850, 1995 Start Problem - no compression cranking

roup · Post by **roup** » 21 Aug 2012, 10:39

Car is hard to start at times and takes many tries to get it to start. It acts like it is flooded and there is no compression after a second or two of cranking. Sometimes I have to do this 10 or 15 times to get it to start. This typically happens after it is warm and not when cold. I've changed the temperature sensor and checked for leaking fuel past the fuel pressure regulator. I finally held the gas pedal all the way to the floor yesterday when trying to start it and it cranked and started. Not sure about this intermittent problem and where to check next.

Post by **rmmagow** » 21 Aug 2012, 10:57

Plugs, Cap Rotor Wires? are they real old? Timing belt, been changed recently, maybe jumped time? Oil down in the spark plug tubes?

madspeed50 · Post by **madspeed50** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:12

fuel pump tested?

Yep, sent from my rooted, rommed Galaxy Nexus....

Post by **jblackburn** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:13

Do you have fuel pressure at the fuel rail when the key is flipped on to II for the first time?

It may have a bad check valve on the fuel pump that's starving it of fuel.

I can't think of a reason why the engine would start turning over faster as if there is no compression OTHER THAN the pistons being flooded with fuel, which would probably be the sign of a bad coolant temp sensor. Does the temp gauge on the dash work properly once you replaced the sensor?

roup · Post by **roup** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:19

Temperature sensor is working fine on the dashboard. Why would the engine spin without compression? Is this too much fuel washing down the cylinder walls?

Post by **jblackburn** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:21

I believe so. Do you have black smoke at times or high fuel consumption? O2 sensor "rich" codes?

Could be because of leaky injectors.

roup · Post by **roup** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:22

Forgot to answer the fuel rail question. Yes there is fuel at the rail as evidenced when the schrader valve is pressed and fuel sprays out.

roup · Post by **roup** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:24

No black smoke. Car gets 25 MPH on average. I'll check the OBD codes and let you know what I find. I checked it a while ago and thought it said Bank 1 too rich, but will verify.

roup · Post by **roup** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:29

Code P0172 - Bank 1 System Too Rich was the only code thrown.

Post by **jblackburn** » 21 Aug 2012, 11:39

That code is 99% of the time tied to a vacuum or air leak.

However, I wonder if it could be from leaking injectors or something else causing it to squirt too much fuel into the cylinders.

Do you have a phone that can take videos of a typical hard-cranking situation for us?