Starting Problems 95 Probe GT...Maybe?
ke...@minot.com
lot, the car started right up ever time. Now, on cold starts (after it's
been sitting for a while), the starter cranks and cranks, but the engine
doesn't start for about 5-8 seconds. The car starts right up if it's been
running recently... The car has eventually started every time, but I live
in North Dakota, and I'm wondering how this car is going to start when the
subzero temps start moving in, right now it's still around 40-50 degrees...
I took it back to the dealer to be looked at, the mechanic explained that
Probes basically are "supposed to start like this." He explained that
because Probes use a "Cam Sensor" instead of a "Distributor" that they crank
a little more before they start. He said if it is a real problem, I should
look at maybe replacing the fuel pump.... I'm sure by now you guys know I'm
NOT a car man, I just love the performance I get out of this Probe... Did
this mechanic give me a line? If so, any suggestions as to what the problem
might be?
Clint Law
<ke...@minot.com> wrote in message news:80pj7j$b6g$1...@abc.minot.com...
Does it crank slowly at all? If it does, it is probably a battery. If it
cranks full speed, but still is hard to start the fuel pump is a good place
to look. It should start up pretty quick - within a second or two at the
most.
Definitely take the car to a good mechanic and have the fuel pressure
(especially with the motor off) checked before you spend the money to
replace the fuel pump, not a cheap thing to do. Other things that will hurt
the starting if worn are the plugs and wires, air filter, and possibly a
fuel filter.
Mike
>I bought a '95 Ford Probe GT about two weeks ago.. When I drove it off the
>lot, the car started right up ever time. Now, on cold starts (after it's
>been sitting for a while), the starter cranks and cranks, but the engine
>doesn't start for about 5-8 seconds. The car starts right up if it's been
>running recently...
You need to have the fuel pressure checked. Specifically, after the
car has been shut off, the pressure in the fuel rail should remain at
at least 21PSI 5-minutes after shut-down. If it doesn't, the fuel
pressure regulator, the fuel pump or the injectors are allowing the
pressure in the lines to drop.
If you want to reduce the cranking time (and as an experiment to
verify this theory), do this:
-open the hood
-beside the battery is a black box called "Diagnostic"...open it
-there's a bunch of pins in there. Inside the lid should be a legend
indicating what pin does what. Locate the 'F/P' and 'GND' pins.
-use a paperclip to jumper these two pins together
-turn on the ignition (don't start it yet). The fuel pump will start
running. If you go under the hood, after a few seconds you may hear
the fuel rail "charging" as fuel runs into it
-after 10-seconds, turn off the ignition and remove the jumper
-start the engine. Betchya it starts right away...
Mine (94PGT) did this briefly after the friction gear springs & timing
belt were replaced but it cleared up after a few days. I surmised it
was a bit of gunk stuck in the pressure regulator (the intake manifold
was off the car and the fuel system open to the world for half-a-day)
causing the internal leak. I *thought* I'd heard about a TSB for 95
PGT fuel pumps...might want to see if your mechanic can find one in
the Ford database.
>I took it back to the dealer to be looked at, the mechanic explained that
>Probes basically are "supposed to start like this." He explained that
>because Probes use a "Cam Sensor" instead of a "Distributor" that they crank
>a little more before they start.
Well, no car is supposed to crank for 8-seconds before starting. He's
not completely full of shit though: In the PGTs engine control system,
the fuel pump is controlled by the PCM terminal 3T. When the PCM
receives RPM signals from the crankshaft position sensors, it enables
this relay, starting the fuel pump. This means the engine has to crank
before the pump even starts, and in your case, it has to run a while
before the system pressurizes again. Alot of cars, like late-80s GM
cars, have the pump run for 2 seconds or so as soon as the ignition
switch was turned on, providing a "priming" function.
Then again, he is kind of full of shit: The PGT definitely uses a
distributor, which contains a camshaft position sensor as well as the
requisite ignition components.
>He said if it is a real problem, I should
>look at maybe replacing the fuel pump.... I'm sure by now you guys know I'm
>NOT a car man, I just love the performance I get out of this Probe... Did
>this mechanic give me a line? If so, any suggestions as to what the problem
>might be?
>
Good luck,
----
Mike
94PGT
PilotC150
>Probes basically are "supposed to start like this."
I just want to let you know that the mechanic you took it too if full of sh*t.
(excuse my language). I'm here in Moorhead, Minnesota, (as close to ND as
possible without acutally being there). I just recently had that problem, but
i know the problem was that I ran my fuel tank almost to empty, had only a
gallon left in there. Now when I start it up after filling the tank, it starts
great. Even in the bitter cold (well, that's all relative). Just thought I
let you know how my car runs in the same conditions.
Chris Anderson
16 Years Old
Proud Owner of a 93 PGT
Pioneer, Jensen, Rockford Fosgate, Urban Audio Works, NGK, Soon to be Borla
Mazda Boi
>>I took it back to the dealer to be looked at, the mechanic explained that
>>Probes basically are "supposed to start like this."
Hmmmm. Supposed to start like that? I beg to differ. My 93 FP fires
right up after turning over just two or three times total (like 1 to 2
seconds)
Colin - mazd...@yahoo.com
ke...@minot.com
I took it back to the mechanic and told him I thought the fuel pressure was
dropping... Sure enough, they kept it overnight and when they checked the
pressure the next morning it had dipped below 5psi... Since I just purchased
the vehicle (as is), they still decided to fix it free of charge...
Thanks again!
"Mike" <spa...@diediedie.com> wrote in message
news:3830b642....@news.golden.net...
> >I took it back to the dealer to be looked at, the mechanic explained that