Started crunks, but will not start.
Very temperamental car, specially when Raquel - the wife, drives it. Works well for weeks, then it stops or will not start. Later, “he” is fine, works well speciallly with Richard the husband.
This has been going on for 3 or 4 months. First time it stopped, I tried it several times, it would cranked and even started, but when I tried to put it in gear, it stopped. I gave up, called a tow-truck but just after that, after about 10 minutes, I try it, it started and worked well for a couple weeks.
Then, again the same thing, stopped and will not start again, but after a few minutes, it started and contined ok for days. I complain to my husband, he drove it, no problem…
Lately… I went to a Doctor’s appt. Came out and the car will not start, it cranked, but no, I called my husband, he came, could not get it started, he told me to call a tow truck. We towed the car to a mechanic. He had it 2 days, it worked fine, the gasoline was low, so he put 3 gal of gas … that is all, car is fine.
Last week:
Husband drives it, as I am afraid of the car problems, he has no problems.
I drive it Saturday to garage sales, perfect, great…
Monday, I went shopping, I want to get home, the car will crank, but it will not start, I call my husband, he says: you go home, I will get it going. (he serous and joking tells me it is my fault). Later he told me the car did not start, he waited about 20 minutes, and drove great. He goes back to his work, but this time, he could not get it started. Car stays at work for a day.
I drive him to work now, when to put him up and he tries starting the “monster” and
it works!!! .
NOW, he did say that the car stopped on the way home, (short distance about 4-6 miles) but he re-started it with no problem.
NOW THE PLYMOUTH IS HOME, AND WE WILL NOT MOVE IT UNTIL WE FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
cAN YOU HELP?
RAQUEL
TALLAHASSEE, FLA
PHONE 850 383-0764
Oyvay. Intermittent problems are the worst.
High mileage, yes?
You may have a (weak?) fuel pump picking up debris or maybe even moisture from the bottom of the fuel tank.
When was the fuel filter last replaced?
There may be a faulty fuel pressure regulator.
Aside from a fuel problem, there may be a lack of spark.
When the engine quits, what does it do? Quit suddenly, as though the key was turned off?
If so, there is an electrical fault.
If it stutters and stumbles, it’s likely a fuel and/or an air supply fault.
Any vacuum leaks?
(I should have asked all the questions first. Oh well)
RAQUEL SCHULLO
TALLAHASSEE, FLA
CAR TALK login: rschullo
rschullo@hotmail.com
Thank ROADRUNNER!
I will try to give you the information I know.
Plymouth Voyager 1994 Van, new transmission a couple yrs. ago,
has been driven about 160,000 miles,
fuel pump changed about 3 yrs ago and assume fuel filter was replaced then, (but not 100% sure).
It sparks great, as if it is going to start, no stutters or stumbles.
When problem started, it quit suddenly as if key was turned off, yes. Now, it may also decide not to start from the beginning, but after waiting 10-20 minutes, it has started. I do not think I overflowed with gas.
I am not aware of any vacuum leaks (how could I tell?, please?)
I have edited my first ‘story’, if you care to, please read it again.
I will be waiting for yur reply.
CAR TALK
I have this beautiful Plymouth Voyager 1994 Van, he does not like me, and I will call him ?monster?. He has been driven about 160,000 miles, fuel pump changed about 3 yrs ago and assume fuel filter was replaced then, (but not 100% sure).
It sparks great, as if it is going to start, no stutters or stumbles. When ?monster? decides to stop, it quits suddenly as if key was turned off. I am not aware of any vacuum leaks (how could I tell?, please?)
The started cranks, but will not start.
Very temperamental car, especially when I, the wife, drive it. Works well for weeks, then it suddenly stops and will not start. Then starts with no problem, and “he” is fine, works well especially with men, my husband and the mechanic.
This has been going on for 3 or 4 months. First time it stopped suddenly in the middle of the road, I tried to start it several times, it cranked but will not start, and even started, but when I tried to put it in gear, it made funny noses and stopped. I gave up, I called a tow-truck but about 10 minutes later, I tried it, it started and worked well, I made several stops the same day and worked well for a couple weeks.
Then, again the same thing, stopped as if I turned the key off, and will not start again, but after a few minutes, it started and continued ok for days. I complain to my husband, he drove it, no problem…
Lately… I went to a Doctor’s appt. Came out and the car will not start, it cranked, but it will not start, I called my husband, he came, could not get it started, he told me to call a tow truck. We towed the car to a mechanic. He had it 2 days, he started the car several times and it worked fine, the gasoline was low ? he said, so he put 3 gal of gas and … car is fine.
Last week:
I asked my husband to drive it, as I am afraid of ?him? (the car), Richard has no problems.
I drove it Saturday to garage sales, perfect, great…
Monday, I went shopping, I wanted to get home, the car will crank, but it will not start, I called my husband, he took off from work, he says: you go home, I will get it going. (he serious and joking tells me it is my fault). Later he told me the car did not start right away, but he waited about 20 minutes, and it started and drove great. He goes back to his work and when he wants to go home, the ?monster? will not start. ?Monster? stays at Richard?s work for a day.
I drove husband to work in other car, when I go to pick him up, he tries the Plymouth ?just in case? and, of course, the "monster? starts.
Richard drives it home, only about 4 miles, the car stopped once, but it re-started it with no problem and GOT HOME!.
Now the ?monster? IS HOME, and we will not move it until we found out what the problem is.
Can you please help?
RAQUEL SCHULLO
TALLAHASSEE, FLA
Vacuum leaks can be located by two methods. One being listening for hissing sounds while the engine is idling.
The other is by using a SMALL propane tank. With th engine idling, you turn on the valve (DO NOT LIGHT IT!) and aim the nozzle at the air intake and around the throttle body, upper plenum, around the intake manifold and all vacuum hoses.
If the engine speeds up at any time during this check, you may have found a vacuum leak.
I still suspect an electrical fault.
Check out the system starting with the key and key cylinder.
By the way, do you normally have a Heavy set of keys when you use the van? Does your husband?
Like I said before, because the fault is intermittent, it’s going to be hard to find.