starting problems...help..

My car has been having a hard time starting off and on. I looked at the mass air flow and it looks dirty but should still work....i slightly cleaned the throttle body and i put a new coolant temp sensor in because the fans have been acting wierd. But still no luck finding the problem. I am thinking bout the timeing and checking each vacuum line but i would think this car should still start up the same each time i put the key in it...but right now i can go out and sometimes she will fire right up other times it make take 10 seconds or so. Anyone have any ideas??

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by MT maniac
My car has been having a hard time starting off and on. I looked at the mass air flow and it looks dirty but should still work....i slightly cleaned the throttle body and i put a new coolant temp sensor in because the fans have been acting wierd. But still no luck finding the problem. I am thinking bout the timeing and checking each vacuum line but i would think this car should still start up the same each time i put the key in it...but right now i can go out and sometimes she will fire right up other times it make take 10 seconds or so. Anyone have any ideas??

Lesley

When looking at the MAF, did you check the air filter? If the MAF is dirty, chances are the air filter is dirty. Replace it if so.

Have you replaced the plugs? They are good for 100K or more, but at your mileage they could be failing depending what kind of life they have led.

Also, your battery may not be giving enough amps for a good spark if it is old, particularly in cold weather. Get it checked at a tire and battery retail centre. If any of the cells bubble under load discharge, replace it. I suspect it as the most likely culprit.

Joe

Air filter has about 1500 miles on it the plugs have 2000 miles on them and the battery has been in the car for 1 year and might have 3000 miles on it. So i rule all those things out right now....really thinking about having the whole top end cleaned out.. there was some serious glaze in there when i looked at the throttle body.

[Earthworm]

See if you can get your hands on another MAF sensor (preferably working) to try.

[oab_au]

Originally posted by MT maniac
Air filter has about 1500 miles on it the plugs have 2000 miles on them and the battery has been in the car for 1 year and might have 3000 miles on it. So i rule all those things out right now....really thinking about having the whole top end cleaned out.. there was some serious glaze in there when i looked at the throttle body.

Yes I would go with the spring cleaning. When starting the spark and injection will start, as soon as the crank sensor pulse is detected. If the temp sensor is ok, the fuel will be rich enough to fire. The only other thing is the throttle opening to supply enough air to run. This relies on first, the cold start air valve under the left side of the inlet manifold to supply the air. This can get gummed up to stay closed. The other is the idle air valve, under the throttle body, that should increase the air for cold running.

You could try holding the throttle open a bit, when you try to start it, if it starts ok then it is the lack of extra air for the cold start. Throttle body clean out should fix it .

Harvey.

i changed the temp sensor and hadno good things change...the car still is a bit hard to start. I am wanting to play with the TPS and clean out the top end. I would love another MAFS but i cant afford one and i doubt anyone would give me one.