I recently bought a 95 Avenger ES that has 100000 miles on it and a rebuilt transmission(10K ago). It ran good for the first two days until the weather got a little cooler(around 40 degrees). I went out to start it the next day and it would not go. The engine was cranking but would not turn over so I called the guy i bought it from. He told me that it sometimes had some troubles in cold weather starting and that if i plugged it in for an hour it would work. He said that he believed there was a " bad sensor" that was affecting the fuel pump in cold temperatures. After about an hour the car fired right up with no problem and throughout the day the car ran perfectly. The next day i bought a sensor from the dealership that they believed to be the source of the problem. I replaced the sensor and the car was driving perfectly but had never had enough time to fully cool down. I went to work that night and came out after about six hours to start the car, it started and died within half a second. I tried to start it again and it would not go, then i tried it a third and gave it some gas and it sputtered to life. It seems to be a fuel problem and I am hoping that the original owner is right. What could cause this problem? Is there a sensor that could be causing it? The problem is fairly minor as it is very easy to get the car started and while in town i wont have any problems but plugging it in every day is not a very logical or convenient way to start the car. Please help!

Thanks,

Kris16

 

What do you mean by plug it in? And what sensor did you buy?A little more info. and maybe someone can help you out.

 

When the block heater is plugged in on the car. I cant remember what the sensor was called but it was some kind of temperature sensor and it was cheap(20 bucks) if that narrows it down at all. It was located right behind the Radiator cap. It did not seem to solve the problem.

 

Ok i'm thinking fuel pressure regulator.

 

Where would it be located and is there any way to test it?

thanks

It also seems to pick when it wants to accelerate, sometimes it will take off and others i have to release the gas and re apply before it continues to speed up. Could the fuel filter be a factor in either of these problems?

 

Hey there have you checked the TPS sensor? or maybe the IAC sensor? the one you replaced was the ECT sensor are you getting a CEl light if so try to get ht ecodes read it may tell you your problem right off. it could be a number of things so i would try to go to auto zone or some parts place they will read your computer for you, or you can try the Key dance feature turn your car on then off then on then off then on and leave it on and watch for your CEl light to blink i beleave there is a sticky at the top of the page that shows how to do this.

Let us know what the codes happen to be. if you need more help on this post back



CEL= Check Engine Light
TPS= Throttle postion sensor
IAC= Intake Air temp sensor
ECT= Engine coolant temp sensor



Joe

 

The check engine light does not come on when the vehicle is started. The original owner told me it would come on and off and that it was because of this sensor but i have not yet witnessed it. I only got the key dance to work once today and i believe i got a code of 22 (this was after the sensor was changed). So i disconnected the sensor and checked that the wiring was not corroded. I reattached it and made sure it was in all the way.the I tried the key dance many times after and was unable to get the engine light to come on at all. So the sensor may have just not have been connected properly to begin with. I will have to wait til tomorrow to see if the car starts after cooling off over night or if i will need to plug it in again.

 

Have you reset the PCM? take your battery cables off the car for about 15 mins then reconect them i beleave you should do it after changing a sensor any way it tells the PCM that something is fresh.. try that then get back have you tried the seafoam thro the intake??


Joe

 

Seafoam through the intake? What do you mean?

 

Yes a dirty fuel filter can cause hesitation.Change the filter then check the fuel pressure should be between 40 and 52 psi.But check the service manual for your particular engine.
The location and testing of the fuel pressure regulator is also covered in the manual.Seafoam is available at most parts srores.Remove a vacuum line from the upper intake manifold and and attach another line to that hose barb.Stick the other end of the hose into the can of seafoam and let the motor suck it out of the can.Use about 1/2the can this way and pour the other into the gas tank.