First problem with car...but only temporarily

WolfeMacleod · 02-19-2008, 04:12 PM

On Saturday the wife and I got up early to go to the first Autocross session of the year with PCA.

6am, start the car. Car fired right up as usual, but immediately died. This happened maybe 8 times? It would run if I was on the gas a bit, but would immediately die if I let off.
After being on the gas to keep it running for several minutes, it was fine. Been fine ever since.

Any ideas on what would cause this?

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

It is just begging for more use. After 23 years and only 37,000 miles it is crying for more use.

The first thing to check is the DME relay. When mine started to die the car would just quit at random times. I was on the road and it was trying to "get there" before I swapped relays. The new relay fixed everything for me. If you have not replaced the DME relay do it now. Then buy a spare to carry in the glove box.

ianc · 02-19-2008, 07:22 PM

Wolfe,

It sounds to me as though the CHT (Cylinder Head Temp) sensor is getting flakey. The older style used only one wire and grounded through the head. If that connection gets iffy, no ground will occur and you will have problems. The newer style uses a separate ground wire, and hence is considerably more reliable. This would tend to explain your cold start problem if the sensor is original. Good luck with it,

ianc

WolfeMacleod · 02-20-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianc

Wolfe,

It sounds to me as though the CHT (Cylinder Head Temp) sensor is getting flakey.....This would tend to explain your cold start problem if the sensor is original. Good luck with it,

ianc

Yes, it is the original temp sensor. Something I'll have done soon. Been meaning to have it done, but I haven't really had to do anything to the car since I bought it a year ago.

I didn't consider the DME relay. I do have a spare in the car, so if the problem happens again, that'll be the firs thing I change.

This is the first instance of any problem of any kind.

ianc · 02-20-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Car fired right up as usual, but immediately died. This happened maybe 8 times? It would run if I was on the gas a bit, but would immediately die if I let off.

These don't sound like DME relay to me. That will usually create an intermittent cutting-out condition until it finally just fails altogether and either dies mid-flight or just won't start again. Feel free to change it though...

ianc