Stinaris

My SE starts first time on the button from cold, but simply refuses to start when the cars warm until I disconnect the tempII sensor and pump the throttle.

What the hells wrong with it, it's very embarrasing.

Lizard928

have you tried replacing the temp II sensor it is possible that it has failed and is flooding the engine when starting hot.

if you have replaced it crank the car over and very shortly after cranking hold the throttle WO most cars have a floodclear threshold at 70% or greater throttle meaning that by holding it WOT will cut all fuel and let it ignite what it already has in there.

Stinaris

The tempII sensor is fairly new, but I suspect this could be the problem.

I give it a try if it ever stops raining here.

Mrmerlin

when was the last time the fuel filter was replaced?
has the check valve ever been replaced in the fuel pump?
How many miles are on the car ?
Have you checked the fuel pressure damper and the regulator(fuel), to see if they hold vacuum and if they might be leaking into the vacuum lines.
If the temp 2 doesnt clear things up try putting a can of techron in the tank with it half full , do lots of start and stop driving if the fuel injectors are leaking this might help.

Randy V

Please list the model year of your car - every time.

Charley B

I recently heard that injector cleaning additives can be harmful to certain parts of the injectors. He was speaking of fairly late model cars, but I thought I would ask for your take.

Hilton

He did.. the words "My SE" are the giveaway

StratfordShark

Hot start problems are often related to problems with fuel pressure.

The best approach is to follow the procedure in the workshop manual for the fuel pressure leakdown test, with a fuel pressure gauge attached to the rail test point.

The tests pin the problem down to:
- fuel pump check valve
- leaking fuel pressure regulator
- leaky injectors

Do you have problem starting immediately after shutting down a hot engine? That would suggest it's not leaking injectors.

Mrmerlin

see post 4

IcemanG17

Temp II and fuel pump check valve are likely.......check the resistance of the temp II both hot and cold...if it falls within specs its okay...the easiest way to check it is just to pull the plug...but the best way is to check its leads at the LH plug...to make sure there isn't a short along the way

The fuel pressure check valve is kinda a PITA to change.....but also causes hot start problems by bleeding fuel pressure back into the tank (its a 1 way valve in theory).... If you have a fuel pressure tester, its easy to check the leak down rates against the manual......

The last theory is leaky injectors.....this is the hardest to narrow down, but isn't as common as TempII or check valve....

WICruiser

Rather than pumping the throttle try just holding it wide open. It could be the Temp II sensor but it also could be a leaking injector that bleeds down when you shut off the engine putting fuel into the intake that doesn't have time to evaporate on a hot start.

Stinaris

It's an '88. SE's are all '88.

Not heard about leaky injectors. Interesting, it's done just over 100K miles.

If I plant the throttle it starts but the starter makes a horrendous noise, due to being overrun by the engine.

It's stopped raining today so I'll try and get on to it today. New baby permitting.