1995 850GLT trouble starting after oil cap bad

mwhite1978 · Post by **mwhite1978** » 15 Feb 2009, 17:54

Recently my wife's 1995 850 GLT has some issues. Not wanting to start, and a bit sluggish. Mechanic said oil cap was bad/re-installed improperly. There was oil everywhere. Mechanic replaced distributor cap and button and replaced oil cap, and quote cleaned it thoroughly... Two days after return, same issues again along with erratic idling. I took and cleaned Mass Air Flow sensor. Throttle Body and all parts of air box, along with a SERIOUS fuel system cleaning product. Gave vehicle a few days to let fuel treatment do it's thing... still trouble starting... Today, I changed the oil, replaced the plugs, which had FILTHY housings full of oil and burnt up 5 month old plugs,and removed the throttle body and cleaned again. Also replace the thermostat and flushed and refilled the cooling system. Although purring like a kitten on the road, still having trouble getting it to start and the temperature gauge still hops right to the middle!!!!!!! Help before I have to spend 1000 dollars guessing!!!!!!!

Craigd2599 · Post by **Craigd2599** » 17 Feb 2009, 11:21

That sounds like a head gasket. That it heats up immediately is a sign. Not a big leak but enough that you don't get compression at cold startup. Try a compression test

Mike-Halewai · Post by **Mike-Halewai** » 17 Feb 2009, 11:24

Yup, going to have to agree with the last poster, head gasket could be likely.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Feb 2009, 12:34

Also replace the thermostat and flushed and refilled the cooling system. Although purring like a kitten on the road, still having trouble getting it to start and the temperature gauge still hops right to the middle!

Elaborate on that. How quickly does the gauge go to the middle position.

I'm thinking all of the oil is from a clogged PCV and the temp and starting issues may simply be a bad ECT sensor. The ECT sensor is in the lower part of the thermostat housing so if it turns out to be bad you will need to remove the thermostat again.

...Lee

mwhite1978 · Post by **mwhite1978** » 24 Feb 2010, 17:44

long time no answer, but Lee, YOU ARE THE MAN ect sensor,and back to running purrrrrfectly! 850 is for sell if anyone is interested