I have an 1989 Formula with a L03, last night I tried to start it and it cranks, but doesn't start. This happens a good bit when it's cold and I don't drive it for a week or so.

Today I try to jump it, it kept cranking, even think it started momentarily but then stalled, finally gave up.

A few hours I have nothing to do and decided to maybe give it another shot just in case. I turn the key, it cranks, then stops and I the lights inside the keep flashing on and off very quickly while making a ticking noise. That's when I decided to leave the thing alone. :/

Can anyone shed some light on my situation? It might be the starter from what my brother figures, but from the sheer number of times I had similar problems after not driving it too much makes me wonder if it's some kind of battery problem. The clicking/flashing thing I've never seen before, I hope I didn't screw anything up. Is there anything I should check/try? I'll post if I find out anything on my own. I'd really appreciate any help with this. Thanks.

 

If it cranks then it's not your starter. I'm not a TBI expert but I can get you started.

1) You said it momentarily started, then died. From this I am guessing that you are getting some form of spark and fuel or you wouldn't get anything at all.

2) Do you get any codes?

3) What lights flash and what ticks? The engine ticks? If so, how's your oil level? Does your car leak oil?

4) Have you tried cranking it and "Fluttering" (rapidly pressing and depressing the throttle) ? Can you hear the fuel pump "Whirr" when you turn the key?

I need more data

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Two 1984 Trans Ams and some other stuff
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Thanks for your reply, Matt. I tried jumping it again this afternoon and it fired up easy, been good ever since. I took it to run some errands and didn't experience any trouble.

Never got any SES light, codes, any indication of something being wrong. I wasn't paying too much attention which lights they were other than noting that something wasn't right, but I think it was the dash lights, they flicked on and off rapidly, and the clicking was in tandem with the flashing. The oil level is good in the car, it doesn't seem to leak. I tried pumping the gas pedal, too. I figure we must've been doing wrong when my brother and I tried to jump it the first time around, or most likely the alarm was causing the flashing. It's wired into all the interior lights.

Thanks again!

 

If you had to jump it i would check on the battery as a problem. If it ran fine when doing the errans and didn't die then that normally rules out the alternator as being bad. I would go to autozone or advanced auto or napa or somewhere and get the battery tested just to be sure.

Brendan

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well you said that evil word "alarm". That's your problem

I've spent a lot of time troubleshooting those bastards in a no start / sometimes starts condition.

Check that you don't have any ground / wiring problems in the alarm.

I concur with leirch, get your battery tested.

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Two 1984 Trans Ams and some other stuff
Order of the Cacti: www.lotusforum.net/