[urq] hard starting revisited

[SpotatAshleys]

A while back I put a posting up regarding my hard starting 87 WR. The symptoms were that hot starting was fine, no matter how hot. Cold starting was a different matter. After being left over night it would take several seconds of cranking and even then it would only start with accelerator flat to the floor. And all this on a newly rebuilt engine. But if I left it several days it usually started with very little cranking. Very odd.

I changed injectors, checked all the ignition side of things, even changed the starter because it did not seem to be spinning fast enough. I checked and cleaned up all earth straps.

Anyway I think I have finally got to the bottom of it.

First, the ignition switch was a bit dicky. Sometimes it did not make sufficient contact to hold the solenoid thus the starter would not turn at all.

Secondly I found that for some reason yet to be established that the starter immobilising circuit of my alarm system was drawing  current leaving little to turn the starter.

Rectifying these two made starting more reliable but still nowhere near as good as it should be.

And thirdly I finally got around to changing the fuel pump check valve.

This has made the most difference. Now my baby starts at the first turn of the key with no cranking. What a difference. 

I seem to recall one or two people mentioning the fuel pump check valve when I first put up the posting and to them I can say "you were right".

I have since read in a bosch publication on K-Jetronic that 95% of cold starting problems can be attibuted to the fuel pump check valve.

Many thanks to all who responded.





Keith

'87 WR