[DML] Re: Starting problems... cold, now warm.

["Jim Reeve" <dmc6960@xxxxxxxxx>]

Time to think outside of the box!!!

Problem started when replacing fuel filter, did not exist before.

Problem now resulting is often a symptom of a faulty accumulator,
allowing fuel pressure to bleed off faster than normal.

Sure, its possible the fuel accumulator may have failed, but I like
trying the easy fixes first.  Check/tighten all of the fuel line
connections on the fuel filter.  If one of them has a very very small
leak, it could easily bleed off rest pressue in time for a hot/warm
start issue.  Since this is the part of the fuel system that was just
opened up, its the first place I would look.

At least checking this first means if it is the problem, you dont have
to buy anything!  I've heard fuel accumulator is a pain to replace. 
Couldn't tell you personally though, as my original one has never
failed!  Over 75,000 miles (total) and daily summer driving since
August 2000!

Jim Reeve
MNDMC - Minnesota DeLorean Club
DMC6960


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Travis Graham <tgraham@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> I seem to have traded a cold start problem for a warm start problem!  A 
> good trade? I don't think so... This one's a bit lengthy, but I want to 
> get all of the facts out on the table.  Thanks in advance!
> 
> First I had a lingering cold start problem - after sitting overnight, 
> my DeLorean would have very hard cold starts.  It would crank for a 
> bit, then slowly (5 seconds or so) sputter to life.  After getting 
> started, it would run fine and would always fire right up when warm to 
> hot.  Installing a new fuel filter seems to have solved that problem 
> before I had to break out the pressure gauge.  That was last weekend...
> 
> Yesterday I started up my DeLorean (and it started right up with no 
> hesitation after sitting for a week!) and went for a good drive.  I 
> parked it for about an hour, then went to leave and it wouldn't start!  
> It cranked and cranked but had no intention of firing up.  The fuel 
> pump was working, as I noted its usual hum after letting off of the 
> key.  After three rounds of this, I jumped the cold start valve using 
> the control pressure regulator's wire and it started right up.  I drove 
> straight back to its garage, turned it off, and then immediately tried 
> starting again.  It fired right up.  And 30 minutes later, it once 
> again fired up with absolutely no hesitation.  Unfortunately I had to 
> leave before it had cooled off enough to be in the "warm but not hot" 
> zone... and I haven't had a chance to resume experimentation.
> 
> Known variables: fuel pump = replaced in late 2000, thermo-time switch: 
> less than a year old.. and the cold start valve seems to be working 
> properly - I pulled it out a few weeks ago to check.  Fuel 
> accumulator... ?  It could very well be the original.
> 
> Given my symptoms and known factors, (and without having a chance to do 
> further investigation), I would assume that my most-likely problem is a 
> bad fuel accumulator.  Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had a 
> problem with hot starting before and I've owned this car for 8 years 
> and put 40k miles on it.  So, here are my questions for the group:
> 
> 1) Is there any possibility that I have killed my fuel accumulator 
> simply by swapping the filter?  That seems odd...
> 
> 2) Can a faulty fuel accumulator be sporadic?  Or, assuming that it's 
> bad, did I just get lucky with my timing since it's gone bad?  It would 
> seem to be to be more of a binary, broken or not-broken, part to me.
> 
> 3) Is there anything else besides the check valve on the pump that 
> could be the culprit here?
> 
> Thanks for any ideas.
> 
> Travis Graham
> #06344








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