Won't Start Randomly When Hot

[phiend]

Hi, I am having some trouble with my 90 LX. When its cold, it starts fine, right away. If I take a short drive, maybe about half the time it won't start back up. If I spray some starting fluid in the air intake pipe, it will then start up right away. Once its running it continues to run without any problems. The starter, battery, spark plugs, plug wires, and fuel filter are all less then 3 months old and all seem to still be working ok.
If anyone could offer any ideas it would help very much!

[ExplodingCake]

How does it die?

Sputter like being choked or like shutting off unexpected?

[phiend]

How does it die?

Sputter like being choked or like shutting off unexpected?

It dies when I turn the key to off Once it starts, it runs fine and doesn't die.
But if I take a short trip like to a convenience store for lunch, turn it off while I go in, it is 50/50 if it will start again when I am ready to leave. Since it starts again with starting fluid I don't get stranded anywhere. I just don't think using starting fluid constantly can be a good thing.

[ExplodingCake]

It dies when I turn the key to off Once it starts, it runs fine and doesn't die.
But if I take a short trip like to a convenience store for lunch, turn it off while I go in, it is 50/50 if it will start again when I am ready to leave. Since it starts again with starting fluid I don't get stranded anywhere. I just don't think using starting fluid constantly can be a good thing.

Ok , you should check your main relay.

[eriemoto.]

sounds like a main fuel relay issue, except for the starting fluid part

[ExplodingCake]

sounds like a main fuel relay issue, except for the starting fluid part

Yeah seems he ain't getting fuel in there.

[Losiracer2]

1. check main relay
2. if not main relay, then it might be your ignitor unit.

there's a DIY in the DIY section on how to fix the solder points on the main relay, b/c over time, the points have cracked and therefore lost the connection. That's why it starts 50% of the time, sometimes they're connected sometimes they're not.

[phiend]

To add some additional information, I was just estimating on starting 50% of the time, its actually much less that it won't start. When I first got the car getting it started was a problem. Then I started running Lucas fuel treatment in it, and seemed to have better luck. Recently I ran a tank or two without the Lucas FT and started having problems again. I filled up yesterday and added more LFT so I'll see how it is the next few days.
But I'll also check out the main relay today and see how the solder joints look.

Thanks for all the help so far.

[Djmoua]

hmm...so if Main relay nor the Ignitor unit wasn't the problem...wouldn't the Fuel Filter play in part also?

[cb7'kid]

dude we have the same problem... when it gets hot my car doesnt start also, then leave it for like several minutes and start back up... yes once its running it wont die.. is ur car a stick or a auto???

[Lebb]

Used to happen to me also once in a while.. hasn't happened for a while now so I kinda just ignored the fact that it did lol..

[phiend]

dude we have the same problem... when it gets hot my car doesnt start also, then leave it for like several minutes and start back up... yes once its running it wont die.. is ur car a stick or a auto???

Its a 5 speed.

hmm...so if Main relay nor the Ignitor unit wasn't the problem...wouldn't the Fuel Filter play in part also?

The fuel filter was changed recently, so I don't believe thats the problem. Anything I've driven with a clogged filter would start and run, but die when the fuel in the line ran dry.

[ExplodingCake]

Pull out the main relay then check if there are cracks on the solder points.

[phiend]

Pull out the main relay then check if there are cracks on the solder points.

I pulled out the main relay yesterday and checked it. There were no cracks I could see, even with a magnifying glass. I soldered it again today just to be sure since I had it out anyway and soldering it took less then 10 minutes.

[ExplodingCake]

I pulled out the main relay yesterday and checked it. There were no cracks I could see, even with a magnifying glass. I soldered it again today just to be sure since I had it out anyway and soldering it took less then 10 minutes.

Detective

How did it go?