[Automotive] Just a bit pissed off.

[Baneblade]

I found this good running and shape 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis and bought it. However it has a bit of an issue starting up on occassion which usually only requires tapping the Starter Solenoid once or twice. Now after I have replaced it, it's being much more annoying to start when it decides not to. Infact I just got back from a half mile walk to where I ended up leaving it at a gas station.

Turned over a couple times, but all in all, just didn't do it. I'm not convinced the SS was the only problem.

Any mechanic types around here that could give me a hint?

Oh and I have some good news...I just saved a bunch of money by switching from Geico to Progressive.

[Hamma]

No idea.

[Baneblade]

All that's keeping me from flying off the handle at this point is thinking about what this car will be like when I do all my mods.

[OneManArmy]

heh sounds like me and my GTA... there's so much little shit falling apart on this car because of its age and how it was taken care of it's driving me insane.

just thank god (and knock on wood) the drivetrain is all holding up fairly well.

hard to tell whats wrong with the car from here?... could be electrical related.. fuel related... is it fuel injected? maybe it just needs a new fuel filter. or injectors.... maybe the plugs are bad or a wires messed up...

but seriously I dunno.

[Baneblade]

Yeah, Im probably going to end up doing a complete overhaul, passed smog with flying colors tho and runs great. It just has a lot of little things that are really annoying. Hopefully it's just the wire and not a bigger issue...I kinda need this car for work lol.

[GraniteRok]

Check if you have any dead battery cells and give the posts a good cleaning. Check for corrision on the cable terminals at both the battery and starter ends. Also check to see if you have a good ground. Normally there's a large braided copper cable going from the block to the firewall. See if there's any corrosion around that too. Sounds to me that if you've replaced the solenoid, you're not getting the cranking power.

[Peacemaker]

If the car is trying to turn over but just wont theres a good chance your not getting fuel to the heads. Id suggest pulling the head cover off and having a friend turn the car over for you. Look at it as it trys to turn over (it wont with no heads as there is no compression). Make sure everything is moving right. Starter Solonoids might not be the problem if its starter motor is retarded. Ive never seen it on a car but a few planes ive worked on had starter motors that just didnt have the umph left to get the engine to cycle a few times.

[Baneblade]

Right now the general consensus is that it is related to the starter itself. It starts fine in conditions that arent stressful, but has issues starting after its been running awhile.

[Peacemaker]

Is the engine turning over though? From what your telling me its trying to but wont go (RrrrRRrrrrrRRRrrrrr) instead of (RrrrrRrrrrvrooooooOOOOOM)

[Kam]

Obviously it's the flux capacitor. You need to ionize the crystal matrix and reconstitute the matter/antimatter containment field.

[Baneblade]

Originally Posted by Kam

Obviously it's the flux capacitor. You need to ionize the crystal matrix and reconstitute the matter/antimatter containment field.

I'll get a MrFusion instead.

[Baneblade]

Originally Posted by Peacemaker

Is the engine turning over though? From what your telling me its trying to but wont go (RrrrRRrrrrrRRRrrrrr) instead of (RrrrrRrrrrvrooooooOOOOOM)

It varies between Rrrrrclunk and RrrrRRrrrRrrweee

It's almost predictable tho, when the engine cools down it starts up no problem.

[OneManArmy]

sounds like the starter motor is over heating. get some heat shielding on that puppy.

[Baneblade]

Yeah, went back a few hours later and it started up fine, drove it home.

*sigh*

[Baneblade]

Update:

Drove to work, walked home.

I have to this date replaced the Starter Solenoid and the Ignition Coil. Damn thing wouldn't even try to fire this time (but turned over just fine). I think it's a wiring issue.

So my car is now sitting in the employee parking garage at work. Something tells me they wouldn't appreciate the humor of me trying to work on it there.