1994 850 non-turbo. Stalls after one second when cold ...fuel pump relay Topic is solved

bluesmoke · Post by **bluesmoke** » 05 Dec 2018, 18:37

When outside temperature is near freezing or lower and the car is cold it will start, idle for one second then stall. If I immediately try to start it again it won't start at all. However, if I turn the key all the way off, then clockwise forward enough to allow the engine to cycle through whatever it does, then try and start it, it will again run for one second and again stall.

After five or six of these one second idles it will then start up and run just fine. And if the engine is at all warm it will start just fine the first time.

Any ideas on what's going on?

ced715 · Post by **ced715** » 05 Dec 2018, 19:02

I bet it is the fuel pump relay! I had a similar problem but with a lot less of the starting going on that you have haha!

I found this post:
viewtopic.php?t=34869

It gives a bit of things to look for. You could try unplugging the relay and bringing it inside for the night, go out right away in the morning and plug it in before it gets a chance to get cold.

Also I would suggest testing the coolant temp sensor just for laughs. take an ohms measurement on it to make sure it is over 3000 ohms of resistance when your engine is cold. (mine was just under 4000 oms when cold) That would be where I went next if the fuel pump relay isn't the culprit.

Good luck!

bluesmoke · Post by **bluesmoke** » 05 Dec 2018, 20:25

Thanks for the reply. I will check those two things out.

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 05 Dec 2018, 20:37

Scan for codes, but +1 on checking fuel pump relay and the coolant temp sensor.

DaBullsBros · Post by **DaBullsBros** » 06 Dec 2018, 04:35

I had a similar problem last winter trying to start my car in cold weather. I changed the engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor this summer and so far this winter, starts up every time.

Good luck!

Garaba · Post by **Garaba** » 06 Dec 2018, 09:10

Fuel pump relay! OMG mine failed odd in my 850 when cold.

Just bring it inside with you for the evening to verify.

bluesmoke · Post by **bluesmoke** » 06 Dec 2018, 10:03

Thanks for all your help. Problem solved - it was the fuel pump relay!

It's below freezing today and so I removed the relay and put a jumper between pins 15 and 87a (top and bottom centre). Started up right away! I'll be buying a new relay today.

Thanks again.