Starting problem
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: West Des Moines IA
Starting problem
1986 C4 with 4+3 trans. and less then 35000 miles. About 50% of the time when you shut the car of and run into a store for five minutes and come back out the car won`t even attempt to start. Does not draw down voltmeter ,which reads fine, at all. Will fire right up with a jump every time even though the battery isn't dead. Battery new and kept on battery tender, alternator new, starter cables clean and tight. Thanks in advance for your input.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
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what do you mean by not starting?
A. No starter motor? just clicks?
B. No engine firing even tho its cranking?
C. nothing at all happens when the key is turned?
Are you famliar with VATS???????????????????????????????????? ??????
learn about it.
In the time it takes to connect jumper cables VATS resets and you THINK your cables did the trick. They in fact had nothing to do with it. TIME DID. 5 minutes to reset.
If the engine cranks...you need to KNOW what the fuel pressure is and how it behaves.
You need to test the coolant temp sensor and cold start sensor.
and most of all you need to clean and reconnect ALL the harness grounds AND the power source contacts. NOT the battery cables. Harness grounds. There are about 15 that matter A LOT.
and buy a REAL FSM, NOT a $19 haynes manual thats for a yugo.
piece of cake.
A. No starter motor? just clicks?
B. No engine firing even tho its cranking?
C. nothing at all happens when the key is turned?
Are you famliar with VATS???????????????????????????????????? ??????
learn about it.
In the time it takes to connect jumper cables VATS resets and you THINK your cables did the trick. They in fact had nothing to do with it. TIME DID. 5 minutes to reset.
If the engine cranks...you need to KNOW what the fuel pressure is and how it behaves.
You need to test the coolant temp sensor and cold start sensor.
and most of all you need to clean and reconnect ALL the harness grounds AND the power source contacts. NOT the battery cables. Harness grounds. There are about 15 that matter A LOT.
and buy a REAL FSM, NOT a $19 haynes manual thats for a yugo.
piece of cake.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: West Des Moines IA
Thanks for responding guys. By not starting I mean that nothing at all happens when key is turned. I am familiar with VATS and time does not make a difference, the car absolutely will not start without being jumped and although the car is an 86 it still has less then 35000 miles. I know that vats was a poor idea at best, but I would hope that they didn`t wear out that soon. Thanks again for your help.
- 1986 Original Owner -
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: North Yorkshire, England
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I'm not saying your problem is VATS though. Just saying mileage isn't always the best indicator of wear.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
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VATS modules can fail at anytime.
Learn about VATS. Follow the test process in the FSM and that will tell you YES/NO regarding VATS.
Until your rule VATS out, its pointless to chase any other possible fault since VATS will mimic them ALL> and cause various things to appear not to work.
BTW
VATS was a GREAT idea. Like anything else it can fail. Its up to the owner/driver to educate himself and learn to deal with VATS just like how to do tune-ups on EFI cars.
Learn about VATS. Follow the test process in the FSM and that will tell you YES/NO regarding VATS.
Until your rule VATS out, its pointless to chase any other possible fault since VATS will mimic them ALL> and cause various things to appear not to work.
BTW
VATS was a GREAT idea. Like anything else it can fail. Its up to the owner/driver to educate himself and learn to deal with VATS just like how to do tune-ups on EFI cars.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 319
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From: Daytona Beach Florida
Check the Vats... My car did the same thing a few month back.. Seems the surge or something while connecting the cables resets the system.... I only noticed it by the flashing security light..brought new key.. No problem..
