Renix 4.0 won't start....sometimes

scottyknows50 · 11-17-2009, 02:26 PM

my '87 4.0 has about 340k miles on it and has been basically pretty good to me. lately, usually after letting it sit awhile, it won't start. i can hear the fuel pump and all the lights turn on. i will "mess" with some wires, check my distributor, and wait a bit and then it will crank and start like nothing's wrong. what do you guys think- bad connection to the starter? need a new starter? battery cables seem good. thanks.

**theducksguts** · 11-17-2009, 02:28 PM

My old 88 used to do that too. I never figured it out before it died completely. I thought it was either flooding or bad electrical connection. 340k is a good run. Highest I have seen personally is 380K.

**98GooseXJ14** · 11-17-2009, 02:45 PM

My brothers was like that.. all that was wrong was the cable going to the battery was corroded, it looked fine form the outside, but we cut the cable an inch, got a new connector and it ran great. Probably something to do with wiring for you.

Fir3Chi3f · 11-17-2009, 02:57 PM

Mine used to do the exact same, it was the starter solenoid. Sometimes I would turn the key and I would hear no crank, no click, no nothing. Try again in an hour and would start right up.

Defiantly check the cable first like 00Cherokee said, cheaper and more well known to cause issues.

BunnyHunterOG · 11-17-2009, 06:28 PM

I had the same issue in my 89, it turned out to be the ignition module.

scottyknows50 · 11-18-2009, 09:09 AM

did it again this morning- gets power to the fuel pump and the lights and everything but it won't even turn over. i'm guessing my cables aren't getting power to the starter somehow or my starter is bad- sound reasonable?

89eliminator · 11-18-2009, 10:32 AM

check out your CPS. sometimes the wires will melt against the exhaust manifold causing the problem your describing.

scottyknows50 · 11-19-2009, 03:05 PM

i was going to clean the ground connection to the block but couldn't unscrew the bolt. the bolt wouldn't seperate from the ground cable and was just twisting everytime i tried to turn it. seems weird. i sprayed some electrical cleaner all around it, tightened it back up, and added another ground cable to the block. can an insuffient ground cause the vehicle not to start even though the lights and everything will turn on? thanks.

BunnyHunterOG · 11-19-2009, 03:43 PM

An in sufficient ground can cause a lot of issues, but if its rusted to the block, which is kind of what it sounds like, it should be pretty well connected.

This is what mine used to do, which is why i suggested the coil/module.

I was at work one day, drove their absolutely fine, no issues, got out of work, went to start the car, full power but the motor wouldnt turn over. So i called my friend up and was like "what the f is going on?" wiggled some wires around, tried it, nothing, wiggled some wires around again, tried it and it fired right up.

The same thing happened the next morning, after futzing around it fired up, but wouldnt on the way home. Its very possible that my connections on the module / coil were ****ty, but it was also a 20 year old car so i just replaced them both and never had the issue again.

scottyknows50 · 11-19-2009, 04:10 PM

the negative cable won't turn from the bolt. the bolt and nut seem to turn as one, and twists the wires since they won't break free......good times!