Having trouble starting

Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 FORD
  • 120,000 MILES
I'm driving a 1990 ford bronco 2 and when it gets cold outside my car doesnt want to start properly or at all. Sometimes it's sputter and eventually start up but mostly it'll just stay silent till the temp outside warms up then it'll start with no problem I replaced the battery with a better one thinking that it just wasn't giving enough cold crank amps. The things had the entire fuel system from tank to where it enters the engine
Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 1:05 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Check engine light on? Has engine coolant temp sensor been checked? What engine? So cranking not problem? Getting it to fire and idle smooth problem?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 3:19 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
It's running the 2.9 liter, it cranks strong cold or warm weather, the check engine light is on but it reads out as if everythings fine, when its warm out it starts no problem just when the temp drops it'll crank and crank then struggle to idle if all and maybe start but if I wait an hour for it to warm alittle it'll start like nothing was the matter and run like a champ. Also I havent had the sensor checked, could I do it myself?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Yes can tread resistence values at 50 deg - 58.7 ohms at 86 deg -24.3 warmer less resistence check ECT and ACT same values also check for 5V reference at each.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 7th, 2011 AT 7:09 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
This morning when it finally started like yesterday it smelt like it was burnin abit rich. Could the MAP sensor be clogged/ broke?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 7th, 2011 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Testing will require a scan tool but can check 5V referencs voltage and if it will hold vacuum
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 7th, 2011 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
What are V5 refs, not sure of the term
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Friday, October 7th, 2011 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Well we replaced both of those sensors but feel like fools at the moment. Just noticed this afternoon that when you turn the key to ready befre crank the fuel pump isnt turning on hence the cranking without starting. Just 5 minutes ago I i was outside trying to start it to go to work and out of roughly 70 turns to the ready position the fuel pump came on twice but not long enough to start.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, October 9th, 2011 AT 4:17 AM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Pump sould run for couple sec. When key is on to prime then run after engine started. Under pass side dash find interia switch test for voltage to and out of switch when it fails to start. If no voltage to it then maybe relay if to and out then pump or connector.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
There is voltage in and out but when key is turned the pump isnt coming on still. Though after it sits and cooks in the sun all morning and the temp rises around 10-11am it'll start up fine.

We changed the ait charge temp sensor, have a new coolant temp sensor and am looking for a replacement MAP sensor since they're all temp sensetive.

Any other ideas?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 4:34 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Well I was ruting around abit and found out that the wired ofthe fuel pump relay were squeezed together and bridging. I'm guessing it was causin the malfunction. Though I still have too much power flowing through the system. Would that be a short or a bad ground causing that?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
CRIMSONBULL
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Tryed to go to work tonight and since it started and drove fine earlier. Now it doesn't wanna shift out of first and falls into neutral unless you physically putit into first or second where it'll actually drive. Also the fuel pump is starting to not turn on again at ignition turn. Is it possible this isn't the lot of sensors faults and instead possibly the computer dying and failing the understand what its being told?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 28th, 2011 AT 4:19 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
It sounds like either the fuel pump relay or the pump itself is experiencing an intermittent failure.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 28th, 2011 AT 3:40 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Check the cold start valve/injector.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, November 28th, 2011 AT 3:46 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Hard To Start Content

Hard Starting
GUIDE
Hard Starting
Popular Hard Starting Causes
VIEW MORE