Hi all,
I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem I've had this winter with my 91' non-SE. For example, this morning, I took about 10 minutes of hitting the starter before I got it running. At first, I just hear a grinding noise. Then after a few times, it turns over but just won't start firing. A few minutes later, I'm finally able to get it started.

Also, the idle is unstable. When the car is cold, it idles at 900 RPM, and when it warms up it idles anywhere between 500 (too low) and 800 RPM (where it should be).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't this be the way my car behaves?

Start the car in the morning. It should start idling at 2000 rpm and gradually go down until the car is warm and be steady at about 800 RPM.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Matt.

 

Hey matt
how cold is it there in IL?

i have a 93 VE and 3 days ago it was -17 F thats right NEGATIVE 17! i live in MA

anyways
-when you say" 10 minutes of hitting the starter before I got it running" do you mean just keeping on the ignition? or are you physically hitting the starter.
because starter motor solenoids get built up with crap. if you take any nice dense heavy object, and beat the master solenoid a couiple of times while someone turns the key, it may catch. hit it pretty hard too.

-check leads with a test lights or a multimeter.
:check Battery first of all!
:check for power to the starter.
:check for power after the starter
-DISCONNECT BATTERY FIRST then clean all connections with smll brass wire brush
-smack some vasaline on the battery terminals, and starter terminals

this is just basic stuff i can tell you.
a lot of things depend on the shape/age of your battery and starter.

do you ahve a manual or a automagic?

-aNdY

 

Does any one know the freezing temperature of gasoline??
maybe fuel lines are frozen??? just pulling stuff outof my @$$ though cuz it never dropes to freezin in houston.

 

-70.6 F is the freezing point of octane, but will be higher due to other detergents and whatnot, but I would say that any water in the lines is more apt to freeze before the gasoline itself... but thats just my Chemistry Degree talking.

 

Sorry for not being more clear! Thanks for your response!

> Hey matt
> how cold is it there in IL?

YIKES! Not quite that cold... more like +25 F. (still very cold to me)

> when you say" 10 minutes of hitting the starter before I got it running" do > you mean just keeping on the ignition?

Ignition. I just kept trying it every 15-20 seconds.

> because starter motor solenoids get built up with crap. if you take any nice > dense heavy object, and beat the master solenoid a couiple of times while > someone turns the key, it may catch. hit it pretty hard too.

It's actually a brand new starter. My old starter recently went out, and I think the cold is what finally did it! My very first turn of the key and I hear this "scraping sound" like it's slipping or something. Should I take it back to my mechanic since the starter was replaced like 3 days ago?

> -check leads with a test lights or a multimeter.
> :check Battery first of all!
> :check for power to the starter.
> :check for power after the starter
> -DISCONNECT BATTERY FIRST then clean all connections
> -smack some vasaline on the battery terminals, and starter terminals

I'll check these things that you suggested. :-)

> do you ahve a manual or a automagic?

Automatic.

Thanks for any further assistance!

 

25f?? thats not cold
as i said im in the sigle digits when i start my car every morning! and i have a pretty old starter.

id say defin. take it back

it cant hurt, maybe thell hook up with a new one