Thread: Turns over good but won't start.

Tweet

Hey Guys;
It's just recently started to get cold here and I have had a problem with my restore 70 pickup starting.
Now it's been up dated with a 1989 fuel injected 302.
I've got fuel and fire but just won't start after it gets cold.
Every week on wednesday my wife and I go to car club meats.
Well I went out washed up the truck and started it for about 15min.
The only reason I started it was because a few days earlier when it
had got a little cool it wouldn't start. After I got done washing the truck,
I shut it off and went in the house to see if the wife was ready to go.
We came out about ten minutes later, Guess what the truck won't start.
It was probably about 50 degrees out, anyway we had to take another car.
Any ideas,got fire and fuel and the next day after it warmed up to 70 went
out and it started right up. Now I am scared to drive it, afraid that it will
leave me and the wife walking. HUMM!!!!! Not enough Fuel!!! Kurt

so the starter works fine it just wont start? If you have spark, id say its a fuel problem. Do u have access to a fuel pressure tester/guage? How old is the fuel filter? Bad pump?

Well Kurt - it could be several things but I'd start with the fuel filter. Has it been changed recently? Temperature swings can also cause condensation in the fuel system anywhere between the tank and the engine. Because water is heavier, it will collect at all the low spots and all it takes is a bit of water to prevent starting. It's always a good idea to keep the tank as full as possible to eliminate the air space where condensation tends to collect. A good full stabilizer helps during the winter months as well.

Good luck with this one. I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions.
Glenn

sounds like a temp sensor problem there is no choke to richen up the mixture so the computer has to do that it relies on signals from sensors to know what conditions exist to make decisions one of these decision is cold start it will look at coolant temp and on some intake air temp. you need to scan the computer, on early ford sys you may need a break out box or hickock tester to get actual values some times you cant get good readings by back probing with d.v.o.m. try scaning for a code first ....ted

VARA4, A quick check on I.A.T.N. for 88 ford truck 302 no cold start, came up with 9 results, 2 where temp sensors,2 where computers,one was fuel filter and the 4 other results where not relevent.. Hope that helps... If it where me and I didn't have test equipment I would throw a temp sensor at it.

Thanks Guys; I was leaning towards a sensor too.
I've got a buddy that a retired electronics engineer
and we are gonna check those first.
I don't think it's turning up the fuel needed for cold
weather starts. I only run premium fuel and I know thats good.
Fuel filters are new so this should not be the problem.
I do drive the truck almost every day and have had no problems
till it started getting cool out.
Thanks to everyone for your time and input,
I think Ted & HWORRELL hit the nail on the head I'll let you guys know
what we find out. Thanks to all Kurt

if you need more info I have all the mitchell diagnostic manuals back to 1962 I use to teach computer and efi controls at a local jc and owned a shop and emissions test shop for years I don't have a scanner on my computer but my brother in law does so I can scan the diag. charts ( or family tree as I call them ) let me know ..ted

Thanks Ted; Both sensor are only $22 dollers together.
My buddy won't be back till later on this afternoon so
I am gonna replace them and see if it does it later when
it cools down again. If thats not the problem I'll always
have them to trouble shoot with later. Thats nice to
know though, Since I have lots of toys.
I've got a 72 Vette that use's MSD ignition a
65 Ranchero that will be a MSD ignition.
A 02 Chevy suburban thats stock and a
07 Mustang GT thats stock with only 5,000 miles on it.
thanks again Ted. Kurt