Car doesn't always start
#11
So I went out with my FI pressure gauge and hooked it to the schraeder valve. Upon initial key turn you can hear a short whine from the tank area. The gauge went up to around 40 for a few seconds and then dropped back to 0. Once I turned the car over the gauge when back up to 38. I had to turn it over 2-3 times before it would start and then once it did the gauge stayed at a steady 38. Other thoughts on what could be wrong?
#13
Once the pump primes, you should be holding pressure for a good while. If you don't see anything externally, then you have an internal fuel leak. It could be a leaky fuel injector dribbling into the intake, the fuel pressure regulator (on the fuel rail) not holding, or even the fuel pump not holding back pressure.
Thanks.. That's what I was hoping to hear. I guess I will start digging into the fuel system this weekend.
#14
I had a similar issue with an Olds Alero I used to own. The issue was the fuel pump not holding pressure. I figured this out by allowing the engine to be primed five or six times then try to start it. I would reset the prime system as soon as I would hear the pump stop. This would usually get the car to fire right away but I would have to hold the RPMs up a little to keep the engine running. After it got a little warm it would run just fine.
Massey
Massey
#16
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern PA,
Posts: 10,465
That is incorrect. Look back over all the posts for the last 3 years. Keep a eye on the posts that say need help and the poster has low number of posts. These are people that just join the site because of a problem. While there are a fair amount of coolant fans not coming on and charging system not working there are a lot of head gaskets, intake gaskets and just plan blown motors, add in the oil leaks and rear end problems and way more then 1%. Its a lot closer to 50% then it is to 1%
#17
no matter what you own it will break and it will cost you money. You can prevent really expensive repair bills by following proper maintainance proceedures. Now The cost of fixing the same thing on one car may vary from fixing the same thing on another car. I drive a chevy because it is a cheaper car to repair and they look better than the rest.
Massey
Massey
#19
I was referring to starting issues. mechanically... if you take care of the motor you'll rarely have problems. Case in point:
1988 C10...308,000 mi. Died when kid brother decided to drive it to florida and didn't do the usual stuff before a 1400 mile nonstop trip.
1992 cutlass 3.8...290,000....Tranny died and it wasn't worth the repair bill.
1995 3.4....212,000 and the intake gasket leaked water into the #4 cylinder...not rare for those motors. Once I get off my *** and fix it...I'm sure I'll see 300K out of that too.
1988 C10...308,000 mi. Died when kid brother decided to drive it to florida and didn't do the usual stuff before a 1400 mile nonstop trip.
1992 cutlass 3.8...290,000....Tranny died and it wasn't worth the repair bill.
1995 3.4....212,000 and the intake gasket leaked water into the #4 cylinder...not rare for those motors. Once I get off my *** and fix it...I'm sure I'll see 300K out of that too.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Eastern PA,
Posts: 10,465
I was referring to starting issues. mechanically... if you take care of the motor you'll rarely have problems. Case in point:
1988 C10...308,000 mi. Died when kid brother decided to drive it to florida and didn't do the usual stuff before a 1400 mile nonstop trip.
1992 cutlass 3.8...290,000....Tranny died and it wasn't worth the repair bill.
1995 3.4....212,000 and the intake gasket leaked water into the #4 cylinder...not rare for those motors. Once I get off my *** and fix it...I'm sure I'll see 300K out of that too.
1988 C10...308,000 mi. Died when kid brother decided to drive it to florida and didn't do the usual stuff before a 1400 mile nonstop trip.
1992 cutlass 3.8...290,000....Tranny died and it wasn't worth the repair bill.
1995 3.4....212,000 and the intake gasket leaked water into the #4 cylinder...not rare for those motors. Once I get off my *** and fix it...I'm sure I'll see 300K out of that too.
But I will agree that a car that has a electrical starter, 100% electrical fuel system and an 100% electrical ignition system and it would start it most likely electrical problem.