andrew.wlos

So my '88, with 120k, won’t start.

I live in Chicago so it has been extremely cold here lately, like -2, but when I tried last night it was about 14 outside. Also, I don’t drive much, and she has not been started in 5 or 6 days.

Anyways, I went to leave yesterday and of course it won’t start. It cranks and cranks, but wont start. Between having a semi-full gas tank and being able to faintly smell gas, I don’t think it’s a frozen fuel line.

I gave it a real effort to start her, and she almost did, it just wouldn’t fire up. I think if I can get her started it will be fine, it’s just getting her to wake up. She actually fired up initially for about 1 second, and then died - that was it.

Anyone have any ideas or possible solutions?

The car has a crapy transmission, but that’s it. Mechanically it has been a wonderful car.

Suggestions?

 

nocashrider

i had the same problem with an old skool subaru wouldnt start cause fouled plugs

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andrew.wlos

Well, I figure I should probably replace the cap, rotor, plugs and wires - seeing that they car is 20 years old and this has never been done. I imagine this is a fairly simple job on our cars??

Any recommendations?

sam o nela

Well first things first...have you checked to see if you have spark or fuel?

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andrew.wlos

Not really. I know I should have started with that, however it was COLD as hell last night.
I am pretty sure I am getting fuel b/c I could smell gas, faintly. Spark is another question.

KAHruzer

As a general rule, you should never be able to 'smell gas' with these cars due to them being fuel injected. Most often, this indicates leaky injectors and can vary from mild to flat out dangerous.

Very cold temps also contribute to leaky injectors, or makes them worse since all the o-rings shrink in colder weather (remember Challenger).

The age of your car, and the fact that you stated it's never had a tune up would mean one is due. You said it actually fired up once for a few seconds, so that probably means all the conditions were right at that point.

It boils down to a number of things not operating at above average. The plugs are old, the wires are old, the injectors tend to leak when real cold.

I'm of the opinion once tuned up, your problems will go away. But, I would check out the injectors as well. If not now, they probably need new o-rings soon.

You also could have a low performing coil. There's a simple test in the manual for that.

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Stock 1987 Legend LS Coupe 180k (11/07)

KAHruzer

Thought I'd add that when temps are this cold, it's a good idea to use a gasoline additive, at least every 2-3 tanks or so. They help water in the gas to burn out and keeps it from freezing.

In what part of Chicago are you? I lived in Arlington Heights and worked in the Loop many years ago.

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Stock 1987 Legend LS Coupe 180k (11/07)

andrew.wlos

I Live in Lincoln Park and work in the loop.

As soon as this weather breaks I will be getting all the little maintence bits taken care of. I will def be adding dry gas and injector cleaner also. Off hand, how much are the injectors to do?

Not having a garage really bites!

KAHruzer

Always thought I'd like living in Lincoln Park. It's also changed quite a bit since I was there.

Injectors are easy to swap out, easy to rebuild with kits, but expensive to replace. Some here on the forum occaisionally have extra or rebuilt injectors for not so much, so check the swap section, or ask outright.

Not sure I'd run dry gas and injector cleaner at the same time.

We've had kind of a local blowup here when it was discovered one of our primary gasoline outlets had been pumping 85% ethanol lately without any notification. Seems they're not required to mention it, even though it should run 10% less cost-wise. But, being the skeptic I am, couldn't help wonder what kind of issues this could represent. As I understand things, it's said to have no effect "on 10 year old" cars. Since we're way past that, it makes me more nervous.

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Stock 1987 Legend LS Coupe 180k (11/07)

andrew.wlos

Well it's about 35 degrees here today, so I figured I would try and start it up. Acted the same way it did when it was -2 out; started for about 1 sec, maybe less, and died. Tried again, and it just wouldnt start.

The car has always been im my family, so I know that the wires, plugs, cap, and rotor are all original. Figured these should be replaced anyways, so I called a buddy at my dealer, and he was able to order me everything at cost. Pretty amazed that this stuff lasted the 20 years it did! Anyways, hopefully this is fix!

I will also be doing the injectors when the warmer weather comes - if it can weight that long. Are the rebuildable kits after market, or should I order these now as well? And is something most can do themselves?

Jay P

I feel that spark plugs should be replaced about every 20 years.

Jay

l4zy415

Ya on newer motors. I just change mine every year, that way my engine feels fresh lol.

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Jay P

every 20 years........

that was sarcasm!

I don't believe that his plugs are original.

Assuming the engine is getting spark & fuel, I do believe plugs are 90% likely to be 90% of the problem.

Jay

andrew.wlos

Trust me, they are original.

The car was my grandmothers, who used it at her third home very rarely. She did all the basic type stuff, but not wires etc... I have all service records.

She gave me the car once she finally replaced the it. I had an Audi S4 at the time, so I gave the car to my younger brother. He proceeded to run the thing into the ground - needless to say he didn’t replace these parts!

So, now that I live in Chicago, and don’t need a car much, I took it back - or at least whets left. It’s a shame because the car was a mint condition garage queen with about 40k miles when I originally got it.

Lesson learned. Never give a classic to anyone who can’t appreciate it, especially a younger sibling.

andrew.wlos

It started!

Just got back into town, figured I would give the Legend another try, and it fired right up. It is 5 degrees here again, so i really figured I was wasting my time in trying, but it worked.

Well, hopefully I can keep her running until It warms up and I am able to do the wires and plugs.