Difficulty starting...............

[Blast7]

Since I have had the car for about 2 years it has always had a problem starting. I have to crank it for about 5 seconds or more at then when it starts it acts as though it is going to stall and then idles fine. While this occurs as it starts a cloud of blue smoke comes out the exhaust. I have tested the alternator and battery to find no problems at all. Also, when I first start it the blue smoke continues as I drive leisurely for the next half mile or so. Is it running really rich?

 

[93nighthawk]

Which car?

Are there any engine mods?
Codes?

Checked compresion?

Have you replaced the starter? There is an updated starter which has more teeth on the bendix so it ingages better.

 

[Blast7]

This is on my 91+. I have a K&N air filter and a performance plus y-pipe. I have yet to check compression. How many teeth does the updated starter have vs. the old?

 

[93nighthawk]

The old bendix had 9 teeth, where the new one has 12. (if memory is correct). When I replaced my starter with the new style motorcraft one, I did notice quicker/smoother starting.

So are you getting any codes?

There might be something else causing the starting issue.

Also if you do pull the starter, I would shine a flashlight in the hole and check the condition of the teeth on the flywheel.

 

[oh_SHO]

I have a smiliar problem. Mine starts fine when cold but after its hot and sits for more then 15-20 minutes I have to crank it longer or more than once to get it to start. I also have the strange idle when it first fires up. Sounds like you get a little more smoke then I do... I've replaced CID, IAB, cleaned MAF, and checked for vacum leaks. The only thing left to to replace the fuel pump. Someone told me that it could be weak (or a bad check-valve) causing a vapor-lock type of situation. I doubt it is the starter if it cranks over fine. The smoke is probably due to worn valve stem seals. I don't have any codes either. If you solve it LMK and I will do the same. I plan to do the fuel pump after I start my new job.

 

[SonicRiot]

Blue smoke means burning oil. Are you consuming a lot of oil? Is there oil in your plug wells?

 

[Blast7]

I am burning some oil. Nothing out of the ordinary for a 180K mile SHO though. I have replaced the plug well seals and valve gover gaskets 2 years ago. I have no codes to speak of. I suppose the only step to take next is to replace the starter, which I hate doing.

 

[anarchy04]

How about the valve stem seals? I have a friend with a 92 that smokes a little cuz of bad valve stem seals.

 

[Blast7]

I'm not sure if it is the valve seals, however I have some new symptoms that may help further diagnose my problem. Today after my car had been sitting for 8 hrs, at work in 80 degree weather, I went to start it up and it would not. I tried three intervals of cranking and it would only turn over. Then I put the accelerator to the floor and cranked and it started up with even more smoke than normal. It was a huge cloud but is the same type of smoke that I see every morning. It seemed to me as though the car's fuel mixture is not right.

 

[oh_SHO]

Interesting. I've noticed that on my Dad's ATX if you didn't hold it long enough for it to start (starts normal) it will end up flooding itself. Then I have to open the throttle for it to start. Still not getting any codes?

I was stating that valve stem seal leak when the car sits; letting oil into the combustion chamber. I doubt it would cause starting problems. My car just hit 100K and it needs those seals already.