Mild difficulty starting
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
Mild difficulty starting
I have a 2001 ZO6 with approximately 24,000 miles. I just changed the plugs to NGK TR55's (like everyone else the platinum plugs were shot).
I have Taylor wires which appear to be in good shape.
For the last two months or so, my car has not started as quickly as it did previously. No real problem, but it needs to crank over a few more times than before. The engine runs fine otherwise, normal amount of power, no difference in gas mileage, etc. Changing the plugs made no difference. (The wires I changed quite some time ago and they didn't induce the problem; it showed up after the wires were swapped).
Any ideas? Any thing else I should check?
It's not a problem now, but I want to make sure it doesn't turn into one. :)
Thanks!
[Modified by Elk, 5:16 PM 7/16/2002]
I have Taylor wires which appear to be in good shape.
For the last two months or so, my car has not started as quickly as it did previously. No real problem, but it needs to crank over a few more times than before. The engine runs fine otherwise, normal amount of power, no difference in gas mileage, etc. Changing the plugs made no difference. (The wires I changed quite some time ago and they didn't induce the problem; it showed up after the wires were swapped).
Any ideas? Any thing else I should check?
It's not a problem now, but I want to make sure it doesn't turn into one. :)
Thanks!
[Modified by Elk, 5:16 PM 7/16/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 0
From: Taylor TX
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Mild difficulty starting (Elk)
there has been a bunch of these reports lately - myself included. My 98 takes a couple seconds longer on the crank. I've tried waiting longer before cranking (to build fuel pressure), but it hasn't helped. :confused:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
Re: Mild difficulty starting (Xssesive)
Changing wires is a good idea and not that bat of a job. I'll give it a try when I've got a bit of time.
I, too, have tried waiting a bit to build fuel pressure (this made a big deal of difference with my Trans Am WS6). With the Z06 it makes no difference. :(
I considered a leaking injector (I bet you heard Click and Clack on public radio also last weekend) but no smoke on startup. Any other way to check for a leaking injector?
Thanks everybody!
I, too, have tried waiting a bit to build fuel pressure (this made a big deal of difference with my Trans Am WS6). With the Z06 it makes no difference. :(
I considered a leaking injector (I bet you heard Click and Clack on public radio also last weekend) but no smoke on startup. Any other way to check for a leaking injector?
Thanks everybody!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Newland US
Re: Mild difficulty starting (Elk)
Well, Elk,
You lost the Click and Clack bet. :D I'm not so sure they are correct in seeing noticible smoke in case an injector is leaking; seems to me that the cats would burn it before it was noticed...they come on board pretty quickly these days.
Anyway to answer your quesion about checking for a leaky injector...hook up a fuel pressure gauge and after running the engine a bit, shut it down and see if the rail pressure holds...or starts to leak down.
That doesn't prove a leaking injector, as the loss or rail pressure could be a bad check valve. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was the 2000 model year where they began to place the pressure regulator in the fuel filter...so if it loses rail pressure and you haven't replaced the fuel filter, you might give that a try.
Maybe one of the forum techs will give some better advice.
Good luck.
Mark
You lost the Click and Clack bet. :D I'm not so sure they are correct in seeing noticible smoke in case an injector is leaking; seems to me that the cats would burn it before it was noticed...they come on board pretty quickly these days.
Anyway to answer your quesion about checking for a leaky injector...hook up a fuel pressure gauge and after running the engine a bit, shut it down and see if the rail pressure holds...or starts to leak down.
That doesn't prove a leaking injector, as the loss or rail pressure could be a bad check valve. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was the 2000 model year where they began to place the pressure regulator in the fuel filter...so if it loses rail pressure and you haven't replaced the fuel filter, you might give that a try.
Maybe one of the forum techs will give some better advice.
Good luck.
Mark
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
Re: Mild difficulty starting (MDT)
Thanks for the explanation for checking fuel pressure. I've got a buddy with a fuel pressure gauge so this should be easy.
The regulator is in the fuel filter. This I know. They must be pretty pricey beasties as a result.
The regulator is in the fuel filter. This I know. They must be pretty pricey beasties as a result.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Re: Mild difficulty starting (Elk)
I've also been experiencing this lately. I had mentioned in previous posts that I had seen this in the past but it happened a few times then never again. My car has 18K miles.
In the past month, I've experienced this several times and have attributed it to weather, i.e. high humidity swings. The PCM may be reading some sensor incorrectly (i.e. IAT) until air starts flowing through the intake. I'm thinking of taking the intake apart and checking the IAT and MAF sensors for signs of problems.
Once it starts it's fine and will start fine later in the day.
In the past month, I've experienced this several times and have attributed it to weather, i.e. high humidity swings. The PCM may be reading some sensor incorrectly (i.e. IAT) until air starts flowing through the intake. I'm thinking of taking the intake apart and checking the IAT and MAF sensors for signs of problems.
Once it starts it's fine and will start fine later in the day.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,491
Likes: 918
From: Alaska
Re: Mild difficulty starting (jtk30093)
Try the easiest fix first. Run a can of "heet" thru your system. You absolutely cant believe the amount of water you can pick up inside your tank due to condensation. Especially if you have it garaged and go from cool to hot alot.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
Likes: 3,319
Re: Mild difficulty starting (snowwolfe)
Thanks again for the replies and ideas!
I have new wires on the way as I wanted to try Magnecor anyway. Nice to have an excuse. :)
I like the humidity theory and the water condensation theory as they both may apply. My car is always garaged in a cool indoor place (including during the work day) and it has been *very* hot and humid for the last while. (We had a dewpoint of 80 degrees last weekend). Thus, the Heet idea is well worth trying also.
I have new wires on the way as I wanted to try Magnecor anyway. Nice to have an excuse. :)
I like the humidity theory and the water condensation theory as they both may apply. My car is always garaged in a cool indoor place (including during the work day) and it has been *very* hot and humid for the last while. (We had a dewpoint of 80 degrees last weekend). Thus, the Heet idea is well worth trying also.