Random starting problems and coolant blow out today. Any ideas??

[rothsean]

Hello everyone, I had an issue today that is puzzling me so I wanted to get some opinions.

I will first start by saying that I am scheduled to take the car to DMCH tomorrow for some diagnostic issues, but I may need a mobile mechanic now (so if anyone knows a good mobile D mechanic in the Houston, Texas area, Lake Conroe to be exact, please let me know).


I bought the car last month and from day one it had two issues. I would smell a slight hint of gas or burned exhaust after about 20 minutes of driving. In addition, it would not hot start too well.

Anyways, I got home today from a 3 week trip and wanted to drive it around the neighborhood. I took it out this morning, cold started great. Drove it for about 2 miles and it died while shifting to 3rd gear. Stopped the car, then tried to start and the engine just kept turning over with nothing. Waited 5 minutes, tried the fuel pump thing where I turned the key to on (not start) and heard the pump, turned off, then back on, repeated a few times.

The car eventually started, but I had to hold the gas pedal to full throttle. I got it back home.


I decided this early evening to take it to a local gas station to get some ice and it would not start. I finally got it started after trying some pedal tricks. I drove about 1/4 mile and it died. I got it started again after setting 3 minutes, with the gas pedal floored.

Got it home, let it idle in the garage for 10 minutes, idled great! I decided to call it a night, I turned the car off and a loud rushing sound came from the right rear engine compartment. About a second later there was a lot of steam and a ton of coolant spraying out of the top of the canister.


My questions? Are the issues related, coolant and engine starting, smell of gas, etc..? Should I even try to start it again? I would like to drive it to DMCH but I am 40 miles away.



One thing, I never checked the level of coolant before, so I don't know if the previous owner had over filled it.

Thanks for any info!!!


Sean

[LEVY]

I would recomend to load your car on a trailer and take it to DMCH. You may only have air trapped in the cooling system but if you don't know hou to get it out you may burn your engine.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Is your temp gauge working? As long as your engine temp was normal, I don't think your starting problem is related to the coolant overflow. You probably just need a fuel pressure test to find the start problem. Check the level of the coolant. It should be about half full in the bottle.

[rothsean]

Yes, the temperature was normal. Can I just refill it with any type of coolant if it is low?

[DavidProehl]

Yes, the temperature was normal. Can I just refill it with any type of coolant if it is low?

Refill with a 50/50 mix of prestone anti-freeze and water. That is assuming you've located and fixed the source of the leak. Once coolant starts flowing, it isn't going to just stop unless the tank really was truely over filled.

The hot start issue is tyically the fuel accumulator. Had that issue on my car shortly after I bought it. That can be a pain to replace, but only because it is accessed via the exact center of the car and ramps aren't exactly helpful at getting to that area. Also, you need to be careful not to twist the hardline going to it.

[rothsean]

DMCH put in a new fuel accumulator back in 2006. Do they typically go bad that quick?

[rothsean]

I forgot to ask, where is the hookup point to test the fuel pressure?

[DMCMW Dave]

I forgot to ask, where is the hookup point to test the fuel pressure?
Instructions are in the manual D:02:02 and will come with the fuel tester.

[stevedmc]

Maybe his heater control valve decided to break.

[Citizen]

DMCH put in a new fuel accumulator back in 2006. Do they typically go bad that quick?

YES!

What you described is exactly what happened to me (minus the coolant problems). And yes, my accumulator was new in 2006, and just a few months ago I needed a new one for the same hot start issue.

In addition to a new accumlator, I also completely cleaned my fuel tank, replaced the fuel filter and pump with the new style integrated pump/sender. Now it runs great. Hot start/cold start, no problem.

Thomas

...

[rothsean]

Ok, maybe that is it then.

I got the car started yesterday in the garage, let it idle and it quit after 5 minutes. Started again and it quit after 3 minutes.

No more coolant issues. I think that I just let it get hot the other day. I will bleed the coolant system to make sure that there is no air and I will just keep an eye on it in the future.

I have a person coming over today that knows these cars, he is going to check it out.

[Ron]

Sounds like it needs the once over on the base settings/tune up.
I would definitely investigate the gas smell too, not only because of the obvious safety issues, but a leak can allow the fuel pressure to drop and easily cause starting problems (and many others).