Hard start...then clicks...what is that?

[bpu699]

My 930 does something odd when you go to start it, It either starts perfectly, hot or old...or doesn't start at all. When it doesn't start, the motor just spins, but thats it. Doesn't try to fire up at all. I did read the thread on "my car won't start", but have a question.

You know when you shut your car off, it runs for a second, then there is a "click" from the engine bay, and the car goes off. I assume the click is somekind of fuel shut off?

When the car is hard to start, the motor just spins for 5-20 seconds, until I hear that same "click", and then starts/runs just fine.

What is that click?? Sounds like something is running intermittently, and I can't figure out what it is. It doesn't happen often either.

Any help appreciated.

Bo

[OsoMoore]

When you say "spins", do you mean just the starter motor? Or is the engine turning over without any combustion?

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by OsoMoore

When you say "spins", do you mean just the starter motor? Or is the engine turning over without any combustion?

Motor turns over fine. It just doesnt have any combustion.

The car was in storage fo a couple of years, and now is getting more regular use. When I first started it up, it was hard to start as it would fire...then die. Fire...then die. And, eventually run just fine.

For a week I had no problems. Then, it would just turn over but not start... randomly.

I suspect its an ignition issue... except for that "click."

When turning it over the motor spins, but doesnt act like it wants to fire. Then, there is an audible "click" and it starts just fine...

Bo

[T77911S]

that could be the "delayed action relay". what it does it keeps the ignition on after you turn the key off to burn off fuel.

there are several ways to TS this.
check for 12v at pin 15 of the CD
check for 12v at pin "S" of the relay (from ignition switch) could be ignition sw porblem too
check for spark. does not really tell you much other than we/i think it is the ignition related and may be the relay
bypass the realy. jumper pin 30- "L". (this is what my drawing calls the pins. i have never looked at the relay to confirm.

could be a bad solder joint on the relay.

me? i would resolder the relay. then depending onthe price, either buy a new one (if that is making the noise you hear) or check for power at "S" when it will not start.

[bpu699]

Thanks!!! Will do that this weekend. I appreciate the time you took to help.

Bo

[wwest]

The fuel pump will NOT run absent enough intake airflow to displace the fuel metering plate enough to operate the microswitch. Without the ignition switch having a circuit by pass to supply power to the fuel pump during cranking the car will NEVER start.....

UNLESS,.... during cranking you somehow get enough intake airflow to displace the metering plate just enough.

Fix the ignition switch bypass circuit.

"fire then die, fire then die...."

Hmmm

That's what happens when the ignition switch circuit fuel pump power bypass works but the fuel metering microswitch doesn't open even with the engine having started.

Gummed up fuel metering "throttle" plate, or more likely, MUCH more likely, gummed up, sticking, microswitch actuation arm....???

[kodioneill]

Do the fuel pump relay mod. check the fuel pump relays and fuses.

[T77911S]

he said the motor just spins. it does not try to fire.

why send him down a side road with fuel.......

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by T77911S

he said the motor just spins. it does not try to fire.

why send him down a side road with fuel.......

It may not be firing because of fuel starvation. One of the pumps may not be working.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

It may not be firing because of fuel starvation. One of the pumps may not be working.

it should fire off residual pressure and the cold start valve, not to mention the 1/2 second the FP's run before the engine is started.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by bpu699

Motor turns over fine. It just doesnt have any combustion.

The car was in storage fo a couple of years, and now is getting more regular use. When I first started it up, it was hard to start as it would fire...then die. Fire...then die. And, eventually run just fine.

For a week I had no problems. Then, it would just turn over but not start... randomly.

I suspect its an ignition issue... except for that "click."

When turning it over the motor spins, but doesnt act like it wants to fire. Then, there is an audible "click" and it starts just fine...

Bo

makes it plain...

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by wwest

makes it plain...

Do you know what year this 930 is?

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by T77911S

he said the motor just spins. it does not try to fire.

why send him down a side road with fuel.......

This is a public forum is it not? You're just guessing and trying to help just the same as me.

These cars have all sorts of issues without the car in front of you it's impossible to diagnose I'm just giving another approach. I've seen symptoms like this occur with a corroded fuel pump fuse RUN DIE RUN DIE THEN RUN.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

This is a public forum is it not? You're just guessing and trying to help just the same as me.

These cars have all sorts of issues without the car in front of you it's impossible to diagnose I'm just giving another approach. I've seen symptoms like this occur with a corroded fuel pump fuse RUN DIE RUN DIE THEN RUN.

Key question:

Does the engine start when cranking but then die shortly after the key is returned to the "run" position?

If so that more likely than otherwise indicates that the intake airflow rate microswitch actuated by the fuel metering "throttle" plate is not opening when the engine starts.

Circuit design is such that the fuel pump runs with the ignition engaging the starter, but with the engine started the resulting intake airflow rate should drive the micoswitch contacts to the open position thus allowing the fuel pump to continue running.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by bpu699

When the car is hard to start, the motor just spins for 5-20 seconds, until I hear that same "click", and then starts/runs just fine.


Bo

i have to go by what the latest sysmptoms are, not what it did do some time ago.
i dont know if the ignition relay is actually a mechanical relay but if it is, i would have to say that is what he is hearing "click" in the engine bay.
the yellow erlay is normally de-energized making the FP's run. if he is hearing the yellow relay, he would have to hear it click twice. once to energize (which is normal for starting which turns off the FP's) then at some point, (not sure if the pumps run when cranking which i dont think they do) then he would have to hear the yellow realy de-energize thus running the pumps.
the 930 pumps run for about a 1/2 second when the key is turned to ON. if he is hearing that, i would almost be certain it is not a FP problem.

people start thowing out random crap that sure, after more logcial ideas dont fix it may be brought up, but sometimes it gets to be too much and it starts to get confusing for the OP's when all these ideas are tossed around. and yes, some are quite stupid. i would not be surprised if someone tells him to check his plug wires for firing order.


he very well may of had a fuel pump circuit problem originally(i would look at the fuses first in this case), but he isnot having the same symptoms and we dont know how long ago his original problem was