intermitent hot start problem

[Richard J. Andrews]

At 07:14 PM 3/11/01 -0500, you wrote:
when this happens to me...
i remove the air cleaner and lift the plate while the fp is running...
(put a fuse in the f/p relay)
it will prime the engine..
you definately have an air leak from what it sounds like to me.
but if you lift the air plate this will give it enough fuel to start the 
engine...
trust me BTDT many a times...

HTH!
rich
'86 4kq

P.S. best bet would be to check/replace any hoses that feel aged...
i would also remove the hoses for best inspection.
>I have been fighting a hot start problem on with my '87 5Ktq (approaching
>200K miles) for about 6 months. It would occasionally fail to start after a
>short hot soak of 5-10 minutes such as when getting gas or stopping at a
>convenience store. If I let it cool down for about 20-30 minutes it will
>start right up as if nothing happened. This would occur about once or twice
>a month but now it happens often enough that I avoid turning it off. Last
>week I had the unpleasant experience of having to bum a ride the rest of the
>way into work from my jerk of a manager after such a failure. He happened to
>stop for breakfast at the same place and on the ride in I got a lecture on
>buying a proper new "merican" car. Needless to say it is no longer just an
>inconvenience. In the past it has always happened under one or more of the
>following conditions.
>
>1] it's dark out and I can't see much
>2] it's very cold out
>3] it's raining / snowing
>4] no one is with me to turn the key while I am under the hood
>5] no tools with me
>6] I am late for work or an appointment
>7] all of the above
>
>Two things that I have ALWAYS been able to confirm are that the fuel pump
>and relay are working and that there is spark at the coil. Sometimes it will
>start after a short wait but will stumble and miss until it "clears it's
>throat" and then it will run fine. Once I bump started it down a hill. The
>engine was turning over but it didn't hit a lick for about 4 seconds then it
>fired right up to a smooth idle. Maybe the vibration of the bump start
>jiggled a loose electrical connection or something that was mechanically
>bound up due to the hot soak. Today I was able to induce the failure in my
>driveway, WOW  light, tools and everything, this should be easy now!. A
>timing light shows that the ignition system is working fine, plenty of
>spark. Next I checked the airflow sensor disk for sticking and dirt, all was
>well. Still no start, it doesn't even hit a lick. I take a break to think
>about it and 30 minutes later it starts instantly as if nothing ever
>happened. Over the last several months I have been replaced the fuel pump,
>fuel filter and fuel injectors. Several times when parking the car I try to
>restart it and it always does; but sometimes it won't start 5 minutes
>latter. Current theory is that the idle stabilization valve sticks in a
>position causing low manifold vacuum (airflow sensor doesn't lift) or the
>freq. valve is sticking reducing fuel pressure. This "no start" only happens
>intermittently and the car runs great otherwise. Anyone ever experience a
>similar problem? Suggestions? (different than my manager's please)
>TIA
>
>Mike
>'83 UrQ
>'84 4Kq
>'87 5Ktq
>'77 Ferrari 308 GT4