CB7 Difficulty Starting Sometimes

[Tuage]

Also look for any kill switches the seller may have failed to mention (i forget if you said crank no start or just nothing!?!) but since i purchased mine ive encountered two kill switches so far ,one a fuse under dash to the left of the steering wheel and also another switch right above the hood release...my fuse kill switch sometimes unseats slightly at times and the car will be searching for a connection until i push it back in, and the switch above the hood release i must have kicked exiting the car which is how i discovered that one...mid 2000s and before these cars where high theft vehicles owners where known to install kill switches, maybe your case maybe not but doesnt hurt to know

[AmTeC]

Also look for any kill switches the seller may have failed to mention (i forget if you said crank no start or just nothing!?!) but since i purchased mine ive encountered two kill switches so far ,one a fuse under dash to the left of the steering wheel and also another switch right above the hood release...my fuse kill switch sometimes unseats slightly at times and the car will be searching for a connection until i push it back in, and the switch above the hood release i must have kicked exiting the car which is how i discovered that one...mid 2000s and before these cars where high theft vehicles owners where known to install kill switches, maybe your case maybe not but doesnt hurt to know

Its struggles to start sometimes, theres no kill switch in this car. I really dont think the dizzy is the problem, it sounds more like a fuel issue to me

[AmTeC]

Symptom Recreated! Another Clue!

So I recreated the problem. I warmed up the car by going for a short drive, after, I turned the key on (not start, just ignition on), and then when the fuel pump turned off, I turned the key off and on again, and I did it one more time. so the fuel pump has turned on 3 times. Then I started her up and she stalled almost immediately. Then I did what Cb7_calling said. I floored it with the engine off and they key off for a few seconds, Then I let go of the gas pedal and turned the key, she started right up and ran fine. The 3 times the car has struggled to start, it was because I turned the key on to check the fuel level before starting the engine, and I guess the pump turns on and overprimes the fuel pressure or some mumbojumbo like that. What do you guys think?

[Fleetw00d]

Sounds like maybe an injector(s) are leaking while you're priming the system and flooding the engine. Opening the throttle allows it to clear. How's your fuel economy (if they leak while priming it means they are probably leaking all the time, but I suppose the ECU could adjust for this by reducing the amount it is metering)? Did you change the fuel filter when the tank and lines were replaced? Get a fuel pressure gage and check to see if the system is maintaining pressure when shut off. If so, it is either the check valve in the pump, an injector, or the pressure regulator that is leaking. I'm not sure if high pressure would cause the injectors to open without being signaled.

You might try some Seafoam or Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner to try to clean the injectors. Worst case, pull the injectors and check whether they leak or not when closed.

[AmTeC]

Sounds like maybe an injector(s) are leaking while you're priming the system and flooding the engine. Opening the throttle allows it to clear. How's your fuel economy (if they leak while priming it means they are probably leaking all the time, but I suppose the ECU could adjust for this by reducing the amount it is metering)? Did you change the fuel filter when the tank and lines were replaced? Get a fuel pressure gage and check to see if the system is maintaining pressure when shut off. If so, it is either the check valve in the pump, an injector, or the pressure regulator that is leaking. I'm not sure if high pressure would cause the injectors to open without being signaled.

You might try some Seafoam or Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner to try to clean the injectors. Worst case, pull the injectors and check whether they leak or not when closed.

My fuel economy is pretty bad, Isn't that normal though? Its got an auto trans, and mostly city driving. Every other car we've had was rated at least 30 for city driving. The cb7 is rated 19 I think. I know for a fact it doesnt maintain fuel pressure, I had another thread about this. Basically if I start my cb7 up from a stone cold start without priming it, it cranks for quite a while before starting, however, if I prime it from a stone cold start it will start up instantly with minimal cranking, Another member told me this is most likely a check valve leaking and its not really important. The car will also instantly restart without the need for priming within 8-10 hours from when it was stopped. I'm very paranoid about using fuel system cleaners, We had a dodge caravan once and we used fuel system cleaner and 2 of the injectors started leaking majorly shortly after.

[cb7 calling]

You may have a different problem than I thought, my cb always hit 30-34 mpg per fill up.

[Fleetw00d]

My fuel economy is pretty bad, Isn't that normal though? Its got an auto trans, and mostly city driving. Every other car we've had was rated at least 30 for city driving. The cb7 is rated 19 I think. I know for a fact it doesnt maintain fuel pressure, I had another thread about this. Basically if I start my cb7 up from a stone cold start without priming it, it cranks for quite a while before starting, however, if I prime it from a stone cold start it will start up instantly with minimal cranking, Another member told me this is most likely a check valve leaking and its not really important. The car will also instantly restart without the need for priming within 8-10 hours from when it was stopped. I'm very paranoid about using fuel system cleaners, We had a dodge caravan once and we used fuel system cleaner and 2 of the injectors started leaking majorly shortly after.

There is a check valve in the fuel pump assembly that is supposed to maintain pressure in the line for the next start. If it is leaking, then it will take a few to reprime the line before you get sufficient pressure for the injectors to work correctly. This will not cause the flooding problem you appear to have.

A leaking injector(s) will cause the same loss of pressure when shut off, but may also result in the behavior you describe. The ratings for the CB7 are low 20s (maybe 23) city and about 29 highway. Mine get 25-26 in mostly city driving and 30+ on the highway.