Currently have a 91 EF RT with 100k on it. Bought it last year with around 90k and has been running like a dream other than 1 issue, which has only presented itself a hand full of times.

Occasionally, after driving the vehicle for an extended period of time, turning off the engine, it will hard start. By hard start, I mean it will crank, turn over, and go into idle, struggle, then putter out. Normally, after 30 second to 2 minutes of letting it marinate, the car will start up fine.

Now to the main issue. This weekend, I was once again late to work, had turned the vehicle on 15 minutes prior to leaving, to allow the engine to warm, and I gracefully stalled out turning around in the street. *#&%... turned the key, crank but no cigar. After 3 - 5 attempts the car didnt start and I gave up.

Once I returned from work. I gave it another shot and it started up perfectly. I let the car idle and it died suddenly after 20 minutes. Started it back up first try and it idle for a half hour with no trouble. Now, this morning I was driving to work, cruising in 4th, and the engine cut. I coasted to a lot, parked, and sat for about an hour and a half before it started back up.

In the end I made it to work and back without an issue. My plans this weekend are change all ground wiring and do a fuel system cleaning.

Does anyone have any intuition on what it could possibly be? I read some other threads regarding main relay, fuel pump, etc but I dont think this is the issue. Im more convinced its a short or some issue with poor injector.

Anything helps.... thanks

 

Sounds like it could be the main relay.

Easy to rule out, just listen for your fuel pump priming when you switch to IGN-2. If you hear it priming and there's still a no-start condition you have a different problem.

Maybe start there before testing your distributor/fuel injectors and wiring.

 

Sounds good. Its been running fine around town lately but don't want to risk a +30 minute drive yet. If the scenario reoccurs, I'll check for the pump. The ground wires are really bad so those are getting done tomorrow and Ill probably check the main relay while im at it.

 

Update: ended up having a bad gasket on my distributor which allowed condensation to build up within it.

Also, shout out to the Munson who hijacked my thread when his issue is completely different than mine considering his car is modded and sus. KYS

 

 

UPDATE: Went the last couple of hot sunny months without issues. Recently the problem started again while driving in a thunderstorm, so I went for the alternator due to the odometer bouncing around, the oil/battery light, and what not. After wrestling it out of the car and replacing it, the car ran great. Seemed like a fix, but a week ago the problem occured again. Thinking about doing the distributor next.



I've listened for the fuel pump and I can still hear it priming on a no start scenario. Just thought I'd post again incase someone has input or advice.

 

By odometer do you mean tachometer? the tacho gets its signal from the distributor. The odometer rolls over mechanically from the speedo, driven by a cable to your gearbox.

 

Thanks for the correction. Meant tach. Distributor comes tomorrow so I'll update if all goes well.