won't start/break down issue '88 LS
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won't start/break down issue '88 LS
Hi, I'm hoping somebody could help me out with my present maintenance issue. Excuse me for the long post.
For about 18 months, my '88 LS has occasionally not been able to start when the engine's been warm. It probably happened about a dozen times before the last couple weeks. I would stop the vehicle, leave it for 5-10 minutes, and then come back to it without being able to start it again. Usually on the first attempt, the engine would turn over briefly before cutting out. After the first attempt, the starter would make noise, but it wouldn't turn over. I typically had to wait until the engine cooled before I could start the vehicle again - anywhere from 15 min to a couple of hours. One time I poured a bunch of cool water on it at a gas station, and it started up again right away. After it began running it would run fine, with no issue.
A couple weeks ago and for the first time, the car didn't start when the engine was cool. I changed the spark plugs. The old ones were fairly corroded and not looking great when I pulled them out. The car started after I had changed them, but it started pretty sluggishly. Soon after this incident, I had the car stop running I while driving it. I had been driving on the highway, pulled off, and then waited at a stop light, positioned slightly uphill, when it started to idle a little less strongly. As I was shifting into second gear, it pooped out. It then wouldn't start, and sounded much like it would in the previous times when it wouldn't start.
Now, it will start once after I leave it alone for a long time, but if I turn it off, it won't start a second time.
I'm looking for any suggestions for something I could do myself. I don't have a hell of a lot of experience, but I'm handy enough and would like to avoid paying a bunch to get this figured out. Thanks.
For about 18 months, my '88 LS has occasionally not been able to start when the engine's been warm. It probably happened about a dozen times before the last couple weeks. I would stop the vehicle, leave it for 5-10 minutes, and then come back to it without being able to start it again. Usually on the first attempt, the engine would turn over briefly before cutting out. After the first attempt, the starter would make noise, but it wouldn't turn over. I typically had to wait until the engine cooled before I could start the vehicle again - anywhere from 15 min to a couple of hours. One time I poured a bunch of cool water on it at a gas station, and it started up again right away. After it began running it would run fine, with no issue.
A couple weeks ago and for the first time, the car didn't start when the engine was cool. I changed the spark plugs. The old ones were fairly corroded and not looking great when I pulled them out. The car started after I had changed them, but it started pretty sluggishly. Soon after this incident, I had the car stop running I while driving it. I had been driving on the highway, pulled off, and then waited at a stop light, positioned slightly uphill, when it started to idle a little less strongly. As I was shifting into second gear, it pooped out. It then wouldn't start, and sounded much like it would in the previous times when it wouldn't start.
Now, it will start once after I leave it alone for a long time, but if I turn it off, it won't start a second time.
I'm looking for any suggestions for something I could do myself. I don't have a hell of a lot of experience, but I'm handy enough and would like to avoid paying a bunch to get this figured out. Thanks.
