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| j3studio | Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Elite Guru
 
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(1985/A4/very stock)
When car decides it won't start easily (well less than 50% of the time) the fix is to pop the hood and than hit the ignition again ... car always starts. Any ideas? |
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Posted on: 2008/1/22 2:18
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Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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| Rex_Ruby | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
 
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Quote:
(1985/A4/very stock) Anything rubbing the hood? Maybe opening the hood has nothing to do with it. At that point youi've tried to start, maybe it needs a second then it is primed and ready to go? |
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Posted on: 2008/1/22 4:36
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| CFI-EFI | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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Quote:
... car always starts. Any ideas? RACE ON!!! |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 0:00
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| jhammons01 | RE:Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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I personally don't know where the distributor cap is located on an 85. On my 84 it is right next to the firewall.....this could lead to a grounding issue with the hood being closed.
Honestly....I am just throwing crap out as popping the hood to get the car to start is so odd. |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 17:27
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| CentralCoaster | RE:Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
 
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Fuel related. Either it's not priming correctly, so you have to give it a 2nd try, or it's flooding and the first set of cranking is needed to clear it out.
Does it happen on cold starts, warm starts, or both? Are you turning the key off before popping the hood? Next couple of times you get in the car, cycle the key on, then off, then wait 10 seconds, then turn it on and try starting it. If this starts every time now it could be a priming issue. If not, then the next couple times try flooring the gas, cranking it over 2 or 3 times, then stop, then start it normally. If this starts every time now it could be a flooding issue (injectors or FPR) |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 17:45
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| CentralCoaster | RE:Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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Honestly....I am just throwing crap out... :withstupid]http://www.chickslovethecar.com/images/smileys/crap.gif[/img] |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 17:48
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| j3studio | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Elite Guru
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Maybe opening the hood has nothing to do with it. At that point youi've tried to start, maybe it needs a second then it is primed and ready to go? Perhaps - I'll check. Of course now that I want it to fail for testing purposes, it'll probably work perfectly for the next coup of months ...  |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 18:21
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| j3studio | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Elite Guru
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When it doesn't start, what is missing? Does it crank over and not fire or is it that it won't crank? If it cranks, are the plugs firing? Is there fuel? Is it flooded because of a leaky injector or two? A bad fuel pressure regulator? It is doubtful that opening the hood plays any part other than the time delay involved. "Any ideas?" Lots of ideas. It is just going to take some logical order, good old fashioned trouble shooting, and some basic common sense. Does not crank. Just "click" - no crank. Voltages look good but I believe it doesn't do this if it has been sitting on the battery tender. |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 18:23
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Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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| j3studio | RE:Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Elite Guru
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Quote:
Fuel related. Either it's not priming correctly, so you have to give it a 2nd try, or it's flooding and the first set of cranking is needed to clear it out. Fuel pressures were good when checked last summer and the problem was happening then - I know this doesn't describe the whole fuel delivery situation, but it is an indicator. Happens on both cold and warm starts, but seems to happen more on warm starts. |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 18:27
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Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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Does not crank. Just "click" - no crank. Voltages look good but I believe it doesn't do this if it has been sitting on the battery tender. Well, that's a whole different ball of wax! First off, loosen, clean and reinstall all 4 of your battery cable connections. |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 18:36
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| CFI-EFI | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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Does not crank. Just "click" - no crank. Voltages look good but I believe it doesn't do this if it has been sitting on the battery tender. If Centralcoaster's idea doesn't cure the problem, it is time to attack the starter. After you remove it, you can tear the solenoid apart, clean up the contacts, and flip the large contact washer over, or you can take it to a parts store for testing and likely replacement. And by the way, The opening of the hood has NOTHING to do with it. RACE ON!!! |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 19:10
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| j3studio | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Elite Guru
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Well, that's a whole different ball of wax! Gotcha ... battery is reasonably new AC/Delco, but I'll check the connections - cables are almost certainly original. |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 20:25
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| 01Z06Black | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Guru Newb
 
