Questions and Answers

Chrysler Salon Hard Hot Restart Q. Vince, I am writing this for my in-laws. They are at their wits end trying to deal with the following problem: When they cold start their 3.3 Liter 1993 Chrysler Salon it starts with just turing the key and very little grinding on the engine before it turns over. If you turn it off (after it warms up) and then let it sit for about ¾ to 1 hour, when you then attempt to start it, it will crank the engine anywhere from 3 to 8 seconds before it will start.

Sometimes it even takes touching the accelerator pedal, while cranking, for it to start. Seems like it is not getting gasoline. After it starts it seems to run okay.They have taken it to a dealership and have put a lot of money in it but with no luck. The dealership tried cleaning of the fuel injectors, I believe they replaced what they called a IAC module, and setting the high idle to a higher idle.

Would you have any ideas?

Also, just lately, when you decelerate from around 40 mph the car has a distinctive vibration in the drive train. It will vibrate until about 15 mph. This seems to happen even if I put the car in neutral and let it coast down. It doesn't vibrate if you start decelerating about 60 mph's. Just when it reached 40 mph. The vibration only comes through the steering column. Any ideas on this problem?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

A. It sounds to me like there is an injector(s) leaking down into the cylinder(s). A injector leak down test would to confirm this. When the engine is cold, the excess fuel has had a chance to dry off, but when you try to start it after a short while, the extra fuel would need to be flushed out and then the engine will start.

As for the vibration on slowing down, that could be a Torque Convertor Control (TCC) solenoid hanging up. You can unplug the transmission connector and if the problem disappears, you will have confirmed it.