Uhh ohh, yet another problem

[AquariumPerson]

OK, Last Thursday I decided to drive the car around and it started up fine, idled a little high though, like 1500 RPM's. But that can be fixed.... Anyhow I drove it around for about 20 mins then parked it. Today, Saturday, I tried to start it and it started and ran for like 1 second, mabe less, then I heard a clicking noise for about 3 seconds, then it went away. I think the water pump is shot too because it has never been replaced. Could this be the problem? Also, I turned the key the 3d time and held the gas down and revved the engine a little and then it ran fine, idled at 1100 tho, lower significantly than on thursday. Then I went to get something in town (only drove it for like 5 mins.) Then a little while after I got back i tried to start it again and it started fine. What could be the problem? Thanks.

 

[Quasimondo]

Cold engines idle high until they warm up and then it should drop back down. If it's idling that high on a warm engine, then you need to adjust your base idle set screw, which sits on the top of the manifold near the throttle body.

Water pump is a seperate problem (if it's even a problem at all). Unless your car is overheating, then it's probably fine, but should be replaced as a matter of general maintenance the next time you replace your timing belt.

Clicking noise can be anything from injectors to MPI relay. If it's a persistent problem, you should check the ECU to see if the capicators are leaking. Better yet, pull that ECU and have those caps replaced anyway.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

That clicking sound under the dash could be spelling trouble for your PCM. Like Quasimoto said, you could be yet another "cap" victim. I've seen bad caps strand a car, then act like nothing happened for days and strand the car again. Send it to a reputable builder or opt for an "eprom" unit that has been repaired. The water pump won't strand you like that. The signs of trouble from it are an unusual grinding noise from the engine bay in that area followed pretty quickly by anti freeze loss. Then you have to pull the whole thing apart. Might as well figure on full timing belt replacement procedures here if it hasn't been done within 60k.

Good Luck

 

[AquariumPerson]

Uhrm, first. What is the 'PCM'.

Also, what is the " MPI relay ".


thanks

 

[Quasimondo]

PCM = ECU
MFI Relay = Multi-Port Fuel Injection relay. Located in the engine compartment fusebox, it controls the power to the fuel pump and some parts of the ecu.

 

[Mike Marnik]

Ya it could definatly be your ecu mine recently took a crap and it would run fine for days then all of a sudden have starting problems and stuff then go away and run fine then it finally decided it wanted to be ### all the time check the ecu for leaky caps.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

Sorry about that. PCM is powertrain control module. Used to be called the computer. Now we have so many each has its own name. Good Luck