warm start issues

[dwoolley]

My SAAB (1990 non turbo) takes a while about 20 seconds to start from cold, that has always been the case - but it always starts. Recently it has had issues re-starting after sopping the engine after a long drive (i.e. at the petrol station getting petrol, at the shop, etc).

When this happens I can turn the key, but there is engine sound at all. After leaving it for a while longer, it will restart. Sometimes I need to leave it for 10min sometime 30 min. But it will always restart at some point.

Very strange!!! Anyone had this issue, or know how to trouble shoot for it?

[kd23se4]

If you have a 8V engine I would check the fuel accumulator (Bosch Nr. 0438170047). It prevents Fuel (when warm) to return in the gas tank.

[dwoolley]

its a 16 valve

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by dwoolley

When this happens I can turn the key, but there is engine sound at all.

Do you mean that the starter isn't even spinning?

I've had dying starter motors that have heat-soaked like that before. It's been possible to get the car started by pouring a bottle of cold water over the starter motor (fairly accessible in the c900 for this purpose - between the LHF of the cylinder head & throttle body) - but the only real cure is to replace or rebuild the starter.

[c900]

The temp sensor (used by the ECU) that's mounted on the flange of the intake manifold where it bolts to the cylinder head might be playing up and giving the ECU a signal which prevents it being able to figure out how to control the injectors.

Is the starter motor actually working when you're trying to start the car with the engine hot? It's quite common for the starter solenoid to stick when hot and prevent the starter motor proper engaging. You can test this by getting something like an extension bar for a ratchet driver, positioning it to touch the starter solenoid casing, and giving it a few mild hits with a hammer to see if that will free up the solenoid.

The starter solenoid (older style starter under exhaust manifold) in my 81 turbo car sticks when the engine temp is over about 95 degrees C and that's something I've been planning to fix for ages. I have a replacement starter just haven't fitted it yet.

Craig.