Re: argh, 90 xj starting revisited (cps?)
 

Troy wrote:

> Damn, just when I fix one thing its another...
>
> The other day in traffic it died at a particularly busy intersection here in
> town, but after the hood up and me plugging and unplugging the cps sensor a
> few times it starts up and I drive to where I was going. An hour after
> there I go to leave and it wont start. I try my tricks again for about
> 15-20 minutes... no go. So we push the thing over to the side to park it
> and so I can get a ride, and just for fun I tried it again and now it will
> start.
>
> Got it home that night and now it won't crank again. Just sitting there

Just to be clear on the symptoms: Won't crank or won't start?

"Cranking": Electric motor spins the moving parts of the gasoline motor.

"Won't start": No spark at the plugs/insufficient spark at the plugs for
ignition/spark and fuel not meeting at right time, right place.

There's a world of difference right there.


> cold this time. I replaced the cps sensor a few months ago, and cleaned all
> my connectors. Seems like its heat related most of the time, as if by me
> lifting the hood so air can cool it a bit seems to work a little. The temp
> needle doesnt' show it getting hot though.

Your factory dash gauges are vague indicators only, not precision
instruments. They are there only to show you if something is seriously
out of range. Needle someplace in the middle: Normal. Needle pegged:
Something not normal.


> My idle is low I know and only
> when its in gear... maybe I need to change the auto tranny fluid?

I don't see that helping much.


> I'm about this close | | to selling it only because with this new job I need
> very reliable transportation. Any more ideas?

At 17 years old I'd guess that most of the trouble-free and reliable
life has been sucked out of pretty much any passenger vehicle.

Re: argh, 90 xj starting revisited (cps?)
 

Troy wrote:

> Damn, just when I fix one thing its another...
>
> The other day in traffic it died at a particularly busy intersection here in
> town, but after the hood up and me plugging and unplugging the cps sensor a
> few times it starts up and I drive to where I was going. An hour after
> there I go to leave and it wont start. I try my tricks again for about
> 15-20 minutes... no go. So we push the thing over to the side to park it
> and so I can get a ride, and just for fun I tried it again and now it will
> start.
>
> Got it home that night and now it won't crank again. Just sitting there

Just to be clear on the symptoms: Won't crank or won't start?

"Cranking": Electric motor spins the moving parts of the gasoline motor.

"Won't start": No spark at the plugs/insufficient spark at the plugs for
ignition/spark and fuel not meeting at right time, right place.

There's a world of difference right there.


> cold this time. I replaced the cps sensor a few months ago, and cleaned all
> my connectors. Seems like its heat related most of the time, as if by me
> lifting the hood so air can cool it a bit seems to work a little. The temp
> needle doesnt' show it getting hot though.

Your factory dash gauges are vague indicators only, not precision
instruments. They are there only to show you if something is seriously
out of range. Needle someplace in the middle: Normal. Needle pegged:
Something not normal.


> My idle is low I know and only
> when its in gear... maybe I need to change the auto tranny fluid?

I don't see that helping much.


> I'm about this close | | to selling it only because with this new job I need
> very reliable transportation. Any more ideas?

At 17 years old I'd guess that most of the trouble-free and reliable
life has been sucked out of pretty much any passenger vehicle.

Re: argh, 90 xj starting revisited (cps?)
 

Troy wrote:

> Damn, just when I fix one thing its another...
>
> The other day in traffic it died at a particularly busy intersection here in
> town, but after the hood up and me plugging and unplugging the cps sensor a
> few times it starts up and I drive to where I was going. An hour after
> there I go to leave and it wont start. I try my tricks again for about
> 15-20 minutes... no go. So we push the thing over to the side to park it
> and so I can get a ride, and just for fun I tried it again and now it will
> start.
>
> Got it home that night and now it won't crank again. Just sitting there

Just to be clear on the symptoms: Won't crank or won't start?

"Cranking": Electric motor spins the moving parts of the gasoline motor.

"Won't start": No spark at the plugs/insufficient spark at the plugs for
ignition/spark and fuel not meeting at right time, right place.

There's a world of difference right there.


> cold this time. I replaced the cps sensor a few months ago, and cleaned all
> my connectors. Seems like its heat related most of the time, as if by me
> lifting the hood so air can cool it a bit seems to work a little. The temp
> needle doesnt' show it getting hot though.

Your factory dash gauges are vague indicators only, not precision
instruments. They are there only to show you if something is seriously
out of range. Needle someplace in the middle: Normal. Needle pegged:
Something not normal.


> My idle is low I know and only
> when its in gear... maybe I need to change the auto tranny fluid?

I don't see that helping much.


> I'm about this close | | to selling it only because with this new job I need
> very reliable transportation. Any more ideas?

At 17 years old I'd guess that most of the trouble-free and reliable
life has been sucked out of pretty much any passenger vehicle.