Help! BP'Tiva having starting issues (Gas Related?)

[gareth69]

Sounds to me like the injectors might be dribbling and the engine is flooding. If it happens again hold your foot flat to the floor on the accelerator while you crank and if it is injector dribble it should fire up fine.

[SimonTuffGuy]

I don't think it's fuel related... After I have this issue and the car DOES start, it smells really bad of gas and a bunch of white smoke blows out the exhaust.

To me, it's almost like fuel is getting to the engine, too much when it doesn't actually start, and then when the engine actually fires it's all going off.

So, that leads me to spark. But since the problem is so intermittent, it might be hard to trace back down.

[jglutz]

^^CPS...just a start.

[SimonTuffGuy]

gareth -

Went home over my lunch today and saw what I could do... I've got spark, so that's not the cause. Then after I tried starting the engine, it wouldn't start (probably because fuel was going into the engine, it wasn't firing up - like the problem I'm having, but I guess I caused this one) - So I stopped... Put the gas pedal to the floor and tried starting it, fired right up.

Joe - the CPS, according to my booklet) is in the distributer and can't be serviced... It says just to replace the whole disty... Which I'll have to source from the junkyard at some point I guess.

[25Horseplay]

Bad fuel pressure regulator?

[nonamekid]

My taurus does the same thing. After it sits for about 2-4 hours it sometimes won't start unless I give it some gas. I wonder if it has to do with the computer not setting the choke and it is not getting enough fuel to start. The computer might think the engine is still warm and not give it enough gas to start.

[gareth69]

Simon, the next time you drive your car don't turn it off by the key. I beleive over there you have fuel pump inertia switches, give it a wack and let the engine stop by running out of fuel then turn the key off. Reset the switch and don't turn the ignition on until the next time you are ready to drive.You could also remove the fuel pump relay to acheive this but a wack on the switch is easier. If it is injector dribble (which from your symptoms and my 18 years as a mechanic I suspect it is) with no pressure in the rail the injectors can't dribble fuel. When you turn the key to the on position the pump will run for a couple of seconds and build up fuel pressure. Do this 3 or 4 times to fill the fuel rail and then crank. If I'm right it will fire up fine.

If you happen to know someone at your local ford dealer get them to plug in their diagnostic equipment and check the long term fuel trims, if your injectors are dribbling they should be a largish -ve number. I know I'm harping about injectors but from what you are describing that is the first place I would look. I am assuming that all the basic tune items are good, eg base idle speed, throttle body clean and isc valve working. I'm also assuming that you only get the problem when you have driven the car till it is normal operating temp. and it has been parked for a while. The smoke from your exhaust is the oil that has been washed from the bores by excessive fuel, the fuel smell from the excessive fuel from the injector dribble and extra the ecu puts in for cranking and the rough running for a bit becaused the plugs have fouled with oil and excess fuel. Sorry about the length but I thought I should explain why I am posting what I am so you know I am not just rambling thoughts.