Need Help! 1995 Eagle talon Dies after startup

[StuckintheskY]

Hey guys this is my first post. I just recently bought a 1995 eclipse/talon ESI non-turbo 144K M/T. It was running fine lots of squeeking and grinding though. But if I let it sit outside for about 4 hours and try to start it up again it immediately dies on me. It takes me about 5 tries before it will start up, until I figured out that If I give it some gas I could keep it running until it would finally Idle just fine. The check engine light comes on while this is happening then goes away once it is okay. What could be causing this issue??? I'm going to go pick up a 95 eclipse/talon owners manual today after work but I have no idea where to begin troubleshooting. I would really appreciate if someone could give me a heads up. I've replaced tie rods and I-beams and struts plenty of times by myself but when It comes to engine/transmission electrical work I don't know where to start and it would be a good time to learn. Should be a good project car for me. Thanks guys

Some pics of the car

 

[Colt4G63 also]

It looks to me like you need to get a good "factory service manual", not an owners manual. You should read it, all of it, and learn it. Then look under the hood and start with the obvious problems: loose belts, damaged/misrouted vaccum hoses, vaccum leaks, unplugged sensors, leaks, compression test, etc...

When you have that all sorted, see what that light, is coming on for (if it still is), and proceed based on that.

Ps. Since you just bought it, you should replace the timing belt. But don't mess it up, it can be complicated, and if you screw it up you're going to be bummed.

 

[Wicked95AWD]

Check the basics first.. Are you getting fuel and fire? Try pulling one of your spark plug wires while someone turns the key to see if your getting spark. If you can tell your spark plug wires are firing try replacing your plugs, if new plugs don't work suspect a bad fuel pump or a clogged fuel filter. Also, make sure your mass air flow sensor is plugged in and check all of your fuses.

 

[StuckintheskY]

I've been pretty busy and Haven't had a chance to pick up a service repair manual. I've just ordered "1995 Eagle Talon Original Repair Shop Manual Set 95" from ebay. I took off the spoiler because it was making a ton of noise. I also found that this problem with the car not wanting to start only occurs when it is cold outside otherwise it starts up just fine which is pretty usual for a car with this many miles on it (145k). There is however alot of squeeking coming from the car, I think it's the coils but I'm not sure. I'm also unsure if I should invest alot of my time and money in this car. There is alot to be done and with 144K on it I'm not sure how much longer it will last, I'm not too familiar with the reliability of these cars. It still runs great and has a cold air Intake with a rubber hose? And the pcv valve has been cut off from the main intake and has a filter on it?? I'm not sure how this helps anything... But I should have that service repair manual pretty soon any other advice would be much appreciated. Thanks again guys for the advice!

 

[Wicked95AWD]

I could see you investing quite a bit of time and money fixing up an AWD turbo eclipse or talon but a FWD NT w that many miles is probably best suited simply for cheap/semi-reliable transportation and not much else. Of course, that's just my humble opinion, some people enjoy working on cars regardless of their potential. If you plan on keeping the car I would give it a basic tune up... oil change, plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc. If you continue having trouble you will have at least eliminated the basics. Do you know if the car has had the timing belt and water replaced recently?

 

[StuckintheskY]

Well I haven't had anymore problems with starting the car. However the check engine light just recently came on and has not left since, I've driven a good 30 miles since it came on and haven't noticed any unusual performance it idles just fine and everything, I'm thinking it may be a sensor the speedometer has been out too but this was way before the check engine light. As far as the timing belt goes I don't know if it has been changed recently or not, my guess is it hasn't been, and I just recently filled the car with coolant. Oh also whenever I first start the car after a couple of hours and take off there is a loud loud loud grinding sound coming from the front end of the car for about 10 seconds and then it goes away, the guy I bought the car from told me the rotors were in really bad shape and needed to be replaced so I'm not sure if this issue is because of the rotors or if it has to do with bushings and/or suspension. Whenever I brake the car feels like it's jumping forward I know that is from the rotors but this loud grinding sound....I'm not too sure about it. I'm most likely just going to fix the car up to the point where it runs normally without any squeeking or grinding because there is way too much of that right now. I've been too busy with work to sart working on the car right now but I'll start pretty soon, still waiting on that service repair manual as well.

 

[Wicked95AWD]

Sounds like the rotors are a part of the problem, at least they are a relatively cheap and easy fix. It could be a siezed caliper as well. The process of elimination works wonders. At least if you go ahead and swap out the rotors (or maybe simply have them checked and turned) it will most likely fix your braking problem, and if the grinding sound continues you can eliminate that as the source of the noise and move on to the next possible culprit.

 

[StuckintheskY]

That's going to be one of the first things I do next to fixing the speedometer. I really appreciate the help you've given me. I can't wait to get that manual I've got alot of work to do. There is a junkyard not too far from where I live so as far as expenses go for the parts I will need I should be okay. I have alot of tools so I'm okay there. This should be an interesting experience. There is also some leaking from the gasket on the top of the engine, but I hear this is normal for a car with this many miles. I'll post up some pics and maybe a video of the car when I get a chance.

 

[Wicked95AWD]

A few years ago my speedometer stopped working and I was getting a Check engine light. It turned out to be a broken speed sensor. It is located on the passenger side of the engine near the firewall on a turbo car, but I'm not sure if it's in the same spot on a Non-Turbo talon.