Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 17:47:42 -0400 From: David Rodgers <criehavennopsamdnet.att.net> Subject: HELP! Intermittent hotsoak starting
We have a 1991 Saab 9000S with about 45,000 miles on it. It has, apart from scheduled dealer maintenance, and a set of new tires, all original parts. The problem is that this year, in the hot weather, we have experienced four unpredictably intermittent starting failures after the hot engine has soaked for about 30 minutes. The car cranks strongly, with no accessories running, but it sounds like we get no spark. In fact, within thirty seconds of cranking, gasoline fumes can be smelled at the tailpipe. I suppose this means the injectors are shooting their fuel, but there is no spark. The car was sent to the dealer for diagnosis/repair. They drove the car, idled it to hot & attempted to duplicate the starting problem for the past week. Of course, the problem never recurred! They suggested there may be some intermittent fault in the "DI Cassette"; the one-coil-per-cyclinder direct ignition system, but because there are no obvious fault codes from the ICM, and they are a responsible shop, they have made no trial-and-error ($$$$) replacements to solve the problem. Being cost-effective with a spontaneous starting problem is very tricky. Have any of you experienced similar starting problems, and found a solution? TIA for any advice! DCR The battery & charging system have been checked.