1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
My 1988 8 valve has developed a bizarre startup issue. When it is cold, or even if it sits for 15 minutes but is warm, it will start but choke like it's not getting enough fuel. It will kind of acts like it's running on 3 cylinders and then smooths out when you give it gas when starting. Have to hold the accelerator down 1/2 while starting to make sure it starts. If you don't give it gas when starting, you will have to crank for a long time to get it to finally fire up. It has a new warm up regulator, cold start valve, new plugs and wires, new thermostat, both fuel pumps less than 2 years old. All OEM or NOS Saab. (I'm a fanatic about this) Head gasket done last year. I have every thermo time switch for this car and have swapped out all with spares and tested the cold/hot open/closed values. These all check out.
I am suspecting the fuel distributor. I only have this problem when starting. Once the car is running, any 8 valve guy would be amazed at how smooth it run. Accelerates beautifully, idles perfectly at 850 - 1000 RPMs. Great fuel mileage.
The fuel distributor was rebuilt about ten years ago.
The strange thing is it will start up again when warm with no effort at all. But if you leave it sit, after 20 minutes or so, it will get progressively more difficult and have the missing one cylinder syndrome.
I also have four matched sets of injectors for this car, and, all four sets exhibit the same issue.
One thing I noticed lately: the vacuum bottle/tank doesn't seem to hold pressure anymore. The vents only open/close once the car is running.
Do I need a functioning vacuum bottle? What are the symptoms of a bad vacuum bottle?
Someone, throw me a bone. Or a solution.
I've had this car for twenty years.
thanks
Mark
posted by 24.118.52...
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