starting hard

[gp1991]

In the morning the past couple days i went outside to start my car and it cranked for a long time before the car actually started. It tried to fire a couple times while the starter was going but it didnt turn over right away. eventually i get it started but it takes considerably longer than usual. Then until i turn the car off again the SES light comes on. I dont have a way of reading the codes yet, but i eventually will have them read. But does anyone have an idea of what this could be? one of the days after it did this the clock reset, but today it did not do anything to the clock.

[RobertISaar]

after a run where the SES light comes on, shut engine off for ~10 seconds, roll key to "ON" position, insert paperclip between ALDL A and B terminals, see what codes pop up.

 

cooling fan should kick on during this time, and is normal.

 

there's a post around here to decode the pulses, but i can't remember where....

 

 

 

but if i had to guess, your fuel pump relay isn't functioning properly, hence you need to crank the engine for a while until the oil pressure switch forces the fuel pump on.

[gp1991]

thanks ill give the paperclip thing a try tomorrow

[mfewtrail]

there's a post around here to decode the pulses, but i can't remember where....

 

http://www.w-body.com/oldsite/ecm-codes.html

[gp1991]

okay so i got code 54 which is the low voltage at the fuel pump so where would i go from here?

[RobertISaar]

test relay(or swap in a known good one), see if it functions normally.

[Schurkey]

one of the days after it did this the clock reset

Battery (system) voltage so low that the clock memory dies.

 

FIRST thing you do is CHARGE THE BATTERY. When you disconnect the battery charger, WAIT AN HOUR, and then test the no-load voltage. Better be 12.6--12.7 volts. 12.5 volts is 1/4 discharged; 12.2 volts is HALF-DEAD.

 

AFTER the battery is charged, your low voltage problems may have fixed themselves. If not, re-charge the battery and then take the car to someone who can do a proper starter/alternator/battery/harness diagnostic check.

[gp1991]

thanks i took the battery out yesterday and charged it up and it was good, since then i have not had this problem but ill keep an eye on it. Thanks for all the help everyone with how to read the codes and explaining all the possible problems.

[gp1991]

just thought i would follow up on this. The idle was surging and the car died a couple of times so i went and replaced the fuel pump relay, since then i have not had any problems with starting and my surging idle has disappeared. Its been running good for a month now after i replaced that so i think that was most likely the problem.