3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Car sometimes starts, sometimes not

Old 08-17-03, 01:20 AM
  #1  
Buy my car!

Thread Starter
 
Azaka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Raleigh, NC (NCSU)
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car sometimes starts, sometimes not

The guy building my FD has another FD with a weird problem. It will sometimes start and sometimes won't. And even after it's started sometimes it will randomly turn off. At first it was thought to be a grounding problem since the guy is running the Apexi Power FC and it fixed the car for two days, but on the third day the same symptoms came up. Then it was maybe thought to be a weird turbo timer problem, but even after removing the turbo timer the problem remained. It's definetely not the ignition system (it has spark and fire). This is something none of us have ever seen before. We believe that it's not an electrical problem becuase of the random inconsistency of the problem. If anyone has had a similar problem or has an idea of what is wrong please let us know. Thanks a lot.
Old 08-17-03, 06:08 PM
  #2  
Buy my car!

Thread Starter
 
Azaka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Raleigh, NC (NCSU)
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No one has any ideas?
Old 08-18-03, 06:56 PM
  #3  
T3DoW

iTrader: (10)
 
TpCpLaYa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Chicago - NW Burbs
Posts: 3,754
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
my car has the exact same problem. Not sure if your car motor was cranking or not but mine would just click. And i would have to sometimes hold it and then try a couple times till it would eventually start up. Other times it would just start right up. Well today it started fine and i took it out. Came back like 30 mins later to see its acting up again. Only this time im trying it and smoke starts coming from the steering column!!! So im sorta freaking out at what it might be. I took of the plastic cover to see where the smoke was coming from and it was coming from the ignition coil or sumthing of that sort. round white part on left side of steering wheel and has 3 copper strips on it. So my car is prob gunna have to be towed and taken to a mechanic to get a new part..this sucks. ANy1 else have similar problems? The guy quoted me up to 450 for the whole part since it extends all the way into the engine bay.
Old 08-18-03, 07:00 PM
  #4  
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
my car has done this and it's been coincidentally only when the fans stay on for the 10 minutes. For me, it usually only requires some jumper cables to fix. Mind you, I didn't get the smoke... but my turbo timer DID **** the bed. It was flashing random numbers on shutdown and my car simply would NOT shut off. I had to pull it off the harness to get her to stop.
Old 08-18-03, 11:06 PM
  #5  
Love'n my 7

 
SVT Squasher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: YOU DONT HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My FD sometimes starts on the first turn of the key and somtimes it takes up to seven turns before it starts. when I turn the key I get the guage light but no starter. If this is the same prob you have it is the Inhibator switch (keps the car from starting when it is in gear. The previous owner of my car had it fixed once for $330+. There has to be a way to bypass it but I havent done it yet.
Old 08-19-03, 12:16 AM
  #6  
T3DoW

iTrader: (10)
 
TpCpLaYa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Chicago - NW Burbs
Posts: 3,754
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
whers the inhabitor switch located exactly. im trying to figure out what part is messed up on mine. a couple ppl said it could just be a short but this thing is smokin when its bein used....??
Old 08-19-03, 02:12 AM
  #7  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
Rx-7$4$me's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Imhibator switch ? we dont have one of them... I Start my car in gear every day.

For those that have a click noise somtimes, can u hear your starter ? IF not go under there and smack it with some blunt object, then try again. Starter could be on its way out.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kyo
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
6
04-13-19 09:24 AM
gtcd
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
30
08-19-15 02:44 AM
torky007
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
7
08-17-15 05:14 PM
ashleymiche
Introduce yourself
0
08-14-15 12:59 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Car sometimes starts, sometimes not



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:08 AM.