Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 10, 2011 22:16:05 GMT -5
Is there any way to know if your car starter is starting to go bad, other than the "clicking" that is a sign of sure death. The starter is the original on my '99 Grand Am.
My car has been starting okay on the first try after sitting idle for say 8 hours, in the bitter cold no less. But when I start it up and have to make a quick stop, then start it up again, it does not want to stay fired up unless I give it a little gas on the second try. I had the fuel filter changed and a new battery installed about 5 months ago. Yet this has happened 3 times in the past 2 days and I am a bit stumped... It perhaps doesn't help that it has been about -5 the past 3 days. I'd love for that to be the general problem. Any thoughts???
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zkman2002
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Post by zkman2002 on Feb 11, 2011 10:31:27 GMT -5
hey becks, clicking noise is usually the solenoid on the starter, as for the engine dying after start up, sometimes a quick fix is change the air filter and add some fuel stabelizer such as sea foam, or stable, these clean the injectors.
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 11, 2011 12:38:42 GMT -5
I was also thinking about the fuel injectors so I may just start there first. I'll also see what the air filter looks like - can't hurt to change that too.
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Post by rick on Feb 11, 2011 19:12:42 GMT -5
Is there any way to know if your car starter is starting to go bad, other than the "clicking" that is a sign of sure death. The starter is the original on my '99 Grand Am. My car has been starting okay on the first try after sitting idle for say 8 hours, in the bitter cold no less. But when I start it up and have to make a quick stop, then start it up again, it does not want to stay fired up unless I give it a little gas on the second try. I had the fuel filter changed and a new battery installed about 5 months ago. Yet this has happened 3 times in the past 2 days and I am a bit stumped... It perhaps doesn't help that it has been about -5 the past 3 days. I'd love for that to be the general problem. Any thoughts??? It doesn't sound like the starter to me, As long as the motor turns over at normal RPM when warm. The fact that you have to give it a little gas tells me its probably a fuel delivery problem. When you give it gas, dies it stumble a little then clear out, or instant Rev. How does it idle and run after you get it to stay running. If it idles rough and stumbles warm Id say Its a bad Map sensor, thats the most common on a GM. I guess the first question should have been do you have a check engine light. A Bad Map sensor wont always trip a light when they first start going bad so right now anything I say is only a guess without actually seeing the car and doing some Diag. |
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 14, 2011 20:17:03 GMT -5
I talked to my mechanic late lsat week and he suggested I first add a fuel system cleaner to this tank of gas. It was okay today, so we'll see how it behaves in the next couple of days.
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Mad Dawg Wiccan
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Post by Mad Dawg Wiccan on Feb 14, 2011 20:28:48 GMT -5
You might try switching brands of gasoline (if you stick to just one). My first car (1975 Honda Civic Wagon) ran like crap on Shell gas, it was like filling it up on 70 octane jungle juice (low power, stalling, etc.). Everything else, it ran fine on. My present car (1999 Isuzu Trooper) doesn't like Chevron gas, I get much worse mileage if I use it.
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 17, 2011 21:53:17 GMT -5
Well Rick you may have been onto something. It did it to me again today, and I have a feeling you may be right in the fuel delivery department. When it does fire on the second try (after giving it some gas) it idles a bit weird for no more than a minute, then it seems to idle okay. So tell me, could it be fuel pump or would you still suspect the MAP sensor, whatever that is?
Service engine soon light has been on for a quite a while now too. But when I had diagnostics run on it, it came back as an emissions code. I was told not to worry much about the light but now I am wondering if it's related. (?)
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Post by rick on Feb 18, 2011 1:39:07 GMT -5
Well Rick you may have been onto something. It did it to me again today, and I have a feeling you may be right in the fuel delivery department. When it does fire on the second try (after giving it some gas) it idles a bit weird for no more than a minute, then it seems to idle okay. So tell me, could it be fuel pump or would you still suspect the MAP sensor, whatever that is? Service engine soon light has been on for a quite a while now too. But when I had diagnostics run on it, it came back as an emissions code. I was told not to worry much about the light but now I am wondering if it's related. (?) Any time the light comes on its an emissions code, if you can give me the code number we can begin to track this down. Anyone that says not to worry about it is someone that does not understand the system. Everything on that motor and transmission is monitored for proper operation. Get me the code number and we can start diaging it |
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Post by rick on Feb 18, 2011 16:12:12 GMT -5
Just a Thought, I have noticed that near everywhere now has 10% Ethanol in the Unleaded. I know that My 07' Charger does not like this one bit, It has already been the cause of a fried O2 Sensor. And My Buddies 98' Vette is starting to do the same things you are describing. I am personally starting to think that there has to be some connection to the Ethanol Percentage. I wonder what is the difference between a FLEX FUEL Car/Truck and one that is not.. If it is something simple like Different Injectors I may try that myself, anything much more aggressive and as much a I love My Charger - it will probably be time to look for a new one... Sigh, was hoping to hold off ffor at least another year to look at replacing the Daily Driver.... 10% is not a real problem, all cars will run on that although there will be a difference in performace. Anything higher than that you need a flex fuel. There are a lot of difference in a flex fuel vehicle. There is a processor that determines the about of Ethanol in the fuel along with injectors. There are other diferences but Id have to research them. As far as your 98, Id say its just time. It is now recommended that 02 sensor be changed at 80k because they can become contaninated and not perform as thay should. |
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 19, 2011 12:53:10 GMT -5
Well the code that I am getting is 0442.
And even after putting in the fuel system cleaner the car still has a tendancy to not want to fire on the first try. But once again give it a little gas and it's basically good to go. Grrrr And yes I know its 12 years old but it "only" has 96,000 miles on it.
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Post by rick on Feb 19, 2011 19:21:03 GMT -5
Well the code that I am getting is 0442. And even after putting in the fuel system cleaner the car still has a tendancy to not want to fire on the first try. But once again give it a little gas and it's basically good to go. Grrrr And yes I know its 12 years old but it "only" has 96,000 miles on it. Ok a P0442 is a small evap leak, which wont be causeing your troubles. Next time you go out to start it, try cycling your key a couple of times and see what it does. It could be low fuel pressure and by cycling the key you get the pump to stay on longer. Try that and report back. |
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 27, 2011 15:30:41 GMT -5
Well it did it's thing again the other day after leaving work and making a brief stop. It's first time this week I've needed to try it out, since it's been leave work, start it up, and straight home. So I tried what you suggested with the key and on the decisive 3rd turn it started up, a little hesitant but it did turn over and kept running. So now what?
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Post by rick on Feb 27, 2011 15:54:56 GMT -5
Well it did it's thing again the other day after leaving work and making a brief stop. It's first time this week I've needed to try it out, since it's been leave work, start it up, and straight home. So I tried what you suggested with the key and on the decisive 3rd turn it started up, a little hesitant but it did turn over and kept running. So now what? If you havent changed the fuel filter within the last year it would say its time, but its sounding like low fuel pressure. you will need to have it tested |
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Feb 28, 2011 8:34:23 GMT -5
I'll get it checked out - thanks Rick!
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Post by rick on Feb 28, 2011 8:37:23 GMT -5
I'll get it checked out - thanks Rick! Let me know what you find out |
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Becks
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Post by Becks on Mar 19, 2011 17:49:40 GMT -5
I hope I will find that buying a different car has solved my problems. I had a couple other issues that came up and decided it was time to replace my beloved '99 with a '08 Sport G6.  I have a feeling the dealer may be cursing me come Monday... not my fault he didn't drive it first. |
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I have a feeling the dealer may be cursing me come Monday... not my fault he didn't drive it first.