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Quote:
Quote: Do you have the original stater? If you have to change the starter, what will NCRS think?  If you need some help let me know. |
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Posted on: 2008/1/23 22:12
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| j3studio | Update | ||
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Elite Guru
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I cleaned all the battery connectors today - they weren't horrible, but they weren't great either. It started right up afterwards ... we'll see wether the behavior gets consistently better.
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Posted on: 2008/3/1 19:57
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| bogus | RE:Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
 
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bad battery cables can really lead to some wacky problems...
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Posted on: 2008/3/1 23:08
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| Touringmike | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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You're squashing the battery. Open the hood, then get a compact unit. :thumbleft: |
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Posted on: 2008/3/1 23:17
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| j3studio | Another Update | ||
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Elite Guru
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Cleaning the battery connectors didn't fix the problem, but it now almost always starts on the second try. No hood opening or, as some have suggested, the time it takes to open the hood, is required.
It's almost like the electrical system has to wake up, but that can't be true, can it? |
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 17:30
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Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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| kentucky_vetter | Re: Tell Me What's Going On ... | ||
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Senior Guru
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Had a similar problem on my silverado. The end bell bushing was wore and let the stator drop onto the field. Slam the hood and it would jar it enuff to clear the ground and it would start. Just throwing this out there.
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 18:14
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| bogus | Re: Another Update | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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Quote:
Hm... I have a starter from bastet44s 87 if you think it will help. |
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 18:38
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The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| j3studio | Re: Another Update | ||
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Elite Guru
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Quote:
Hm... I have a starter from bastet44s 87 if you think it will help. Andy, I'm clueless here: can it be an issue with the starter if it doesn't even crank? Are there some connections that might be the issue? The most annoying thing is that it's not consistent ... |
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 19:02
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_________________
Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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| smooth | Re: Another Update | ||
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Senior Guru
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Sounding more and more like a starter. Does it at least hum or make any kind of electrical noise when the key is turned. Is the starter engaging but not turning? I agree with the above suggestions that you should pull the starter. Run it out to one of the bazillion advance/pep boys/autozones in our area and let thenm check it.
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 20:00
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Alan 2001 Navy Blue Metallic Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Dr.Seuss |
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| bogus | Re: Another Update | ||
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Grand Imperial Pooh-Bah
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oh, gee, John... this is taking all my willpower not to say "duh." Ok, I said it... if it doesn't crank, then the starter is a great place to start!! The ignition switch under the steering column is another great test spot. You see, the key switch actually pulls a rod that activates the switch. This is why I laugh so hard at TV shows whey they show someone hotwiring a car by reaching under the dash... yea, right... the wires are down on the column, just above your shin. Oh, you can hotwire down there, that's why GM came up with the VATS system. So... if you want bastets old starter, lemme know and I will get it boxed up. I will mail it tomorrow (USPS pony express, cause it is heavy)... |
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 20:08
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_________________
The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. - George Bernard Shaw Education is the best tool to overcome irrational fear. - me |
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| smooth | Re: Another Update | ||
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Senior Guru
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Hey Andy
The post office has some great deals on priority mail shipping. They have a box that is 11x8.5x5.5 for only $8.95 and a box with 12x12x? for $12.95 any weight anywhere in the continental us......I just shipped out a set of complete c5 rear calipers to a guy in Arizona and it was only $8.95 !!! |
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 20:25
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Alan 2001 Navy Blue Metallic Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Dr.Seuss |
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| j3studio | Re: Another Update | ||
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Elite Guru
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oh, gee, John... this is taking all my willpower not to say "duh." Andy, You should know by now that I'm never afraid to ask a stupid question! I'll get the starter tested and (ugh) start looking around to see if they make repros or do rebuilds ... |
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Posted on: 2008/3/9 23:13
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_________________
Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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| j3studio | Yet Another Update ... | ||
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Elite Guru
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So, it was the starter. Rex Ruby and I replaced it with a rebuilt Delco Remy last week and now Lauren starts with alacrity (in fact I have to be careful not to have it in start for too long).
I checked the numbers and the starter was original, so I can't complain. Thanks to everybody who put up with me overanalyzing the problem ... :wave: |
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Posted on: 2008/3/25 15:44
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Grace, 2003 50th Anniversary Convertible |
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