88 Formula Coupe - Unusual Starting Problem
Surreal57
06-30-2010, 03:59 PM
This may be a bit long but only because I want to include as many details as possible. I have a 1988 Formula Coupe that sat in the garage for several month due to a broken garage door torsion spring. It started and ran fine before this. It sat maybe 4 or 5 months.
The battery was dead so I tried to jump it. No go. I put the battery on a charger for 4 hours. When I tried it, it was a bit rough but it started right up. We took it out and ran it around the neighborhood for 10 minutes or so and it began to run better as time went on. Took her to a gas station to put more fuel into it. It tried to turn the first time and then it was dead.
Went out and got a new battery. The car started right up. Drove it home and parked in the garage. The next morning it turned over and then nothing. So I took the battery out and charged it for 6 hours - until the charger said it was fully charged.
I put the battery in and got it squared away. When I opened the door, the interior lights came on and the car started right up. I drove it around for about 5 minutes and pulled into the driveway. Shut it off and when I tried to start it, it turned over and then nothing. No lights, no power anywhere.
I am little more than a shade tree mechanic so I asked friends who are fairly knowledgeable and they were all stumped. It seems like when the battery is charged up, it has enough power to break through and start the engine. But after running, something apparently happens. When you open the door, the lights come on so there is battery voltage present to light the lights. But as soon as you turn the ignition key, something happens and it breaks the circuit somewhere and then no power to lights or anything else. The battery measures a steady 12.9 volts so it has power.
Maybe it's just me but the symptoms are so unique that it seems like the answer would be obvious to someone who is an expert on troubleshooting Fieros. And after ready through this forum, I know there are a lot of you on here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff
The battery was dead so I tried to jump it. No go. I put the battery on a charger for 4 hours. When I tried it, it was a bit rough but it started right up. We took it out and ran it around the neighborhood for 10 minutes or so and it began to run better as time went on. Took her to a gas station to put more fuel into it. It tried to turn the first time and then it was dead.
Went out and got a new battery. The car started right up. Drove it home and parked in the garage. The next morning it turned over and then nothing. So I took the battery out and charged it for 6 hours - until the charger said it was fully charged.
I put the battery in and got it squared away. When I opened the door, the interior lights came on and the car started right up. I drove it around for about 5 minutes and pulled into the driveway. Shut it off and when I tried to start it, it turned over and then nothing. No lights, no power anywhere.
I am little more than a shade tree mechanic so I asked friends who are fairly knowledgeable and they were all stumped. It seems like when the battery is charged up, it has enough power to break through and start the engine. But after running, something apparently happens. When you open the door, the lights come on so there is battery voltage present to light the lights. But as soon as you turn the ignition key, something happens and it breaks the circuit somewhere and then no power to lights or anything else. The battery measures a steady 12.9 volts so it has power.
Maybe it's just me but the symptoms are so unique that it seems like the answer would be obvious to someone who is an expert on troubleshooting Fieros. And after ready through this forum, I know there are a lot of you on here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff
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