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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 587
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Starting Problem: Diagnosis Help.
Hello,
Got back from a weekend trip to Monterey yesterday. My car ran great all weekend. When we got home, I unloaded the luggage then went back out to park the car in the garage. It would not start. 1. I can hear the whine when the turn the ignition to on and hear the fuel pump when turning the key all the way but th starter will not engage. 2. I waited a few minutes for the car to cool off and tried again. This time it started. I warmed up the car to normal operating temp again so I can check the oil level. Topped off with about half a quart and parked the car. At this point all was ok. this morning, I tried to start the car and the same thing, it will not start. Any advice as to where I should start looking. It seems that my CD is working and the fuel pump relay is fine. Hopefully its a simple fix like a starter relay(maybe?). This happened once before in the summer where I had to pull over due to overheating due to backed up traffic in 100 degree weather. I let the car cool off and wiggled some relay fuses and the car finally started. This time though the weather is cooler and the oil temp is at 200 or less. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks, Carl
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Carl, |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Novato, CA
Posts: 3,064
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In my experience, the solenoids on older cars with original starters can just become gunked up with solidified grease, and the increased resistance that comes with heat will just add up to an inop solenoid. Next time it won't start, test to make sure you're getting power at the solenoid wire when cranking. If so, you may want to think about another starter or solenoid.
Check to make sure your engine\trans ground strap is clean and well attached too. Your battery must obviously be in good shape as well. HTH, ianc
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BMW 135i. Nice. Fast. But no 911... "I will tell you there is a big difference between driving money and driving blood, sweat and tears." - PorscheGuy79 |
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Registered
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thanks for your response, I'll check on your suggestions. Any other advice would be much appreciated.
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Carl, |
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Location: Novato, CA
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Just as an aside, you should not be able to hear your fuel pump coming on with the ignition on. There is a safety contact switch on the rear of the throttle body that should not turn the fuel pump on unless there is some deflection of the sensor plate, as in cranking the engine. This is to prevent the fuel pump from running if the engine is not; ie. in an accident.
ianc
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BMW 135i. Nice. Fast. But no 911... "I will tell you there is a big difference between driving money and driving blood, sweat and tears." - PorscheGuy79 |
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Novato, CA
Posts: 4,740
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Classic solenoid problem.
If you pull your starter and replace your solenoid like I did, your problems will be over...trust me. Cheers, Joe |
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sacramento
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Thanks guys,
It was the selonoid (spl). The car starts up right away now.
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Carl, |
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