Cold start

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Maxx

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Been to the mechanic, the best he could do was change the battery which the car needed, but did not fix the problem. On very cold mornings, the car will not start without a shot of starting fluid to the air box. Sometimes many shots. Oh and you must turn the ignition completely off other wise it just runs the starter motor. Any ideas? 2004 V8
 
fuel pressure?... can you hear the fuel pump?

I'd stop doing the starting fluid method immediately... If you "mechanic" cant figure it out, you may want to pay the $100 for the dealer to tell you what it is ...before you blow up the motor.
 
does it crank slow? or cranks normally, but will not start... does it start fine the rest of the day?
 
Maxx said:
... Oh and you must turn the ignition completely off other wise it just runs the starter motor. ...
Click to expand...

Could you give some more detail on this? Are you saying that once you turn it to start and then release the key, the starter stays engaged (crankshaft turning over) until you turn the key off?

Do you have any sort of remote start or aftermarket alarm installed?

The last time the fuel filter was changed was?
 
If it is cold, it starts for a second and dies, if you do not turn it to "off" but just attempt to start again you get nothing but starter turning motor. If you turn it completely off, it starts for a second and dies. It cranks at normal speed and starts if I hit it with starting fluid. Diagnostic has been done twice but nothing shows up. Fuel filter change, unsure, no after market sht except the radio and that was installed two years ago.
 
Maxx said:
If it is cold, it starts for a second and dies, if you do not turn it to "off" but just attempt to start again you get nothing but starter turning motor. If you turn it completely off, it starts for a second and dies. It cranks at normal speed and starts if I hit it with starting fluid. Diagnostic has been done twice but nothing shows up. Fuel filter change, unsure, no after market sht except the radio and that was installed two years ago.
Click to expand...

Long shot. Next time unplug the MAF sensor and see if it will start and run.
If it does, then you have a bad MAF or an air leak somewhere.
It could also be your IAT sensor, but that is a part of the MAF anyway.

The thing with the key kind of makes it sound fuel-pump-ish.
 
Maxx said:
If it is cold, it starts for a second and dies, if you do not turn it to "off" but just attempt to start again you get nothing but starter turning motor. If you turn it completely off, it starts for a second and dies. It cranks at normal speed and starts if I hit it with starting fluid. Diagnostic has been done twice but nothing shows up. Fuel filter change, unsure, no after market sht except the radio and that was installed two years ago.
Click to expand...

sounds like a fried starter, but that im sure is related to something else...

But first, what do you mean Diagnostic has been done twice?!?
 
Well I mean that the diagnostic analyzer they hook it to that costs me 85 bucks every time they do it says nothing is wrong. Starter really? I only ask because it spins like it always has, or at least I think so.
 
Maxx said:
If it is cold, it starts for a second and dies,...
Click to expand...

I've had exactly this before and it was a bug on the MAF sensor. Of course, it was all the time, not just when it was cold.
 
This morning

Temp was 44, cranked no problem. How hard is changing the maf?
 
Maxx said:
Well I mean that the diagnostic analyzer they hook it to that costs me 85 bucks every time they do it says nothing is wrong. Starter really? I only ask because it spins like it always has, or at least I think so.
Click to expand...

Although I recommend the course of actions listed below, This does not sound like a dealership your bringing your car to. for $85, a dealership service dept. will tell you exactly (at least a starting point :rolleyes:) whats wrong with it... they keep the car till it's figured out. I've never heard of a dealership charging a customer if they cant find a problem!!! thats crazy!!!

My usual course of action is
determine problem,
check LVC,
fix what i believe the issue to be,
If not, go to dealer and have them diagnose (thats why i agree with diagnose fee),
then fix myself.
 
yes the diagnose fee is usually 45 bucks at the dealer in my area get some MAF sensor cleaner and try that or remove the MAF and see what happens.
 
change your fuel filter, clean your maf
if problem persists:
take it to your lincoln/ford dealer
 
+1

Some fuel conditioner and next tank make sure it's the good stuff.

Like Joegr also mentioned, check for vacuum leaks and be sure your whole air intake is tight,
check all clamps and inspect plastic intake house for cracks.

In the intern, turn key to on, listen for fuel pump but do not start car, let dash self test complete,
turn ignition to off, wait a couple of second, turn key to on position again but don't crank the engine just yet.
listen for fuel pump again, wait for dash self test to complete, turn if over completely.

.... does it start immediately when you do it this way ?


In essence what your doing here is double charging the fuel delivery before crank.
( just ensuring pressure in the lines from the fuel pump ) ... should give an immediate ignition.

- Fuel pump should be fine as your able to keep the car running after start.


- Fresh Fuel Filter
- New or cleaned Mass Airflow sensor (MAF)
- Ensure no Air intake leaks
- Ensure no overall vacuum leaks from lines.
- Ensure no fuel leaks around throttle body.
 
Weather warmed up

Since the temp is back where it belongs in my neck of the woods, there is no further problem. Weird.
 
Ok, well that solves it, your LS is a p*ssy and doesn't like the cold/wet weather, simple as that !

no, really, something is not liking the dampness under the hood. keep checking.
back in the days of wired distributors we used to call that "wires getting wet"

Might you pull the Coil Covers and see how clean they are on the insides ?
Possibly related to water getting past the windshield cowl and dropping on the rear of the block ?
 
Well in got down in the 30s again and two days of LS not starting. I tried the turn the key on twice and let the pump load up and that fixed it, both days. So I guess that is that
 
Again today, cold morning and no crankum, until I tried BigRigLs method. Started right up, so Thanks to BigRigLs
 
Maxx said:
Again today, cold morning and no crankum, until I tried BigRigLs method. Started right up, so Thanks to BigRigLs
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a failing fuel pump assembly, or (less likely) leaking fuel injector.
 
Ok, but why only in the cold? Walked out this morning to sixty degree weather and she cranked like there was never a problem
 
Maxx said:
Ok, but why only in the cold? Walked out this morning to sixty degree weather and she cranked like there was never a problem
Click to expand...

Parts shrink in the cold. This can cause electrical contacts to lose contact or bearings to bind. Of course, other possibilities remain.
 
Well the weather got a little cooler, down in the fifties this week and have to double click the ignition to load up four or five times before it stays running. Want to try first things first, fuel pump?
 
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