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SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

Happy New Year. Just got a call from my son who drove his 1988 245A from 65 degree San Diego to 22 degree Mammoth Lakes, 7200' elevation. Car made the 400 mile trip just fine. He dug it out of the snow but after sitting in the sub-freezing temp a couple of days it cranks but won't start. I had him remove and re seat the 25 amp fuse. I proactively replaced that fuse 4 months ago. So where to look next for a car that drove just fine but won't start in the cold? Fuel reads a little better than 1/2 full, pre pump was replaced about 18 months/5k miles ago, fuel filter replaced 10k miles ago, all maintenance is up to date. It always starts immediately without cranking in San Diego. How should I tell him to trouble shoot? He has basic tools, assorted screw drivers, adjustable open end wrench, but no test light etc.
--
1988 245A. Past: 1979 245A; 1987 244 M47; 1971 164E








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    SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

    Hi and thanks for the tips. He is not sure what the fuel pump sounds like, but he THINKS the prepump is buzzing with the key in the run position. Unfortunately the battery is now running down. I had him use a hair dryer in the engine compartment around the fuel intake/AMM but that didn't give any results. Don't have a garage available, will try the dry fuel product. All good tips, will check for spark, jump 4 and 6 etc. I'm driving up tomorrow with an assortment of things. It either has to be frozen fuel or no spark. Since it ran perfectly until shut down and the last 45 miles of the drive the elevation changes from about 3500' in Bishop CA to 7300', I think there is a fuel delivery issue.
    --
    1988 245A. Past: 1979 245A; 1987 244 M47; 1971 164E








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    SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

    It would help a lot if we KNEW whether or not the fuel pump was running.
    If it were mine I would give it a shot of starting fluid into the air cleaner and see
    what it does.
    If it starts and runs a few seconds and dies, that means that ignition is good but not
    getting fuel.
    Some of mine start and run fine after a shot of starting fluid in very cold weather
    (or after a winter of storage).
    If you have a convenient vacuum line going into the intake manifold that is a better
    place to shoot the starting fluid than the air cleaner.
    A one-second blast is PLENTY!

    The Russians used to have a GREAT system to start their tanks in the (EXTREME) cold
    using a flamethrower arrangement in the engine bay. Probably better with diesel than
    with gasoline engines though......
    --
    George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!








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    SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

    My money is on a real simple cause: water in the gas tank. Even one lousy drop in the wrong place can freeze and keep fuel from passing. The fact that the car normally lives in a warm coastal environment gives me strong reason for this suspicion.

    Unfortunately, there's no quick cure unless a garage is available. If there is, get the car into the garage and get a space heater going (be safe about it, please). You don't need toasty warm, you need maybe 5-10 degrees above freezing, and patience. If the car can sit overnight at 40F, that will be enough to allow any ice to thaw.

    If a garage isn't available, here are a couple of things to try.

    First - get at least two bottles of "dry gas" into the tank, followed by a couple of gallons of fresh gas. Put the dry gas in first. (And do this even if a garage is available!)

    Next - this is really redneck, but it's worked for me. Get a roll of poly sheeting, and make a "skirt" around the car. I used the doors and hood and trunk to hold the poly in place, but duct tape will work, too. Make sure the skirt touches the ground all around the car. Then get a shop-vac and run it in reverse so it blows warm(er) air under the skirt. The key is that the whole fuel system from the tank to the engine needs to get warm, since you have no idea where the freeze-up is; there are lots of low spots from tank to injectors where water can settle and freeze.

    Run the "hot air" setup for *at least* 2-3 hours before trying to crank the engine again. But the dry gas is important, and patience is a virtue.

    Once the car is running again, fill the tank with fresh gas and use a bottle of dry gas at each fillup for the remainder of the trip in cold country.








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    SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

    Does he have spark and fuel?

    You can bypass the fuel system relay by placing a jumper wire on the left side of fuses 4 and 6. This forces the fuel pumps to run, if it starts the relay is bad.
    Dan








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    SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

    how about the fuel pump relay ?? under the passenger's side right kick panel.next to the ECU.








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      SoCal car won't start in cold 200 1988

      Is there a simple way to check it? Is it likely to fail after working for a 7 hour/400 mile drive?
      --
      1988 245A. Past: 1979 245A; 1987 244 M47; 1971 164E







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