Hard to start in the morning

brianp · Post by **brianp** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 12:40 pm

For the past week, when I go out to start my tercel, I can hear the starter going, but the engine doesn't start. I'm not sure if it's the battery, when I have someone else try to start it, the belts seem to move pretty quick, but maybe not fast enough.

I've found that if I start the car rolling, (it's parked on a slight slope) get it in gear with my foot mostly down on the clutch and start it, it starts right up.

This only happens first thing in the morning, every other time it's fine.

When I had it in for a checkup, the mechanic said that the spark plug wires and distributer cap needed to be replaced sometime. Could that be causing it?

Thanks!

takza · Post by **takza** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:36 am

Sounds like a poorly charged battery? voltmeter....

Alternator...drive belt? belt tension...

Do a tuneup? new plugs and wires...NGKs and NAPA wire set?

hornett22 · Post by **hornett22** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:33 am

NGK wires are better.i'm still having trouble with napa wires which are made by belden.

brianp · Post by **brianp** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:31 pm

Well, I had the battery checked out, and they said that was fine, so I went and replaced the wires.

That still didn't make a difference, so I looked at the distributor cap and rotor, and found them pretty dirty and pitted, so I cleaned those contacts up, and guess what, it starts right up now!

I might replace the cap and rotor sometime, but it's working for now.

EDIT: Well, it only worked for a day. The next morning, it was back to it's old self, so I went and bought a new cap and rotor, and NOW it works...