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My car's failed to start 2 or 3 times in the past few months. The first
time it didn't start after cranking for 4 seconds; I waited 5 seconds and
tried again and it started after a second's cranking, the same instant I
tapped the throttle. So I was thinking TPS, but it was like a bad dream
or something -- no repeat episodes for at least a month. But then it
happened again, and the retry did not help. I raised the hood and wiggled
(un-/re-plugged) every connector I could get my fingers on. Got in, turned
the key, car started OK, though it was clear there'd been some gas in the
cylinders that needed clearing out. Oops. Check engine light came on,
code indicated rpm sensor, which I duly noted.
The next time it did not want to start after 3 4-5 second tries, I decided
it was time to replace the distributor cap and rotor, which had been laying
around awaiting duty (it's not a particularly easy job on these cars...).
When I was done I turned the key and it started fine and ran fine (slightly
improved, as if new spark plugs had been installed when the old ones were
well worn).
The car had not yet failed to start again since. Time will tell. I've
not replaced the rpm sensor the ECU told me about, and there are no
symptoms presently.
In my experience, the worn-out dirty cap and rotor seem to have affected
starting, with no other apparent symptoms, despite what may have been an
anomalous err code. Or so, with winter coming, I hope.
So how long have your slowly-wearing ignition system parts been in service?
- Dave; '95 854T, 101K mi
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