[rellimpk]

My car doesn´t like starting when the engine´s hot. The engine will roll over as long as I hold the key in the starting position and when I let it (the key) go back it will sometimes start, and sometimes it won´t. Those times that it doesn´t start up on the first try, it will on the second with no problems. Any clues? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and this damned check engine light is starting to piss me off, but that´s a whole other story.

 

[birddog]

Just curious why is the check engine light on? I had the same problem with my Dad´s Saturn, and never did figure it out, all I did was put a Band-Aid over the check engine light as a joke and about two weekes later the light went out and the car worked fine. The code was, "quad driver module output fault" The guys at the dealer were even baffled by that one.

 

[TheBlade]

One light, maybe problems displayed. Okay usually a car will have a hard time starting when its cold when the pumps about to go.

But look at your problem this way. It only takes 3 things to make a motor run (and start):

1. Fuel
2. Air
3. Spark

I checked for fuel by unhooking the fuel return line off the rail, but that´s because I already had my cut for the FPR. I dont recommend cutting the line, the manual doesnt tell you but the line has plastic in it to stiffen it...so if you cut the line you need to buy a whole new line.

Checking for spark is easy, just pull the coil wire and have someone hold it to the chassis by the radiator as you try to start it. IF they jump, that´s not the problem.

Air....sometimes small cracks will cause vac leaks. If the crack is small enough the ECU can adjust for the airflow being all screwy so you may have teh beginnings of a small crack. Most likey the Intake hose going to the TB.

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If the problem is fuel, you can use a DVOM to check your wires to the pump from the ignition. From there use a test light on the injectors themself. Electric intake pumps generally dont fail soft, they usually just not work one day...so that´s probably not it. But if your injectors are sticking...that would be the prob.

Same thing if its spark, try testing your power wires with a DVOM and then then check your coil, cap, rotor wires and plugs. You can test the mag pickups on your distributer with the DVOM. I think I had two pins putting out like .5amps and 2 doing nothing. Just pray it isn´t your Ignition Module..the stupid thing is like $132 from Napa.

 

[rellimpk]

I don´t know why the check engine light comes on, but it´s very sporadic.

Also, I don´t know if this is related or not, but it will occationally idle pretty low (below 500). It´s never actually stalled, but it´s still slightly concerning. It used to idle low much more often until I reset the ECU, now it´s not so bad, but it still happens once the engine´s warmed up.