94 850 Almost didn't start, now seems rich

stheis · Post by **stheis** » 15 Mar 2014, 14:44

My 94 850 n/a has made it through winter pretty much problem free. I hadn't driven it at all yesterday and when I went to start it this morning, it was just turning over and over with almost no hint of trying to start. I had to get going so took my wife's car and when I came home this afternoon was able to get it to start eventually but it took almost the entire charge of the battery to get it. Once it did finally start, it was running pretty rough and eventually smoothed out but it still doesn't seem totally right. The exhaust seems like its running rich. Any ideas out there where I should start looking? Thanks in advance!

Post by **misha** » 15 Mar 2014, 14:50

Is the check engine light on?

Did this non-start situation came all of a sudden,or there was indication that something is wrong last time you drove it?

stheis · Post by **stheis** » 15 Mar 2014, 15:01

no lights on at all

this came very suddenly, was fine last time I drove, I did get a car wash about a mile before I got home last...

Post by **misha** » 15 Mar 2014, 18:04

Did you washed the engine bay or just the car?

If that happened after the car wash,we know that it has something to do with moisture.

Bad ignition parts are very sensitive on moisture.

But...does your rpm goes up & down when the engine is running?

stheis · Post by **stheis** » 15 Mar 2014, 18:16

no, I just took it through a car wash, it drove home fine from there but maybe some moisture leaked into somewhere overnight...anyways, I just started it back up (it started right away) and drove it around for about 10 minutes and everything seems normal...it's idle is pretty smooth, a very slight up and down but that's kinda what it's been for the year or so that I've owned it. I know cars don't fix themselves but I guess for now I'll just monitor it and hope I don't get stranded anywhere too inconvenient.

Post by **misha** » 15 Mar 2014, 19:18

Maybe the moisture was the culprit,but maybe it was a complete coincidence.

Whatever it was it's important that it dissapeared,but i'm affraid that it will come back.

Seriously...if moisture was the culprit then ignition parts are showing their weakness...but it could be a fuel delivery.

Next time...if that non-start condition shows again...check for fuel pressure at fuel rail.Something is telling me that fuel pump relay was causing your problem.