After starting and stopping the engine a couple of times over a shortish period (say, within an hour or two), the engine will idle very low and rough (maybe not running on all 8 cylinders?) for a short while before stalling. Attempting to rev the engine while this rough idle is occurring tends to quicken the stalling process.
Starter motor is either tortured, or car is left off for up to 10 minutes before motor will start properly, depending on mood at time.
Why the hell is it doing this? I'm thinking MAF, injector(s) and/or spark, but don't know how to go about determining.
Maybe it's a good excuse to upgrade from my std MAF
This problem went away for about a fortnight, but now it's back. It really sucks ass when a group of HRT-clothed denziens at a bus stop laugh at you for about 10 minutes, and "as least I'm not waiting for a bus" doesn't have much of a kick to it when the bloody car won't start! :-/
may not be a help dave but my car would lose all power on long trips and occasionally short ones as well. most of E-Series were pulled over on the way to hethcote because my car ouldnt play the game. I'm pretty sure my fuel pump was on the way out. it was still going at the time but since I've canged it it hasn't missed a beat. Yours doesnt sound like it's going to be simple thing to trace since it doesnt do it all the time.
Assuming it is the fuel pump, why would it operate intermittently then? Could it be purely a coincidence that it happens to be starting well on cold starts? Maybe it doesn't matter whether the start is warm or cold, because it could be to do with fuel contamination (solids), which by the time the engine is cold, these solids have settled and are not initially fed thru the pump? I think this is a bit of a longshot though, but I'll still consider it. Thanks for offering this angle to me :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 302_supra
Injectors need cleaning/ worn out? Do they rattle or underperform at any time?
No rattling, no lack of performance. But the injectors probably do need checking out, they haven't been looked at for close to 10,000km now, assuming the last mechanic who serviced my car actually did work on the injectors! (It "says" he did in the quote). I did the last "service" myself just over 4000km ago, which consisted of simply an oil + filter change & checking out the air filter. Yes yes, I know I need to grease the joints under the car VERY soon, but I figured since I'll get it serviced very soon anyway (no time to do it myself this time around) it'll get done then. Within a month.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebxr8240
Check TFI module....pita to diagnose
check what (TFI)? and what's "pita"? (no lebanese bread jokes please ) Sorry, I'm crap with most terminology...
Thanks for everyone's input.
-Dave-
EDIT: PS, yesterday the biatch took 40 minutes to start when the engine was warm. May need to replace starter motor and get a perscription of valium soon!
I forgot to add, after finally getting it started, there was a rev-related whistle that sounded like I had a snail under the bonnet. By the time I got home, this whistle had turned into a "supercharger" whine, and although the Windsor still had a V8 exhaust note, the engine itself sounded like a metallic --yet smooth-- V6 (plus "blower whine").
Car is going in on Friday to get checked out (hopefully), yet this morning the car was running smoothly, without any problems.
I also had another fuel pump in my car which was stuffed. Sometimes it would not go, sometimes it would. Ie, go to start car it would fire then stop but not actually start. Worst time was when I stalled the car at lights. Of course it had to do it then :| When your trying to start it does it fire at all or sound like it wants to go? or it it just dead?
Hmm sounds like unmetrerd air getting in! Check out all your hoses (intake) etc. Another thing to do would be to get a spray bottle and spray some solution (water I guess?) around any points air culd get in and find the leak. Another guys upper to lower manifold gasket was leaking and his car wouldnt go properly
I also had another fuel pump in my car which was stuffed. Sometimes it would not go, sometimes it would. Ie, go to start car it would fire then stop but not actually start. Worst time was when I stalled the car at lights. Of course it had to do it then :| When your trying to start it does it fire at all or sound like it wants to go? or it it just dead?
It variably turns over with the starter motor only, or I will manage to get about 300rpm happening (firing on less than the full 8 cylinder symphony) but this sputters and dies after about 1-2 seconds. Using the accelerator after it has fired up doesn't help at all, it aids it in stalling. It's like an inverse accelerator, I depress it and the engine goes "what? you want me to rev LESS?"
Stalling in the car park wasn't fun, people just looked at me like I was a Nazi or something ("what are you doing? START THE CAR!"). Nothing but dirty looks, no offers of help. RACV didn't help either, after 5 minutes of being put on hold (37c/30 seconds on my mobile) I hung up. I should've 1800-REVERSE'd the buggers.
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