95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up

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95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 4/30/2008 11:24:22 PM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline I recently bought a 95 Avenger ES that has 100000 miles on it and a rebuilt transmission(10K ago). It ran good for the first two days until the weather got a little cooler(around 40 degrees). I went out to start it the next day and it would not go. The engine was cranking but would not turn over so I called the guy i bought it from. He told me that it sometimes had some troubles in cold weather starting and that if i plugged it in for an hour it would work. He said that he believed there was a " bad sensor" that was affecting the fuel pump in cold temperatures. After about an hour the car fired right up with no problem and throughout the day the car ran perfectly. The next day i bought a sensor from the dealership that they believed to be the source of the problem. I replaced the sensor and the car was driving perfectly but had never had enough time to fully cool down. I went to work that night and came out after about six hours to start the car, it started and died within half a second. I tried to start it again and it would not go, then i tried it a third and gave it some gas and it sputtered to life. It seems to be a fuel problem and I am hoping that the original owner is right.  What could cause this problem? Is there a sensor that could be causing it? The problem is fairly minor as it is very easy to get the car started and while in town i wont have any problems but plugging it in every day is not a very logical or convenient way to start the car. Please help! Thanks, Kris16 < Message edited by Kris16 -- 4/30/2008 11:33:22 PM > Post #: 1

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 6:35:36 AM    tom01973   Posts: 74 Joined: 4/29/2008 Status: offline What do you mean by plug it in? And what sensor did you buy?A little more info. and maybe someone can help you out. (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 2

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 6:50:52 AM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline When the block heater is plugged in on the car. I cant remember what the sensor was called but it was some kind of temperature sensor and it was cheap(20 bucks) if that narrows it down at all. It was located right behind the Radiator cap. It did not seem to solve the problem.  (in reply to tom01973) Post #: 3

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 7:50:46 AM    tom01973   Posts: 74 Joined: 4/29/2008 Status: offline Ok i'm thinking fuel pressure regulator. (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 4

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 8:30:48 AM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline Where would it be located and is there any way to test it? thanks It also seems to pick when it wants to accelerate, sometimes it will take off and others i have to release the gas and re apply before it continues to speed up. Could the fuel filter be a factor in either of these problems? < Message edited by Kris16 -- 5/1/2008 8:55:56 AM > (in reply to tom01973) Post #: 5

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 6:14:44 PM    josef15111   Posts: 289 Joined: 9/12/2006 Status: offline Hey there have you checked the TPS sensor? or maybe the IAC sensor? the one you replaced was the ECT sensor  are you getting a CEl light if so try to get ht ecodes read it may tell you your problem right off. it could be a number of things so i would try to go to auto zone or some parts place they will read your computer for you, or you can try the Key dance feature turn your car on then off then on then off then on and leave it on and watch for your CEl light to blink i beleave there is a sticky at the top of the page that shows how to do this. Let us know what the codes happen to be. if you need more help on this post back CEL= Check Engine Light TPS= Throttle postion sensor IAC= Intake Air temp sensor ECT= Engine coolant temp sensor Joe (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 6

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 7:19:32 PM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline The check engine light does not come on when the vehicle is started. The original owner told me it would come on and off and that it was because of this sensor but i have not yet witnessed it. I only got the key dance to work once today and i believe i got a code of 22 (this was after the sensor was changed). So i disconnected the sensor and checked that the wiring was not corroded. I reattached it and made sure it was in all the way.the I tried the key dance many times after and was unable to get the engine light to come on at all. So the sensor may have just not have been connected properly to begin with. I will have to wait til tomorrow to see if the car starts after cooling off over night or if i will need to plug it in again.  (in reply to josef15111) Post #: 7

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 7:48:10 PM    josef15111   Posts: 289 Joined: 9/12/2006 Status: offline Have you reset the PCM? take your battery cables off the car for about 15 mins then reconect them i beleave you should do it after changing a sensor any way it tells the PCM that something is fresh..  try that then get back have you tried the seafoam thro the intake?? Joe (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 8

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 9:52:51 PM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline Seafoam through the intake? What do you mean?  (in reply to josef15111) Post #: 9

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/1/2008 10:25:19 PM    tom01973   Posts: 74 Joined: 4/29/2008 Status: offline Yes a dirty fuel filter can cause hesitation.Change the filter then check the fuel pressure should be between 40 and 52 psi.But check the service manual for your particular engine. The location and testing of the fuel pressure regulator is also covered in the manual.Seafoam is available at most parts srores.Remove a vacuum line from the upper intake manifold and and attach another line to that hose barb.Stick the other end of the hose into the can of seafoam and let the motor suck it out of the can.Use about 1/2the can this way and pour the other into the gas tank. (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 10

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/2/2008 8:00:46 AM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline Ok thanks. This morning when i tried to start it, it was a no go again. I could not hear the fuel pump and one of the relays started clicking. Im now beginning to think this could be the problem (in reply to tom01973) Post #: 11

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/2/2008 11:34:32 AM    tom01973   Posts: 74 Joined: 4/29/2008 Status: offline Which realy started buzzing?I bet it's the asd relay.Change it and maybe it will start. (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 12

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/2/2008 1:38:18 PM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline Its not that it wont start  it just wont start when the engine is cold. As soon as the engine has warmed up from the block heater the clicking stops and the fuel pump kicks in and the vehicle starts clean. I was able to get some codes off of the CEL by doing the "key dance" : I got 11, 12, 42, 22, 23. Since it is only in cold weather it may just be the cam or crank sensor(code 11). I dont want to have to change the relay until i know it is the problem for sure. since it does not come into contact with the engine so the block heater wouldnt cause it to heat up and allow it to work again.  (in reply to tom01973) Post #: 13

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/2/2008 10:30:31 PM    tom01973   Posts: 74 Joined: 4/29/2008 Status: offline First you need to clear all these codes.Then start it and do the key dance and find out what codes come back.Then we can go from there. (in reply to Kris16) Post #: 14

RE: 95 avenger starts only when plugged in/warmed up - 5/3/2008 9:47:26 AM    Kris16   Posts: 9 Joined: 4/30/2008 Status: offline Ok I reset the codes and only code 12 came back. Another question, where is the fuel filter located in the car. Thanks (in reply to tom01973) Post #: 15

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