Problem with car! HELP!

[jhayes]

My manual 91 Festiva GL has been acting up
It runs fine once it's started and has no problems but sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't

I couldn't get it to start and called my dad who came out and we had to pop the clutch and push to get it started but once we got it home dad turned it off and started it up 3 times in a row with no problems

When it isn't starting we can smell gas and it ticks just doesn't turn over..
So it seems there's no gas problem or battery problems

We tried to have a buddy who owns a used car lot of ours use his diagnostic on it but to no avail..he couldn't get an adaptor to work to be hooked up on a Festy lol

So we currently have no idea what the problem is..
Most the time it starts up fine but sometimes it just doens't start
Any ideas?

Oh and were seeing someone else about a diagnostic soon

[BigWheel]

Is your check engine light on by any chance?

[jhayes]

Is your check engine light on by any chance?

It usually isn't on but at times it comes on while driving for around 30 secs to a minute and a half and then goes off and doesn't come back on

[BigWheel]

I'm assuming you've checked plugs, wires, disty, etc. I'm not much of a mechanic but there are guys on here that are very good. I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a combination of a vacuum leak and a bad temp sensor. Would start most of the time but then on occasions would have to let it sit a while. Had a bad rich smell when running which is what led me to look for the vacuum leak. My TB gasket was missing (go figure). Beyond this stuff I'm not much help.

[jhayes]

I'm assuming you've checked plugs, wires, disty, etc. I'm not much of a mechanic but there are guys on here that are very good. I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a combination of a vacuum leak and a bad temp sensor. Would start most of the time but then on occasions would have to let it sit a while. Had a bad rich smell when running which is what led me to look for the vacuum leak. My TB gasket was missing (go figure). Beyond this stuff I'm not much help.

Thank you...today our friend at the car lot said he could be the temp sensor acting up but to wait and have it checked completely so that were not replacing stuff that isn't the problem
Thanks for the help though because it's weird how it works like that and yet I've had no problems with driving or anything minus it starting

[Pu241]

I'm betting on the ignitor in the distributor, see if you can get another known good distributor and swap it over.
You'll, of course have to re-time the engine.

[25Horseplay]

If its ticking and not turning over I would clean the battery terminals and check all your grounds to make sure they are not loose.

[econoaddict]

Guys could we please READ the post before recommending stuff???

He said they smell gas and hear ticking but it WON'T turn over. They can push start it and it drives fine.
I would do as 25Horseplay suggests and have the starter tested if that checks out.


Jhayes, Your starting problem and the check engine light are 2 different issues.
I would get the starting problem fixed then shoot for the intermittent check engine light.

[festivaWES]

Yeah battery or starter. If you were able to push start it, and it ran after that i think you can rule out the TB gasket and ignitor. It could also be a faulty ignition switch, but if it is ticking and not starting...battery.

[BigWheel]

Guys could we please READ the post before recommending stuff???.

What exactly are you referring to?

[econoaddict]

What exactly are you referring to?

The recommending of distributors, vac leaks, intake gaskets, tune parts etc for a car that won't turn over intermittently.

He said he can push start it and it runs and drives fine.

Yes some of this may have to do with the intermittent check engine light but that WILL NOT help him if the car won't even crank over, his original issue got side tracked with the check engine light answer.

[jhayes]

Yea most of the time it starts right up fine
So it's weird how it just happens sometimes and not all the time
the car otherwise is in tip top shape

[GenevaDirt]

Yea most of the time it starts right up fine
So it's weird how it just happens sometimes and not all the time
the car otherwise is in tip top shape

I bet the starter has a dead spot on the armature or something....and depending on where it stops before next time it just doesn't make the right contact to turn it over. My 2 cents.

[KingFish]

I bet the starter has a dead spot on the armature or something....and depending on where it stops before next time it just doesn't make the right contact to turn it over. My 2 cents.

Tap it with a hammer, not to hard next time. But it fires right up.

[blkfordsedan]

When it isn't starting we can smell gas and it ticks just doesn't turn over..
So it seems there's no gas problem or battery problems

If the solenoid "ticks" it's usually a sign of a bad battery connection or cable. Clean or replace the battery terminal connections. Sometimes the cable will be corroded on the inside several inches down into the cable from the battery end and you won't be able to tell by looking at it. It will act up intermittently due to vibration and cable movement. I would spend $20 at Autozone and get new cables and terminal ends and I bet it will fix it!