Help 89 sohc really hard to start!!!!

[miamiboy]

my 89 Sohc is taking really long to start. It cranks for a very long time before it will try and start. If i crank on it for about 3 seconds stop and crank again it starts right up. Otherwise it just cranks for 10 -15 seconds before it starts. Any help would be appreciated. I already replaced cap,rotor,plugs, wires. Also CTS sensor was replaced and cleaned out my throrttle body and idle air control valve. please help

[dickie]

is the starter itself good? are you not getting fuel, air, or spark?

[miamiboy]

its getting fule air and spark. once its started it runs great with a slight missfire here and there. ive pulled the injectors one at a time when its runing and it starts runing like crap. same as the spark plugs,when they are reconnected it smoths out just fine.

[neverlift]

5spd?

try jumping the terminals on the clutch interlock switch. see if that helps. but I think you have another issue, maf you cleaned your maf/wiring to it? how about trying the ecu for codes?

[sicride]

anybody else thinking maybe clogged injectors or lack of fuel pressure?

when was the last time you changed your fuel filter? Try this for me, turn the ignition to on for about 15 seconds and then try to start it. Does it start immediately?

[neverlift]

well you should always let the car prime for 5 seconds cause the ecu sends a pulse of about 5 seconds to the fuel pump then once you fully start the car it comes on and stays on,once you shut the car off it should continue to run for roughly 1 second.

[dickie]

if it runs and misfires occasionally its most likely an injector-related issue. i have replaced at least 6 in the past year

[neverlift]

nice to see d!ck got his rooster running lol

injectors you can check several ways; one is to get the car started or spinning over listen for the click when each injector fires,making this easier get a funnel, another is with a multimeter by checking the resistance across the terminals. You can pull the rail injector assembly from intake and let the system prime(not started),have rags/towels ready just in case they are leaking...

[miamiboy]

Thanks eveyone i'll try this as soon as i get home. its hard to work on it cuz of the crazy weather we are having here.

[sicride]

neverlift, I think he said he pulled injectors and it killed the way the engine ran each time he pulled one. Which tells me all 4 injectors are firing. The leak test, sure that'd work. This sounds more like a clogged injector thats just not getting enough fuel to it, or a clogged fuel filter, or a weak fuel pump. Because the misfire sounds sporadic and it eventually will start. I don't think he's flooding the engine with leaky injectors?? who knows. If the fuel filter hasn't been changed recently I'd definetely do that first because it can't hurt. Also the prime then crank to see if it's the pump. If he primes it and it really doesn't start when he turns the engine over and wont start for a while then he's got leaky injectors.

[miamiboy]

Ok i tried what you guys said and turned the key on for about 15 seconds and then cranked. When i did that i can hear my fuel pump making noise but it still cranks for a while before it starts. I also change the fuel filter and still have the same problem. I also checked for codes and its not saying any thing is wrong. I was driving it today and now i can smell gas fume but pop the hood and there is no leak anywhere also looked under the car an nothing there either. I'm out of ideas if someone is local and doesnt mind helping me figure this out would be great.

[sicride]

smell of fuel.. cool- now you are going the other way, it's not clogged it's flooding. How did you determine whether or not you're getting spark?

Let us see pictures of the plugs, take the pictures then try to brush up the plugs with a wire brush (since theres obviously gonna be some buildup on them running that rich or flooding), put them back in and see if it helps at all. The whole until it gets warm thing makes me believe that you have. Also check the gap on the plugs. If they are not gapped right or not the right plugs they may not be making STRONG enough of a spark until the cylinders warm up a wee little bit.

oh but I'm leaning towards injector issues too, like leaky ones now. just figure checking plugs and cleaning them and checking gaps wouldn't hurt and it's cheap (if you don't have the tools) or free (if you do).

[dsastr_clan]

dude thats the same exact problem i'm having !! everything that is happening to your car is happening to me in my 1990 240sx i did change fuel filter, spark plugs. wire, cap and rotor, i even took the valve that is behind the throttle and cleaned it really good but nothing !!!! my car just cranks forever and its worst when is cold then when it turns on it runs perfect with a lil misfires at the begining but then it just run perfect but all of this happened right after when i did my oil change i thought that i had move something when i took the oil filter off

[miamiboy]

OK i got really early so i can do everything this morninig before work. i checked my injectors to see if they were leaking pulled the rail and injectors like you said and primed it. Nothing happened not even a dribble. So i guess that rules out leaking injectors. I also did a compression test just cuz and i got 165 across all 4 cylinders. but i did see a hose that was cracked it is just above my fuel rail on a diaphram and seems to be going to my egr vavle. i have no clue now i'm going to replace it and see what happens.

[miamiboy]

Well i fixed that hose and it didnt fix anything i need help

[sicride]

ok lets try some other basics here.. Cleaning the IACV, MAF, EGR valve, throttle body. Still no word on the condition of the plugs??

If these don't work, I mean I don't know enough about these things honestly... I would start searching for how to check your MAF and TPS for proper operation.

I would also check your timing.

I'm running out of ideas too and unfortunately nobody else who would know this stuff is looking here.. They hate trouble shooting their own cars enough they sure as heck don't wanna trouble shoot yours lol.

[miamiboy]

Sorry i forgot to mention that about my plugs. I looked at them and they look perfectly fine. They werent burning too hot or soaked with oil check the gap and it was in specs. I was thinking about cleaning the maf but autozone didnt have any of the cleaner for that.