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Asked: Oct 17, 2009 - 01:33 PM

Status: Closed

Replaced automatic shutdown and fuel pump relays on 94 generation 1 Dodge Viper. Hesitates to start again after running.

Replaced Automatic Shutdown Relay and Fuel Pump Relay on 94 Gen 1 Viper. Car hesitates to start again after running. Will crank and run after sitting for about five minutes.

In Makes & Models > Dodge > Viper
In Maintenance & Repair > Fuel System
In Maintenance & Repair > Engine > No start
1 answer - 34 days ago

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zaken1

Date: Oct 21, 2009
Time: 01:49 AM

I assume you mean that the engine cranks but will not run when trying to start it soon after running. But if you mean that it will not crank; then there is a battery, alternator, starter, or starter relay problem.

If it cranks but will not run; I suggest replacing the fuel filter. If that does not help, please try the following starting technique: Turn the ignition key to the position where the dashboard warning lights come on; and WAIT with the key in that position for a full ten seconds. Then turn the key the rest of the way to start the engine.

The reason this so often solves the problem is that fuel injected cars have their fuel pump located way back at the rear of the car; in or near the gas tank. The fuel must pass through long lines to get from the pump to the engine. The fuel in these lines drains back into the tank as soon as the engine is stopped. When the engine has stopped after just been running, it will be hot enough that all the excess fuel in the intaks manifold will have evaporated. So there is basically no fuel in the manifold available to assist starting. At those times, it takes about ten seconds for the fuel pump to refill the lines and build up enough pressure at the injectors, before there will be enough fuel available to restart a hot motor. When someone does not wait for the fuel pressure to build up, and tries to start the motor right away, it will not start. If you wait five minutes before restarting the motor, the temperature will cool down enough that automatic fuel enrichment circuits will be activated, which add more fuel to make starting easier. But those circuits cannot be used on a hot engine, because it will create too much pollution. So that's why it is necessary to wait ten seconds for the fuel pressure to build up before trying to start a hot motor.

In the 15 years since that car was engineered, fuel chemistry has changed drastically. Today's fuels contain oxygenating additives (typically ethanol) which reduce pollution; but tend to make starting more difficult. And it is that oxygenated fuel which is making some older cars harder to start than they used to be. Fortunately, we can improve the situation by using the ten second wait technique.

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