Markhurwitz

Help! I've spent hours trying to diagnose my cold start problem. I have taken the cold start solenoid off the top of the fuel filter and bench tested it and it works fine when I give it 12 volts. I tried to test the wire that plugs into it and I only show a little more than 1 volt. I made sure the ground wire is bolted on to the fuel filter and the connection is clean. Not sure where To go from here? Thanks for any help
Mark

fpb111

Mark,
I can't tell you how to fix it. I'm sure that someone else will chime in.
I can tell you I had a 1970 S that I used as a DD for 11 years that would be very difficult or not start (activate the cold start solenoid) sometimes if conditions were right/wrong?
IE:
1. With engine still slightly warm, maybe 1-2 hrs after running, depending on ambient temp.
2. On 70-80 degree rainy humid days.
3. If the moon was in the third phase, etc...

After much diagnostics, changing temp sensors etc. What I finally did was to run an additional +12V wire to the hot start solenoid from a momentary contact under the dash. On days when the car needed a little richer mixture I would press my "Enrichment" button for ~3 seconds. That solved the problem for the next 6 years of DD with that car. I'm sure YMMV
Frank

Markhurwitz

Thanks Frank. It may be the temp sensor telling it is is already warm. I live in Southern Calif and it's been a pretty warm summer. Do you know what options there are on the temp sensors if I want to go that route?

JCP911S

FPB911... sorry to hijack the thread, but did I buy your old car? Check my avatar, 1970 S. Champaign Yellow. The PO installed a solenoid button. Lived in Chatham NJ.

Co-incidence... Hmmmm.

Marine Blue

I have the same issue with my E, it takes forever to get it fired up and it sputters for a few seconds until the engine roars to life. It only happens when the engine is completely cold and has been sitting for more than a day. Otherwise it fires right up, even after sitting a few hours. The engine also runs very strong, doesn't smoke at all (at startup or driving) and pulls hard to redline so there doesn't appear to be any other issues.

Anyone know the cause?

For reference the MFI is complete based upon post purchase inspection.