My 83 won't start consistantly and my recent repairs

[kassim503]

I've used a hairdryer under the hood to get the underhood temp up enough to "thaw" all that, but if you can't get the tank of fuel + the line to the filter up to temp, the hairdryer won't do any good. You'll need to get the whole car up to above 50°.

Or a reddy-heater if you have one, make a wall around it using a blue tarp over the hood and jam some ducting in there

[Midnightz]

[But, yes, you need to get the fuel blended down to a level that will flow. Unfortunately, because we are not going to see weather much above 40° today, the typical fix is to tow it into a garage, heat up the garage, get it running, pour a bunch of PD in the tank and drive it vigorously immediately to mix it up.

The temp at the parking lot was 47F. Bought a gallon of D2. Fed it to the filter inlet and used my syphon pump to draw from return line. Had a clear tube so I can watch what's coming out of the return line. The B99 was less viscous than yesterday. Pretty sure that I purged B99 out after about 1/4 gallon of D2.

No start....

Replaced the filter again and still no start. Just crank and crank. Won't even fire up to idle.

I didn't see blue smoke like I had in the past when it would crank but no start. Is it because of the lower temp, or fuel is not getting to the cylinders?

Didn't bring my multi-meter so don't know for sure if the GP's are energized. Even unplugged the temp sensor on the thermostat housing didn't work. The fusable link felt warm so that connection is good.

Call the tow truck and back to Green Car Company. Let's see if GCC would figure it out.

[kassim503]

Does the fusible link really get warm? Usually heat buildup is a sign of resistance.

[Midnightz]

Got the wagon back after Green Car Company's tech worked on it for another three hours... The GCC tried to bill me for the additional work and 2nd tow. I said sorry.

I think my troubles were

• 1. bad connection in wire harness to starter
  2. bad connection to GP relay
  3. B99 in tank

When I swap the engine to my 240Z, I'll be able to replace the wires. In the mean time, I've wired a LED to the GP #1:







Here's the vacuum gauge at the filter:



Notice the tygon (sp?) tube? The GCC tech installed it and said it's suitable for biodiesel.

Between the gauge and the LED, I should be able to have a clue next time why the car is having trouble starting.

[Carimbo]

Got the wagon back after Green Car Company's tech worked on it for another three hours...

What did they do this time? Is it able to run now?

I think my troubles were

1. bad connection in wire harness to starter...

Were you having cranking problems? Can't recall that. Wasn't it crank but no fire? Increasingly common is a failing starter motor solenoid.

Notice the tygon (sp?) tube? The GCC tech installed it and said it's suitable for biodiesel.

If that tubing is transparent or translucent then you have another important troubleshooting aid: You could see small bubbles indicating air entering the system under vacuum.

I've wired a LED to the GP #1

Would be interesting to see how long the GPs stay energized under cold start conditions, and warm start conditions. Could you report that to the forum?

[Midnightz]

What did they do this time? Is it able to run now?

The tech spent 3 hours trying to figure out where the wiring disconnect(s) were, which, I already had a pretty good idea (thanks to this forum).

Were you having cranking problems? Can't recall that. Wasn't it crank but no fire? Increasingly common is a failing starter motor solenoid.

I had no cranking and crank but no starting problems. I replaced the starter solenoid before I gave up and brought it in.

If that tubing is transparent or translucent then you have another important troubleshooting aid: You could see small bubbles indicating air entering the system under vacuum.

Yes, it's translucent.

Would be interesting to see how long the GPs stay energized under cold start conditions, and warm start conditions. Could you report that to the forum?

The GP's energized for about 3-4 seconds under cold start. Went off after the main GP relay clicked. Haven't yet start warm. I thought the GP's would energized a bit longer w/ reduced voltage (after glow?), but I am not seeing that. I'll have to take a closer look at that later...

[asavage]

The GP's energized for about 3-4 seconds under cold start.

Based on my three, should be closer to eight seconds cold.

Went off after the main GP relay clicked. Haven't yet start warm. I thought the GP's would energized a bit longer w/ reduced voltage (after glow?), but I am not seeing that.

Yes, you should see (reduced) voltage at the GP bus while cranking.