I sort of have two questions. The car is a 93 Del Sol with the D15b7 motor in it.

One is what size wire needs to go from the positive battery terminal to the fuse block under the hood? I bought a new Battery cable and it comes with a little cable off the side, but it's quite a bit smaller than the one going to the fuse box now. I wanted to try and use one cable and do away with the original, just want to make sure this one is big enough.

Second question is, I don't know if it's because it has gotten colder or if it just started happening because something is going wrong. But I've noticed that when I go out to start the car it will crank, fire, then die. It seems the colder it is the more times it does this. Usually after 3-5 tries it starts and runs fine. The engine has about 150k on it, plugs are NGK's and have maybe 10k on them. Fuel filter has about the same amount of mileage on it. Plug wires are about a year old. Sorry I know this is sort of vague but I'm not sure what to troubleshoot.

 

Check the ECT sensor. I used to have problems starting the car when it was cold just like you and it turned out to be that. Any codes?

 

My fuel pump is wearing out. It was 17 this morning and I had the same issue. Put some warm gas from the garage in my tank and it fired right up. I also sometimes have to prime the pump twice to get it to fire right up when it's been sitting below 1/8 tank or so.

Time for a new pump in my case. I've ran it dry twice and it's a Walboro. They apparently REALLY don't like that LOL.

 

Fuel pumps rarely go bad, unless you let them run dry in your case. You could go ahead and check for fuel pressure but if that isn't the case then ect could be next on your list to check.

 

I thought it might be the fuel pump but haven't heard of too many problems with them. But I have no clue how many miles are on this one either.

It isn't throwing any codes at all either. I'll go ahead and replace the ect since they aren't super expensive and it needs done anyway.

 

So I went and bought a new ECT sensor and it looks different than the one that came out, and won't fit. The one on the left is the original and the one on the right is the new one. Did I buy the wrong thing or something?

 

Never mind I'm an idiot, I took out the sensor for the fan instead of the Ect.

 

Best of luck, please let us know how it works as I'm facing the same problem right now and am not sure if it's that or the fuel pump.

 

I will do, it's suppose to be 5 degrees Monday morning so I'll see what happens.

 

Well I replaced the ECT and drove it Sat night, everything seemed fine. I let it sit all day sunday and then Monday morning it did the same thing but it was -4 outside. Ever since then it hasn't done it at all. Starts right up on first crank every time. So I think I had a bad ECT sensor. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

I knew it lol. That stupid ect sensor did the same thing to me. Feels great to start up on the first time every time!

 

could this also cause a no start when its like cold out? my car was firing and dying also, but then it got really cold out and it doesnt start at all? i have a thread going here, but thought i would just ask real quick to see if the ect could be my problem too?

thanks
-Josh-