Winter starting

[Neil_Pickard]

Why do I hate winter so much? Well my 1987 targa runs lovely through the summer and then in the winter it won't start! I've bought loads of DME relays one of them is only a month old and that doesn't seem to have solved anything. I also fitted a new distributor cap and rotor arm last winter. It's got a cover on it when not in use so it's definately not getting wet inside and I have even started taking the DME relay out each time to make sure it doesn't get damp!!!

So I'm stuck whats stopping my car from ticking over? It starts, it's happy for a couple of minutes then cuts out. Then you can't start it again for about an hour!

I need to get the car serviced but I can't drive it there to get it done!

Any hell much appreciated!

 

[Guest]

Hi Neil, your symptoms sound a little familiar. Did it do the same last winter (starting and running for a few minutes, then cutting out and not starting for a while)?

If not, then you might have a similar problem to that which I experienced last year with my 964. I don't think this would be a winter only symptom.

For me it was the crankshaft sensor that was failing. It ran fine for a few minutes when cold and once warmed up the crankshaft sensor failed and confused the ECU, which then shut down the engine.

Have a look under the Carrera 4 maintenance section of my website in the footer of this message for more details.

Cheers
Malcolm

 

[Neil_Pickard]

Thanks I'll have a look at your website.

It has done it the last two years! But seems to be getting worst each year. And as soon as the dry weather is here the car performs fantastically.

The only other thing I have noticed is that when it doesn't cut out that it will hesitate for a bit around 2,900-3,000 revs and on a long drive sitting in traffic the revs seem to have a mind of there own. As if I'm using my right foot but I'm not!

Neil

 

[Guest]

When something similar began to happen to me, it was the beginning of a relay failure. It was a relay under the front bulkhead on the driver's side.

Regards, David.

 

[Neil_Pickard]

I finally got the car running after revving the car to 2,000 for 15 mins and she ran lovely.

I popped in to Tower Porsche on the south side of tower bridge and they are looking now, he thinks it has something to do with the cold start as once the car is going there are no problems.

I will let you know what the outcome is when I get a call.

Neil

 

[Neil_Pickard]

Finally she is running well.

It turned out to be two breather pipes at the very back of the engine had split, looking back on the history this was mentioned 3 years ago to be replaced. I thought they had been done before I bought the car but obviously not. And the bypass value needed replacing.

The pipes were £22 each and the value £120 + VAT.

So to all of you who have cold start engine start probs have a quick check of the pipes after 18 years or so they are bound to be split or perishing!!

This weekend she will get a good clean, Zymol and a good long drive!