess fuel. A pressure leak down check will verify the problem. Overnight it has time to leak down and evaporate so it cranks right up.
I have an 87. It had the same problem. A bottle of redline fuel system cleaner fixed it. Don't know if it will fix yours but it's not an expensive try.
JS
I have an 87. It had the same problem. A bottle of redline fuel system cleaner fixed it. Don't know if it will fix yours but it's not an expensive try.
JS
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
All great suggestions. I knew I could count on you.
I can't say when it was flooded. The previous owner never disclosed it to me, but I know it was because of all the rusted parts I've found under the dash.
The battery, starter and all their connections are A1. New spark plugs too. I have been putting injector cleaner in with each fill up.
So eliminating all of these suggestions it leaves me with Fuel pressure test, fuel relay, oil pressure switch, and engine coolant sensor. I think that's all of them.
I'll get on this over the next week or so and will let you know who was the closest.
Thanks again.
I can't say when it was flooded. The previous owner never disclosed it to me, but I know it was because of all the rusted parts I've found under the dash.
The battery, starter and all their connections are A1. New spark plugs too. I have been putting injector cleaner in with each fill up.
So eliminating all of these suggestions it leaves me with Fuel pressure test, fuel relay, oil pressure switch, and engine coolant sensor. I think that's all of them.
I'll get on this over the next week or so and will let you know who was the closest.
Thanks again.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
When it won't easily start, THAT is the time to do diagnostics to find out why it won't start! Engines need spark, fuel, air, and compression in order to start and continue to run. Use a timing light during short cranking to see if you have spark and correct timing. Pull a spark plug boot and bring a grounded wire close to the inside of the boot and see if you have a snappy at least 1/2" spark. Use a fuel pressure gauge and see if the pressure holds up for at least 1/2 hr enigne off. Fuel pressure should be 35-42 psi. Use a noid light to see if the injectors are being pulsed. Spray some starter fluid into the intake and try a start. If it starts you have a fuel delivery problem. I doubt you have a compression problem because you can get it to start and run. If you get stuck somewhere with this condition, hold the throttle full on and crank, this stops the injectors and allows the engine to clear out an over rich condition.