Car won't start when it's cold, and another minor problem.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Car won't start when it's cold, and another minor problem.
My 86 T/A with a carbed 305 won't start when it is cold outside.
sunday night after I got the clutches Hydraulic system working the car wouldn't start. Battery became drained from attempting to start the car. Tried one last time and the battery was nearly drained and when we took the key out of the ignition the car was still trying to turn over, so we disconnected the battery. We used my brothers Camaro to jumpstart the car, but after trying to start the car the battery became weak again and it kept trying to turn over without the key in the ignition. We tried this for about 90 minutes and the same thing kept happening. We then let the car charge for 30 minutes. Tried again and still didn't start. It was about 30 degrees outside. I finally decide to put the car into the garage, my brother gets in the car and tries one more time and it fires up.
It ran fine after that with one little problem, sometimes when I turn off the car the blower motor for the interior heat and A/C doesn't turn off. I have to turn it off manually. It does it almost evertime I turn off the car.
Sorry this is so long, just wanted to give you guys as much info as possible.
Thanks for your support.
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Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, 5 Speed:
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Recaro Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Rockford & Soundstream Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.
WS6 Trans Am
sunday night after I got the clutches Hydraulic system working the car wouldn't start. Battery became drained from attempting to start the car. Tried one last time and the battery was nearly drained and when we took the key out of the ignition the car was still trying to turn over, so we disconnected the battery. We used my brothers Camaro to jumpstart the car, but after trying to start the car the battery became weak again and it kept trying to turn over without the key in the ignition. We tried this for about 90 minutes and the same thing kept happening. We then let the car charge for 30 minutes. Tried again and still didn't start. It was about 30 degrees outside. I finally decide to put the car into the garage, my brother gets in the car and tries one more time and it fires up.
It ran fine after that with one little problem, sometimes when I turn off the car the blower motor for the interior heat and A/C doesn't turn off. I have to turn it off manually. It does it almost evertime I turn off the car.
Sorry this is so long, just wanted to give you guys as much info as possible.
Thanks for your support.
------------------
Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, 5 Speed:
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Recaro Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Rockford & Soundstream Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.
WS6 Trans Am
Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 308
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From: Croydon, PA, USA
I hate car problems in the winter!
Since you tired a jump starting it and that didn't help I would think it was your alternator. I had the same problem with the interior heater motor too and the alternator was going bad. If you have a PEP BOYS around you, you can remove your alternator and take it to them to test it, FOR FREE!
It is just a thought.
Good Luck!
Since you tired a jump starting it and that didn't help I would think it was your alternator. I had the same problem with the interior heater motor too and the alternator was going bad. If you have a PEP BOYS around you, you can remove your alternator and take it to them to test it, FOR FREE!
It is just a thought.
Good Luck!
Member
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Northern KY
Car: 1998 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Gotta agree w/ the d#$n cold weather 
My 91 RS 305 TBI wont start without partial throttle if temp gets below 30 F. No problems above that temp. I bought the car last Oct/Nov but started other projects and didnt get around to diagnosing the cold start problems. I did replace the CTS sensor but must be something else going on.
Later
My 91 RS 305 TBI wont start without partial throttle if temp gets below 30 F. No problems above that temp. I bought the car last Oct/Nov but started other projects and didnt get around to diagnosing the cold start problems. I did replace the CTS sensor but must be something else going on.
Later
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Well, it might be the alt. but I just replaced it a month ago. Car has no cold start problems unless it's been sitting for more than half a day.
Alt seems to working fine though, keeping the battery charged, running the system, etc...
I was told that the cold start problem was due to the butterfly being shut completely. I will adjust my electric choke tomorrow morning.
Thanks for the input
Alt seems to working fine though, keeping the battery charged, running the system, etc...
I was told that the cold start problem was due to the butterfly being shut completely. I will adjust my electric choke tomorrow morning.
Thanks for the input
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 310
Zeph,
If you have accessories that are running after the ignition is turned off, that is more likely the CAUSE of the dead battery, not a symptom of it.
Check the ignition switch and some of the offending accessory relays, like the high speed blower relay. I'm really wondering abotu the line "when we took the key out of the ignition the car was still trying to turn over". That REALLY sounds like a stuck solenoid or failing switch.
I'm not a huge fan of working on vehicles in the cold either. Probably the biggest reason my garage is heated. Incidentally, it was 11°F this morning. In about a month or two, the brass monkey will need his fuzzy underwear.
------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
If you have accessories that are running after the ignition is turned off, that is more likely the CAUSE of the dead battery, not a symptom of it.
Check the ignition switch and some of the offending accessory relays, like the high speed blower relay. I'm really wondering abotu the line "when we took the key out of the ignition the car was still trying to turn over". That REALLY sounds like a stuck solenoid or failing switch.
I'm not a huge fan of working on vehicles in the cold either. Probably the biggest reason my garage is heated. Incidentally, it was 11°F this morning. In about a month or two, the brass monkey will need his fuzzy underwear.
------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,964
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Vader,
The battery was drained because I had the radio on when I was working on the car.
The blower motor problem is going away, I think it has something to do with the cold. I remember having the blower problem when I bought the car in January when it was cold. Since then it's been warm until this past week. The starting problem was the electric choke having the shutter thing on the carb closed all the way. When I open it with a pen, the car will fire up. I need to adjust the electric choke so that the shutter stays open a little.
I am going to check the relays and solenoids like you suggested and see what I can find.
Thanks for the info.
The battery was drained because I had the radio on when I was working on the car.
The blower motor problem is going away, I think it has something to do with the cold. I remember having the blower problem when I bought the car in January when it was cold. Since then it's been warm until this past week. The starting problem was the electric choke having the shutter thing on the carb closed all the way. When I open it with a pen, the car will fire up. I need to adjust the electric choke so that the shutter stays open a little.
I am going to check the relays and solenoids like you suggested and see what I can find.
Thanks for the info.
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