Starting issues

[BMW BMXER]

Weather here in Canadia is finally pretty warm (30 degrees c) 86 F.

My car has began to take longer to start (more cranks) and when it does starts kind of just barley starting, idles around 200 for a sec then up to 700 then back to a happy 500.

Is there a warm start valve or something? My starter sounds healthy so I don't think thats an issue.

Also my car has began to run at 3/4 temp consistently, should I be worried?
-Fan (1 week old, clutch working)
-ALT/Drive belt tight
-Waterpump 8 months old
-Coolant flushed last week
-Thermostat 8 months old

[arsevader]

Re: Starting issues

Weather here in Canadia is finally pretty warm (30 degrees c) 86 F.

It sure is, a little too hot for my liking.

My car has began to take longer to start (more cranks) and when it does starts kind of just barley starting, idles around 200 for a sec then up to 700 then back to a happy 500.

Is there a warm start valve or something? My starter sounds healthy so I don't think thats an issue.

No warm start valve. Low revs are usually an indication of too much fuel and hard starting when warm leads me to a fuel related problem such as vapour lock or something like that.

I would get your fuel pressure checked and alos get a residual fuel pressure check.

James

[/quote]

[BMW BMXER]

Fuel pressure isnt something I can check at home is it?

Oh 30 degrees, no ac, black seat, aint no thang. :P

[arsevader]

Fuel pressure isnt something I can check at home is it?

You sure can. Depends on your mechanical inclination and your willingness to purchase the tools.

You need to purchase a fuel pressure gauge for FI engines which you can get at Crappy Tire or a NAPA store or somewhere like that. Then follow the procedure in the Bentley/Haynes.

Or just pay a garage to do it. You need to get your residual pressure checked too, which is the pressure left in the lines when the car has been sitting for while. This has an impact on starting the car when it's been running and then has been sitting.

Oh 30 degrees, no ac, black seat, aint no thang. :P

Same boat here. Black car, my AC is weak to say the least. And it ain't the heat, it's the humidity. :D

James

[BS87]

Re: Starting issues

86 F.

It sure is, a little too hot for my liking.

Ahahahah, wuss


*me looks outside to 96 degree shady spot*

[808BMW]

Re: Starting issues

*me looks outside to 96 degree shady spot*

"It was 96 degreeeees... In the shaaaaade"

[BMW BMXER]

Ya ya we complain its to hot when its not you compolain its too cold when its not.

Took even more cranks this morning, I hate it. I will try and check my fuel pressure soon, but if my fuel pressure is low does that mean (one of both of) fuel pumps are shot?

[arsevader]

Ya ya we complain its to hot when its not you compolain its too cold when its not.

Took even more cranks this morning, I hate it. I will try and check my fuel pressure soon, but if my fuel pressure is low does that mean (one of both of) fuel pumps are shot?

Depends. Could be the fuel presure regulator.

Follow the procedures, it should tell what the problem is based on your findings.

James

[KillerCalypso]

Re: Starting issues

Also my car has began to run at 3/4 temp consistently, should I be worried?
-Fan (1 week old, clutch working)
-ALT/Drive belt tight
-Waterpump 8 months old
-Coolant flushed last week
-Thermostat 8 months old

Make sure that there are no broken engine fan blades and visible coolant leaks in the system. Your fan clutch may not be engaging properly so you may also want to check and see if its turning on. When the engine is hot try and stick a small amount of newpaper in the fan. If the fan stops very easily you need a new fan clutch. If it is hard to stop or almost impossible to do so the fan clutch is working properly. Also make sure that your radiator cap is properly sealed and check the system for pressure leaks.
hope this helps, keep us updated.
Andy

[BMW BMXER]

My car barfed out some coolant this weekend but again I could not find the source of the leak. It only seems to do it after I stop (did it once before 2 weeks ago).

Also the start problem went away after I cleaned my air filter?

[Nathan]

3/4 does seem pretty high... My engine runs at about 1/4. Definetly something funky going on with your coolant system. How old is the radiator?

[BMW BMXER]

My car used to run at 1/4 pre thermostat. Then just below half, now 1/2 or 3/4.

Pretty old.

[nando]

if your car is running between 1/2 and 3/4 all the time you got problems.

[BMW BMXER]

if your car is running between 1/2 and 3/4 all the time you got problems.

I am aware. It also spits out coolant once every two weeks. It collects on the ac condensor and area below the overfill bottle. But I cannot find the source.

[325ise30]

Well, first are you sitting down, ok your car is exhibiting the classic signs of a cylinder head crack or blown head gasket. Its happened in such a way that’s allowing engine compression into your cooling system causing air pockets blocking coolant flow and (pushing it out the coolant reservoir) resulting in engine over heating. I have seen this many times, mainly in Japanese and euro cars with aluminum heads. Now your starting problem may or may not be related. OK before you start seeing to many $$$ you need further testing to confirm and quite possibly your resent thermostat replacement is stuck partly closed I have installed a few that were defects right out of the box.

Good luck