1997 850NA Hard Starting

BlackThunder · Post by **BlackThunder** » 14 Sep 2015, 10:53

I've been having a problem getting my car started recently (about a week). This car only gets driven a couple of times a week (I drive my C30 daily) so I didn't know if it was just because it was sitting or what.

Problem: The car will crank but won't start for a couple of seconds then it will fire up OR (as it has been happening more lately) the car won't start on the first try. Then I try to start it the second time and it starts.

Does this mean that my starter is going bad?

The ignition coil was replaced recently 2 years agao - fuel pump, fuel pump relay, have all been replaced in the psat 5 years.

I would like to fix this before the snow flies if possible. I'm not sure how difficult the starter is to replace - also, what brand of starter is best? OEM? Rebuilt? Duralast?

Post by **misha** » 14 Sep 2015, 17:53

1.It's because it is sits more than drive.

I hope that you wait for fuel pump to prime before you start the car.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 14 Sep 2015, 19:10

If the car cranks over fine but just doesn't fire, and your description would indicate that it does, then replacing the starter won't do anything for you.

There is a check valve in the fuel pump that is supposed to maintain the fuel pressure at the rail with the engine off but they all leak down a bit. If this only happens when you first start the car then but it starts fine the rest of the day then Misha has your solution. Turn the key on to position II and wait a couple of seconds before you go to position III to crank it.

...Lee

BlackThunder · Post by **BlackThunder** » 15 Sep 2015, 15:20

GREAT! That is much better news than I was hoping for. I'll try that when I use it on Thursday.

But why is this happening now? For the previous 18 years of its life it start right up - is something starting to go bad that I need to look out for/keep an eye on?

Dustin

Post by **misha** » 15 Sep 2015, 16:04

Check valve is integrated in fuel pump.
There is nothing you can do about it except for replacing fuel pump OR adding external check valve in delivery/feed line.

If you don't wait for fuel pump to prime before you start the car,this is a result.
If you prime fuel pump before you start the car...check valve is bad.

I wouldn't worry too much about it if it does that just when it sits a few days.

BlackThunder · Post by **BlackThunder** » 29 Sep 2015, 13:57

OK, cool. That is all good information.

Thank you!

Dustin

Post by **abscate** » 29 Sep 2015, 17:05

BlackThunder wrote:GREAT! That is much better news than I was hoping for. I'll try that when I use it on Thursday.

But why is this happening now? For the previous 18 years of its life it start right up - is something starting to go bad that I need to look out for/keep an eye on?

Dustin

Sorry Dustimn, gotta poke a little fun at ya....

Wait until you turn 50 and things start breaking.....