Need Help: Car having troubles
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
Need Help: Car having troubles
I have a 87 and have 2 problems actually.
First is the fact that my car is having some troubles starting after the engine gets hot (like after an hour's worth of regular driving). It fires up fine when the engine is cold, and right after it's shut off, but if you try starting it about 20 minutes after turning it off, it won't go. No clicks from the starter, and the engine doesn't even want to turn over. All the accessories turn on (lights, radio, etc.). I've tried a different battery/ charging it fully, and got no results. I'm thinking it might be the starter solenoid or a different relay affected by heat or something, but I'm not sure. Anyone else ever run in to this problem? any help here would be appreiated.
My 2nd problem is that I'm leaking coolant pretty bad right behind the passenger side tire. I'm pretty sure it's the heater core, as I see some green stains and fluid on the plastic under where the A/C lines run to the firewall. My question is whether I can somehow run a bypass on the heater core? I think it can be done, but have no idea how to do it.
Any help would be appreciated.
First is the fact that my car is having some troubles starting after the engine gets hot (like after an hour's worth of regular driving). It fires up fine when the engine is cold, and right after it's shut off, but if you try starting it about 20 minutes after turning it off, it won't go. No clicks from the starter, and the engine doesn't even want to turn over. All the accessories turn on (lights, radio, etc.). I've tried a different battery/ charging it fully, and got no results. I'm thinking it might be the starter solenoid or a different relay affected by heat or something, but I'm not sure. Anyone else ever run in to this problem? any help here would be appreiated.
My 2nd problem is that I'm leaking coolant pretty bad right behind the passenger side tire. I'm pretty sure it's the heater core, as I see some green stains and fluid on the plastic under where the A/C lines run to the firewall. My question is whether I can somehow run a bypass on the heater core? I think it can be done, but have no idea how to do it.
Any help would be appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 4
From: Granite City Illinois
Re: Need Help: Car having troubles (Agent6)
Agent6,
You can bypass your heater core by getting a "heater hose connector". All you need is a screwdriver to do this job. Open the hood, the hoses are on the right side just behind the radiator; disconnect them, insert the connector and everything works except your heater. You should do this ASAP as your carpet will stain and you will get condensation in your passenger compartment.
The connector will cost about $2.00.
Mark
You can bypass your heater core by getting a "heater hose connector". All you need is a screwdriver to do this job. Open the hood, the hoses are on the right side just behind the radiator; disconnect them, insert the connector and everything works except your heater. You should do this ASAP as your carpet will stain and you will get condensation in your passenger compartment.
The connector will cost about $2.00.
Mark
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Need Help: Car having troubles (Agent6)
Agent,
Im unsure if it is VATS which is usually the problems with no starts.
I had this problem many times on my 86 and it always turned out to be the dang starter heat soaked and got too hot to click or even do anything.
When this happens and you try and start the car,what does the security light on the dash do?Is it still blinking or does it freeze after the attempt?
If the security light is frozen then the vats is not reading the key.
You can try cleaning the key or trying a new one and see if this helps if its a Vats problem.
However,if to check the starter again,another old trick is that if this happens is to go under the car with a hammer and smack the starter a few good times and then go try and start it.If it works,you found the problem.I had to keep a Hammer in the car with me one summer because of heat soak problems.The reman starters Ive installed havent fully cured the problem either.Eliminating the Precat front Y pipe with no precats helped alot too by reducing exhaust heat to the starter.
Keep us posted what you find.The damn Vats or heat sok problems are a common PITA on these cars.
:smash:
Im unsure if it is VATS which is usually the problems with no starts.
I had this problem many times on my 86 and it always turned out to be the dang starter heat soaked and got too hot to click or even do anything.
When this happens and you try and start the car,what does the security light on the dash do?Is it still blinking or does it freeze after the attempt?
If the security light is frozen then the vats is not reading the key.
You can try cleaning the key or trying a new one and see if this helps if its a Vats problem.
However,if to check the starter again,another old trick is that if this happens is to go under the car with a hammer and smack the starter a few good times and then go try and start it.If it works,you found the problem.I had to keep a Hammer in the car with me one summer because of heat soak problems.The reman starters Ive installed havent fully cured the problem either.Eliminating the Precat front Y pipe with no precats helped alot too by reducing exhaust heat to the starter.
Keep us posted what you find.The damn Vats or heat sok problems are a common PITA on these cars.
:smash:
