LHS Won’t start in Cold weather and Check engine light on.

Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
injector, fuel filter, and it still didn’t fix the problem. So he told
us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
nuts, it won’t start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
be greatly appreciated.

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What are the codes? If the check engine light is on, the computer is storing
a diagnostic code.


"jgcurt" > wrote in message
...
> Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
> took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
> were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
> injector, fuel filter, and it still didn't fix the problem. So he told
> us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
> engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
> gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
> another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
> nuts, it won't start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
> the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
> heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
> freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
> would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
> Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
> be greatly appreciated.
>
> --
> Posted using the http://www.AutoForumz.com/ interface, at author's request
> Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> Topic URL:
> http://www.AutoForumz.com/Chrysler-L...pict97414.html
> Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
> http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=447528

What are the codes? If the check engine light is on, the computer is storing
a diagnostic code.


"jgcurt" > wrote in message
...
> Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
> took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
> were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
> injector, fuel filter, and it still didn't fix the problem. So he told
> us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
> engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
> gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
> another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
> nuts, it won't start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
> the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
> heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
> freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
> would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
> Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
> be greatly appreciated.
>
> --
> Posted using the http://www.AutoForumz.com/ interface, at author's request
> Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> Topic URL:
> http://www.AutoForumz.com/Chrysler-L...pict97414.html
> Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
> http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=447528

Bill D wrote:

> What are the codes? If the check engine light is on, the computer is storing
> a diagnostic code.
>
>
> "jgcurt" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
>>took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
>>were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
>>injector, fuel filter, and it still didn't fix the problem. So he told
>>us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
>>engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
>>gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
>>another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
>>nuts, it won't start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
>>the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
>>heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
>>freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
>>would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
>>Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
>>be greatly appreciated.

He said it had multiple cylinder missfires set. I've been having
trouble for years (yes, 4 years and about 70,000 miles) with my 96 GV
occasionally stumbling after going down a hill and then starting up the
other side, or after a fairly long curve. No codes were ever set and
the dealer could never find anything wrong. This year it got worse and
started missfiring badly at idle and often stalling completely. Then it
would run fine for a few days to a few weeks and act up again. The only
code that was routinely set was the multiple cylinder missfire code.

The dealer changed the fuel filter, cleaned the throttle body, replaced
the plugs and wires, replaced the coil pack (it arced badly when they
spritzed it with a water bottle), etc. Then about a month ago it
finally set a different code, lean reading on the upstream O2 sensor.
They finally figured that had found it. Replaced the sensor and a day
later it acted up again. I twice had it towed to the dealership only to
have it start up and run fine as soon as they rolled it off the truck.

I finally told the dealer to keep it and drive it until they could
figure out what was really wrong. The did this with a pressure gauge
attached to the fuel rail. It finally acted up for them and when it did
the fuel pressure was low and erratic. They replaced the fuel pump and,
knock on wood, it seems to have fixed the problem. Then again, I'm only
on my second tank since getting it back so I'm not ready to declare
victory, but it is looking good.

I have no idea what would cause a fuel pump to get flakey so slowly over
so long a time and work fine one minute and then not at all the next,
but that is appearing to be what happened.

I can't say that is the OP's problem, but it may be worth asking a good
mechanic to put a pressure gauge on the fuel system and see what it
reads when the car won't start.


Matt

Bill D wrote:

> What are the codes? If the check engine light is on, the computer is storing
> a diagnostic code.
>
>
> "jgcurt" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
>>took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
>>were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
>>injector, fuel filter, and it still didn't fix the problem. So he told
>>us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
>>engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
>>gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
>>another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
>>nuts, it won't start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
>>the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
>>heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
>>freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
>>would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
>>Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
>>be greatly appreciated.

He said it had multiple cylinder missfires set. I've been having
trouble for years (yes, 4 years and about 70,000 miles) with my 96 GV
occasionally stumbling after going down a hill and then starting up the
other side, or after a fairly long curve. No codes were ever set and
the dealer could never find anything wrong. This year it got worse and
started missfiring badly at idle and often stalling completely. Then it
would run fine for a few days to a few weeks and act up again. The only
code that was routinely set was the multiple cylinder missfire code.

