Cold Starting Problems

[rolandpull]

I wonder if any one can help? I have a 4.3 pre cat Griff that starts instantly if the car has been driven the day before. However,if it hasn't been used for more than 3 days it just turns and turns and stubbonly refuses to kick into life. The weird bit is that if I then try it the next day, 50% of the time it will start instantly. Or it may just turn and turn and again refuse to start. It does often smell of petrol during the cranking period which may be a factor? The car has had new leads, distributor cap and rotor arm. The plugs are sooty(black) but in good condition.
Any Ideas??

[Ballistic Banana]

could be a number off things and sounds like something is braking down slowely as you have an intimtent fault.
I take it you have taken a plug out and tested you are getting a spark.

Could be the main fuse braking down, not too sure where it is on the 4.3 but on the 5.0 its on the chassis behind the drivers side wheel, could be one in the wiring loom in passenger footwell, prehaps someone could confirm this.

could be sensor temp, lamba etc playing up along with the ignition coil,relays the ignition amplifier along with even the ecu playing up the list could go on.

Some of which can be tested others which cant but are expensive to replace especially if not faulty.

Can you get access a fault code reader that may show something up.

Also prehaps re-set the ecu and see if that cures it although not really an answer.

Do a search with the forum search at the top on the Navbar in the Griffith and Chimeara forums and you will see many symptons and helpful comments.

And welcome to PH

BB

>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Sunday 5th June 21:30

[rolandpull]

Thanks for the advice. Have reset the ecu with no joy. But have found a garage (Hawthorns) who have a landrover diagnostic machine I can plug the car into which may help.

[fivehundred]

Did you get to the bottom of this???

Mine has just started to exhibit exactly the same symptoms...

[fiveHundred]

Does anyone have any ideas about this?

If the car has been driven recently it starts without any problems. If not, it just turns over at won't fire up. The fuel pump is priming and, judging by the smell of fuel after a few attempts to start, is doing it's job.

Sometimes I can persuade it to splutter into life - but it won't really idle and is generally unhappy (flooded?).

Once it's been started and driven it's fine for a few days.

Can anyone help?

[GreenV8S]

Apparently you've got fuel so the next thing to check would be the ignition. Are you getting a decent spark? Best way to tell is to put a passive strobe in series with a plug lead, but in an emergency you can just stick a screwdriver in the end and position it close to a suitable earth eg plenum top.

[fivehundred]

Thanks for the advice Mr. S, but the only strobe-light I have is left over from my old mobile disco days (and probably buried in a box under a spandex silver tracksuit with the words "Disco Bob" emblazoned across the buttocks)

The car left on the back of a low-loader bound for Austec, yesterday afternoon ...