Starting issues

[Nichabod]

I've got a 93 240sx vert and I just had the alternator and belt replaced about a month ago. Since I bought the car about a year ago, I've had some intermittent starting problems, not battery issues but just takes a few turns of the key to get it going. Yesterday my wife drove to work just fine and when she went to leave the car wouldn't start.

I drove her to work today and when I try to start the car it hesitated like there's no gas getting to the engine. It started a couple of times but when it went to idle (around 500rpms) it dies out. The wiring to the starter looks ok. I talked to a relative and he said that it might be an air intake chip that got dirty. I couldn't find what he was talking about. Has anyone run into this type of problem before? Sound to me like a fuel filter thingy.

[cmoody2006]

It might be the fuel filter, fuel injector problem, mass air flow issue, or even bad gas

[bigG]

I just had a similar problem. My ar started running ROUGH at idle, but would smooth out at around 3K RPM, but I had no real power. I had determined the rough running was coming from cylinder 4.

The next day, it wouldn't start at all. Plenty of battery life left. I checked my fire at the coil and each plug wire, so I went to Wal Mart and got new plugs. It started first crank.

Check your fire at each point. You may just have a bad plug.

[Nichabod]

How do I check if the spark plugs are firing? Sorry, I know jack all about cars.

[bigG]

Okay, this may seem a little old school and barbaric, but my mechanic talked me through it, and it works...

First, pull the center cable from the distributor (it leads to the coil) and stick a screwdriver into it. DO NOT EVER TOUCH THE METAL PART OF THE SCREWDRIVER! (Trust me...it shocks worse than peeing on the electric fence!) Hold it by the handle. Have someone turn the ignition (just small cranks) while you put the exposed metal part of the screwdriver next to a nearby bolt or nut on the car (like the ones on the shock tower). If you see a spark, you know that your coil is working.

Plug it back in and pull each of your spark plug wires from the plugs (not the distributor), one at a time, and do the same with each. If you have fire from all four, you can assume that you do not have an ignition problem. Each of your spark plug wires will fire less often than the one from the coil, since they fire in sequence.

This is how I determined that I needed new plugs. Once I changed them, the engine (which wasn't even running) fired up first crank! Now if I can just get my power windows to work...

Hope it works for you. Let us know what you come up with.

[Nichabod]

Well, I was talking to a few people and they were thinking that it might be a clogged fuel filter. Just to be safe I'm gonna go ahead and replace them all as I have no idea when they were last replaced and they really don't cost that much.

I was curious about replacing the fuel filter of the 240, about how to relive the fuel system pressure. I've read about using a fuse or a the fuel system relay or something. Can anyone provide specifics?

[bigG]

That's what I thought my issue was at first. I had changed the fuel filter, but my situation got worse. My car has 99K miles on it, and it was the original one. I'm glad to have a new filter now, but again, it didn;t fix my problem.

As far as relieving pressure...I just pulled the hose off the filter. Some fuel spilled out, but that was it (your filter is higher than the tank). When I hooked it all back up, there were no issues.

[Nichabod]

Hmm. Any advice on how to properly remove the old filter without spraying myself with gas?

Also, I'm not sure if it makes a huge difference but when the car tries to start, the engine looks like it's in a damn earthquake. It bounces like there's no tomorrow. Can't be a good thing, right?
Modified by Nichabod at 9:54 PM 1/6/2008

[bigG]

I removed the hose that comes from the bottom of the filter leading to that Y pipe (if my memory serves me correctly). Once it's off, about 3-4 ounces will shoot out as it depressurizes, then that's it. I then took the hose off the top pipe to free the whole assembly, hoses and all. I put the hoses on the new filter, then reassembled the whole thing. It took less than five minutes.

I still think you have bad plugs or a timing issue. You're almost describing to a tee my issue. Plugs are only a couple of bucks each, and that process take less than ten minutes.

[Nichabod]

Oh yeah, I'm gonna do em all at the same time but it can't hurt to take care of the fuel filter wile I'm at it. Just needed to know how not to blow myself up. Thanks a lot, you've been a huge help!

[ishkabibble]

To depressurize, just pull the fuse for the fuel pump then start the car and run it until it stops. Use a Z32 (1990 300ZX) fuel filter for a replacement. Same fittings, but it flows slightly better.

If the end(s) of your fuel line at the filter is getting ratty, you may want to consider cutting a little bit off so you don't develop a leak.