Cold start problems

[Mux213]

Hey Everyone,

Anyone had this problem before? Engine turns just fine on the starter but engine won't fire in the morning. It takes me about a minute of trying before she'll go. The rest of the day she's fine and starts on the first turns so I expect its got to do with the cold start seeing temparture is dropping but anyone got any other suggestions how to diagnose this problem?

[dikolotour]

Mux,

without being sure it must be from the cold start injector. Maybe it is faulty. Check pages FI 71 - 73 & FI 95 of the 4AG manual.

Hope you find the reason and fix your problem.

[Mux213]

Dikolotour,

yeah that was my first guess aswell, haven't had a chance to check it out.. this morning I couldn't get it to start at all, rats..

I'm also wondering if it could be my temparature sensor that sends a signal to the cold start injector. My radiator isn't holding pressure at the moment due to a very tiny leak at the top (a new one is coming soon). But I doubt that would be it.

[Ivan141]

I probably have a spare cold-start injector.. and I'm sure robokill has a whole bunch of them in his spare manifolds. Just swap it out and see what happens.. shouldnt be too difficult.

[Mux213]

I dont expect it to be difficult, just need time thats all

[banpei]

Then make time: think about the time you will save each morning and you promptly make time. >

[Mux213]

Saving time in the morning is easy, I just take the volvo to work

[Mux213]

Well it turns out it probably has nothing to do with the cold start at all. Just strange timing.

Robokill came down this weekend to help me diagnose the problem, I find it real hard diagnosing engine problems when you're alone and thats not just cause I'm still relatively new at finding out problems

I was expecting a fuel problem, either the cold start being dead, but the car should still start by adding fuel with the throttle, Robokills first assumption was one that was mentioned to me a few times before aswell, and that was that my fuel pump may have died out on me.

A dying fuel pump could explain a car that does run but wont start if the fuel pressure is enough to keep it idling but not enough to start it. Then again, if this was the case I should have had problems driving the car.

We quickly ruled out the fuel problem by disconnecting a fuel line, we definatelly had fuel and plenty of it

So our attention turned out to electrical. First unplugged the lead from the ignitor to the distributor and check if it would spark, no problems there so plugged it back in.
Then did the same with the #1 lead, no spark...

Ah...

Unfortunately we couldn't go any further cause it was dark but it would seam either the distributor or the leads are at fault. Possibly I may still be getting enough spark to start her when fiddling around with the leads, and possibly just to keep her running, but it wasn't giving spark now.

I already ordered new parts but they wont be in until Monday. Today I was tinkering with the car anyways so I decided to take the rotor apart in preparation for the new parts. Taking the cap off parts of the contact points just fell out... hmm....

[Rasteirinho]

Quote:I find it real hard diagnosing engine problems

Welcome to my job...

Glad to know that you found the problem quickly...

[Mux213]

Okay,

Got the parts in reaaaal early this morning and a good thing to cause the Volvo is at the garage for MOT.

They ordered the wrong distributer cap for me It would have fit but advanced the timing 45 degrees or something, might be a AE92 or MR2 distributer or something..

So I desided to give it all a try anyway and just replace the rotor and leads and use my old warn out cap. Turns out that did enough of a trick. Its probably the leads that where the problem to start with.

She fired right up!!! Damn I missed driving her!

I'll bring back the cap later this week when I have time and get them to order the right one and replace it then.

But atleast I'm driving again! Yeah!