No-start on 1991 5.0 Cougar

Driver · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:40 pm Post subject: No-start on 1991 5.0 Cougar

The car is having some trouble coming out of its winter hibernation. It went in starting just fine with its Braille battery. It has come out turning, but not firing... unless jumped.

The Braille gives it about 12.5-12.9 volts, which is enough to turn it convincingly for about 10 seconds.
Jumping it gives it 14.3 volts, which fires it up. Charging systems pumps out 14.5 volts. Revs up to the top without a miss, though I haven't had it on the road and under load.

Notes:
-It had very little gas in the tank, which obviously didn't last the winter. I added 6 gallons of 93 and some octane boost. Since adding the fuel, the car has idled (at 2000rpm) for a total of about 20 minutes. I would think it would have pulled the new fuel through the lines by now.
-Plugs, wires distributor, everything related to ignition is at least 9 years old, apart from the starter solenoid which is a year old.

Anyone willing to drive my Subaru up to M-O so I can use it for Jumps? Razz

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Freiheit · Moderator Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 2028

If its cranking strong. Plugs and wires seems like the place to start. They're easy to pull and check and clean. They're cheapish to replace.
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Driver · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:17 pm Post subject:

Update, if I shut it off, it will start right back up. The battery is unhooked overnight and doesn't drain, so it seems like a Hot engine will fire.

I think the starter is made of stone, chiseled from the very living earth back in the days of Clin-Ton.

It also may or may not have a drip of oil on it... whatever leaks out of the valve cover gasket and isn't burned by the header. Razz

_________________
"Seeking to do the impossible with the ridiculous."

"You can't operate that thing drunk"___"Well, I'm sure as hell not getting near it sober"
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Noisy Cricket · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject:

What is the voltage while cranking?

If it drops under 9 volts, the electronics cannot be expected to function reliably.

Don't assume - check it.

Driver · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject:

Noisy Cricket · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject:

Vise-grips and min/max function are your friends!

If it's good at the battery, try to check it at the computer. It's possible for there to be a decent voltage drop somewhere, although unlikely given the symptoms.

edit: If you're connecting the jumper cable's ground to the engine instead of the battery, it's possible that a weak ground is your culprit, if the battery voltage is staying high.

Driver · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject:

Trackbird · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:26 am Post subject:

My Camaro had a similar issue. My friend who owned it before me would store it for the winter. In the spring, it would crank very well, but wouldn't fire. Starter sounded healthy, cranked quickly, etc. We'd try until the battery died (reload the tune thinking it was a computer issue, etc). We'd borrow a jump box and it would light off.

It took me a while to realize that the car will crank perfectly well (or it sounds like it's cranking plenty well enough) and not have enough voltage to run the ignition. I thought I had some weird issue and eventually I started it one spring (or tried to) and it just cranked. I tossed my battery charger on it in "start" mode and it lit right off. It was just a voltage issue. Leaving a trickle charger on it for the winter fixed the issue and it started right away. I own a jump box now, so I have alternate options for starting it. I suspect you are having a very similar problem.

Likewise, tossing a charger on it the night before I planned to fire it would start it right up. Or, if it didn't start, I'd charge it overnight and it would light right off in the morning (from the battery alone).
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2007 Chevy C3500 - For towing.
1992 Camaro Z-28 - For going.

ninetyfourintegra · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 1140 Location: Pittsburgh

I have this: http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/dcpopa400wai.html

It works as a portable jumper, trickle charger, and a big-as s power source for a Power Wheels Jeep

Oh, and it'll run some A/C items for a bit as well.
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272PTD
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Driver · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:49 am Post subject:

Noisy Cricket · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:45 am Post subject:

Driver · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:23 pm Post subject:

ninetyfourintegra · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 1140 Location: Pittsburgh

Glad I could be of inspiration
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Ron Dodson
272PTD
www.summertimeracing.com

Trackbird · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:04 am Post subject:

I have one of these. The $100 will let you buy me beer for saving you $100. It's just the kind of guy I am... Wink

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02871486000P?vName=Automotive&cName=Batteries+%26+Chargers&sName=Battery+Chargers+%26+Boosters
_________________
Kevin
2007 Chevy C3500 - For towing.
1992 Camaro Z-28 - For going.