persistent no start condition

[bjenkins]

Symptoms:

If the car sits overnight or a long time during the day, it will not start. It cranks fine but will not fire. It seems to flood.

If I pull the temp II connection, it will fire right up immediately, but idle horribly for a short period.

If I fire it up, let run for 10-20 seconds, turn it off and plug the temp II back in, it will fire right up immediately again, idle high (about 1200 or so) for a few seconds and then settle into a nice, normal idle. The car runs great from then out, lots of power, good idle, etc. I can drive a long way, shut it off, and it will start right back up and run great.

If I pull the temp II and drive without it, eventually the car will run like crap at low rpm, but fine at high rpm. I can cruise at highway speed just fine, although it doesn't seem to run as good as when the temp II is plugged in. But, if I have to slow to low rpm, like at a stoplight, it runs horribly, like on 4 cylinders (88-no limp mode), no power, almost dies, idles like a big block with lots of lift in the cam. Once it gets back to a certain rpm, it runs ok again.

I replaced the temp II with no change in behavior.

I have replaced all relevant relays.

I have checked wiring to temp II and MAF, all seems ok.

I suspect, as several have suggested, the MAF is the culprit. I have not unplugged the MAF and left the temp II plugged in when it won't start, I should probably do that.

Another thing I have noticed is that, when the temp II is unplugged and it's running like crap, the fuel pump is excessively noisy and the overall voltage in the car is down, might be irrelevant.

I should have taken Hans up on his offer to borrow his MAF when I had the chance.


Thoughts? Any other things to check.

[Mrmerlin]

you might consider wiring on a new temp 2 connector to the car harness sometimes the wires touch inside