• Hint: Use a descriptive title for your new message
    If you're looking for help and want to draw people in who can assist you, use a descriptive subject title when posting your message. In other words, "1995 Trans Am" isn't going to indicate to anybody that you need help. However, "Need help with my 1995 Trans Am" will. Be as descriptive as you can. Please use common sense... This message can be closed by clicking the X in the top right corner.
  • Car enthusiast? Join us on Cars Connected! iOS | Android | Desktop

Montana won't start in cold

J

jordan456789

New member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
0
I have a 2001 montana and it doesn't seem to start in the cold unless i plug in the block heater. I am wondering where to start to try and fix this. The battery is a year old and it turns over fine but doesn't start.
 
Can you provide some basic maintenance info, how many miles on the vehicle, when is the last time fuel filter, air filter, and plugs were changed?
 
melsg5 said:
Can you provide some basic maintenance info, how many miles on the vehicle, when is the last time fuel filter, air filter, and plugs were changed?
Click to expand...

I bought the van maybe a year ago and haven't changed the filters or plugs so i am not really sure how long it has been. I know it is probably a shot in the dark but i am looking for the most likely ideas so i don't have to change everything. If i try to start it and it won't start i plug it in and wait 40 minutes and it will start. The van has 161,000 miles on it.
 
well the air filter you can visually check, if dirty replace it. The fuel filter and plugs, if you have no idea how many miles on them, replace them. The fuel filter change interval is 30k and the plugs 100k. After you do that see if you still have the same issue. You can also try cleaning the throttle body with some spray.
______________________________
 
Last edited:
melsg5 said:
well the air filter you can visually check, if dirty replace it. The fuel filter and plugs, if you have no idea how many miles on them, replace them. After you do that see if you still have the same issue. You can also try cleaning the throttle body with some spray.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the help. I am not the greatest with cars but what gets me is it works if the block heater is plugged in but not if it is not plugged in. would a filter cause it? Also i was thinking of the plugs and wires but if they are going bad wouldn't that be mostly in the damp weather?
 
melsg5 said:
well the air filter you can visually check, if dirty replace it. The fuel filter and plugs, if you have no idea how many miles on them, replace them. The fuel filter change interval is 30k and the plugs 100k. After you do that see if you still have the same issue. You can also try cleaning the throttle body with some spray.
Click to expand...

That is stuff that should be done but it works when plugged in and doesn't if not plugged in. Would filters or plugs do that? I figured that would mostly be in damp weather for plugs and wires.
 
the colder the weather, the denser the air, the hotter the spark you need to get ignition. It also requires a richer fuel mixture, so if the filter is clogged you dont have the correct fuel pressure. Again when ever fixing something you have to start with basic maintenance, no sense looking for a more complex reason if youre not willing to perform that. How many miles have you put on the vehicle since buying it? The previous owner didnt give you any maintenance records?
 
melsg5 said:
the colder the weather, the denser the air, the hotter the spark you need to get ignition. It also requires a richer fuel mixture, so if the filter is clogged you dont have the correct fuel pressure. Again when ever fixing something you have to start with basic maintenance, no sense looking for a more complex reason if youre not willing to perform that. How many miles have you put on the vehicle since buying it? The previous owner didnt give you any maintenance records?
Click to expand...

No they didn't give much info and i put on enough miles to justify replacing the filters and plugs. I really appreciate the help and will replace those and see if it helps.
______________________________
 
melsg5 said:
well the air filter you can visually check, if dirty replace it. The fuel filter and plugs, if you have no idea how many miles on them, replace them. The fuel filter change interval is 30k and the plugs 100k. After you do that see if you still have the same issue. You can also try cleaning the throttle body with some spray.
Click to expand...

I have changed the filters and plugs and it still is not working. I am going to try the throttle body and see if it helps. Do you have any other ideas? Thanks
 
humm so it is hard to start cold ? It might be a bad coolent tempsensor for the engine control computer , that is a guess here but would fit . Only way to be sure is to look at it thru a scanner with the engine cold . I have seen this problem myself and my scanner read the sensor as reporting -40 F when it was only 30 deg F. Make sure all your maintance is up todate. spark plugs with over 100,000 miles , old plug wires can also cause your problem . Is the check engine light on ?
 
this is also a guess ,what about the coil pack ? I have seen them fail when cold and work when warm/hot something to do with expansion and contraction ? This would be easy to check with a ohm meter .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top