I have an intermittent starting issue that is doing my nut in. Basically since November time-ish my Clio sometimes (50%) takes a few goes to start. I've never been stranded as it almost always starts second time. I have aswell for the record scoured the forum and read all the posts but posting to see if anyone offers anything new.
Key in, turn to start and then either a) Starter motor turns a few times and just dies with a puff of air and I have to back key off and go again or b) starter motor keeps turning but engine wont fire until I back key off and try again, usually resulting in it spluttering into starting with a pop from the exhaust. Also, I'm sure in scenario A that the tripometer resets.
I have replaced battery with new, TDC with new, replaced coils and HT's with used, replaced an injector with new as it was getting a resistance of around 8-9ohms and the rest were at 14.9-15.2, done a quick hour job of removing earths, giving them a quick clean and returning, sprayed fuses/relays with contact cleaner. Car isn't running the NGK plugs everyone recommends but a Bosch set from previous owner, but surely that wouldn't produce this issue? I've used contact cleaner on various different sensors/plugs too. Would a shoddy TDC install still produce bad TDC symptoms? My crimping job wasn't the best on the new loom but I thought it'd suffice. Car was decatted in September, no other mods, was thinking about swapping Lambdas but again not sure if this would cause this intermittent start issue. Whats next?
I've read about the starter spades need cleaning up but I just can't fathom how you get access to it to clean the contacts without removing everything, especially because you can barely even see the contacts from anywhere let alone clean them up? Pretty close to just throwing it to Rensport and telling them to sort it but that's not the way I've ever done it with other cars and I am determined not to let the 182 beat me!
Thanks for any suggestions!!
Key in, turn to start and then either a) Starter motor turns a few times and just dies with a puff of air and I have to back key off and go again or b) starter motor keeps turning but engine wont fire until I back key off and try again, usually resulting in it spluttering into starting with a pop from the exhaust. Also, I'm sure in scenario A that the tripometer resets.
I have replaced battery with new, TDC with new, replaced coils and HT's with used, replaced an injector with new as it was getting a resistance of around 8-9ohms and the rest were at 14.9-15.2, done a quick hour job of removing earths, giving them a quick clean and returning, sprayed fuses/relays with contact cleaner. Car isn't running the NGK plugs everyone recommends but a Bosch set from previous owner, but surely that wouldn't produce this issue? I've used contact cleaner on various different sensors/plugs too. Would a shoddy TDC install still produce bad TDC symptoms? My crimping job wasn't the best on the new loom but I thought it'd suffice. Car was decatted in September, no other mods, was thinking about swapping Lambdas but again not sure if this would cause this intermittent start issue. Whats next?
I've read about the starter spades need cleaning up but I just can't fathom how you get access to it to clean the contacts without removing everything, especially because you can barely even see the contacts from anywhere let alone clean them up? Pretty close to just throwing it to Rensport and telling them to sort it but that's not the way I've ever done it with other cars and I am determined not to let the 182 beat me!
Thanks for any suggestions!!