The dealer changed the fuel filter, cleaned the throttle body, replaced
the plugs and wires, replaced the coil pack (it arced badly when they
spritzed it with a water bottle), etc. Then about a month ago it
finally set a different code, lean reading on the upstream O2 sensor.
They finally figured that had found it. Replaced the sensor and a day
later it acted up again. I twice had it towed to the dealership only to
have it start up and run fine as soon as they rolled it off the truck.

I finally told the dealer to keep it and drive it until they could
figure out what was really wrong. The did this with a pressure gauge
attached to the fuel rail. It finally acted up for them and when it did
the fuel pressure was low and erratic. They replaced the fuel pump and,
knock on wood, it seems to have fixed the problem. Then again, I'm only
on my second tank since getting it back so I'm not ready to declare
victory, but it is looking good.

I have no idea what would cause a fuel pump to get flakey so slowly over
so long a time and work fine one minute and then not at all the next,
but that is appearing to be what happened.

I can't say that is the OP's problem, but it may be worth asking a good
mechanic to put a pressure gauge on the fuel system and see what it
reads when the car won't start.


Matt

heat is a god start try appling it to the pcm and see what happens
take a vac. reading and post the results and watch the needle to see if it is steady

Bill D wrote:

> What are the codes? If the check engine light is on, the computer is storing
> a diagnostic code.
>
> "jgcurt" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
> > took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
> > were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
> > injector, fuel filter, and it still didn't fix the problem. So he told
> > us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
> > engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
> > gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
> > another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
> > nuts, it won't start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
> > the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
> > heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
> > freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
> > would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
> > Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
> > be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > --
> > Posted using the http://www.AutoForumz.com/ interface, at author's request
> > Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> > Topic URL:
> > http://www.AutoForumz.com/Chrysler-L...pict97414.html
> > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
> > http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=447528

heat is a god start try appling it to the pcm and see what happens
take a vac. reading and post the results and watch the needle to see if it is steady

Bill D wrote:

> What are the codes? If the check engine light is on, the computer is storing
> a diagnostic code.
>
> "jgcurt" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
> > took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
> > were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
> > injector, fuel filter, and it still didn't fix the problem. So he told
> > us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
> > engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
> > gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed
> > another problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us
> > nuts, it won't start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start. If
> > the weather is warm it starts and runs great. We have tried putting
> > heat in the gastank thinking maybe we might have a gasline that was
> > freezing up and w e went out and got one of heater magnets hoping that
> > would fix the problem...But it still will not start in cold weather.
> > Any ideas on what might be the source of our problem???Any help would
> > be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > --
> > Posted using the http://www.AutoForumz.com/ interface, at author's request
> > Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> > Topic URL:
> > http://www.AutoForumz.com/Chrysler-L...pict97414.html
> > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
> > http://www.AutoForumz.com/eform.php?p=447528

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005, jgcurt wrote:

> Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
> took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
> were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
> injector, fuel filter, and it still didn=92t fix the problem. So he told
> us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
> engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
> gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed another
> problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us nuts, it
> won=92t start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start.

Well, part of your problem is an incompetent mechanic who's guessing
instead of diagnosing. Find a competent, capable mechanic who knows what
he's doing and will systematically diagnose the fault(s), and you'll be
most of the way to a quick, efficient repair.

DS

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005, jgcurt wrote:

> Hi we have a 1996 Chrysler LHS that has its check engine light on. We
> took it to a mechanic and had the codes read and were told that their
> were multiple misfires. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, a fuel
> injector, fuel filter, and it still didn=92t fix the problem. So he told
> us it was the intake manifold gasket and we replaced that. The check
> engine light is still coming on. After we replaced the intake manifold
> gasket it idled much better, but now we have recently developed another
> problem. Besides the check engine light which is driving us nuts, it
> won=92t start in cold weather. It cranks over, but no start.

Well, part of your problem is an incompetent mechanic who's guessing
instead of diagnosing. Find a competent, capable mechanic who knows what
he's doing and will systematically diagnose the fault(s), and you'll be
most of the way to a quick, efficient repair.

DS

well since the coolant temp sensor is the choke for this thing, I would
make sure it is connected. You may have had the misfire codes fixed with
the intake manifold repair but someone may have damaged the connector or
left it disconnected, How do you finally get it started? And when it does
start does the engine fan run all the time?, See what codes are in it now
Glenn Beasley
Chrysler tech