Question'96 S-10 hard/erratic starting
Hello Van: I have this ongoing problem wherein if my 4 cyl gas pickup doesn't start on the first crank (it's usually a very reliable truck), then sometimes it will not start for 10 minutes to an hour and a half. This is more frequent in the colder months here (San Francisco which doesn't really get too cold). Similarly, if I'm a bit rough on releasing the clutch and stall, sometimes the same happens. At other times, I can be driving along and it will start sputtering and die, leaving me by the side of the road for up to 1-1/2 hours until it will start again. This has happened twice in the past week, and seems to be more prounounced during cold or damp weather. When this problem happens, the dash lights that come on when you turn the key on start flickering in concert with the sputtering engine, which is indicating to me that it's an electrical rather than a fuel problem. Also, when trying to start when this problem occurs, the engine seems to be very out of balance, characterized by the truck shaking from side to side while cranking. When it does eventually start, the out of balance condition is gone. It's been suggested to me that it's either the cam sensor or the crank sensor, and I've replaced both, but the problem persists. Any good ideas? I have the truck serviced regularly, but they don't know what it is either, and sunce it's intermittent, it's very hard to tell.
AnswerHi Bob,
I don't have a positive answer, but it may just be flooding, possibly due to a dirty injector.
Next time it dies, try holding the gas pedal clear to the floor, which can help clear a flood condition.
Meanwhile, use some injector cleaner in the gas.
Van
