Welcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: Join our community! |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Stumped...1993 Metro starts, runs, dies | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 18 2013, 09:15 AM (1,738 Views) | |
| CharlestonMetro | Oct 18 2013, 09:15 AM Post #1 |
|
Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Good morning, my friends. My 1993 Metro LSi 3 cylinder manual shift is doing the following: -Sometimes it won't start. Turn the key, nothing. Turn it off. Wait. Repeat 3 or 4 times, then it starts. -Once started, it won't stay running. The idle bottoms out when driving and it dies. What's been tested/ruled out: -Starter was removed and tested good several times -New battery -Car is getting spark No Check Engine Light on, although I am a little unclear if I even have one. I appreciate any help anyone can provide to point me in the right direction. Unfortunately, where I live, there is NO ONE who can reliably work on Geo Metros and do it correctly. |
![]() |
|
| geogonfa | Oct 18 2013, 09:37 AM Post #2 |
![]()
|
First thing I would do is remove and clean all the ground wires under the hood and especially the ones at the back of the intake near the bulkhead below the TBI...not saying this will fix it, but it's the best place to start...also the one below the distibuter, the one on the transmission, and clean the battery terminals... |
![]() |
|
| Scoobs | Oct 18 2013, 10:01 AM Post #3 |
|
:D
![]()
|
Id check fuel pressure. |
![]() |
|
| paul11211 | Oct 18 2013, 10:25 AM Post #4 |
![]()
|
|
![]() |
|
| patrickbruce | Oct 18 2013, 11:47 AM Post #5 |
![]()
average teenage gearhead
![]()
|
Vacuum leak at all? |
![]() |
|
| CharlestonMetro | Oct 18 2013, 02:12 PM Post #6 |
|
Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks all. I will check grounds, fuel pressure and for a vacuum leak and report back what I find. I'll need to borrow a fuel pressure checker from Auto Zone. |
![]() |
|
| MR Bill | Oct 18 2013, 08:37 PM Post #7 |
![]()
|
Turn key and nothing, this sounds like an electrical issue. |
![]() |
|
| Memphis metro | Oct 18 2013, 09:17 PM Post #8 |
![]()
|
You have two issues. Low engine compression (your idle issue when you do get it started) and your starting issue is electrical (bad wire connections, bad starter solenoid, starter not grounded well to engine, bad battery or individual cell or cables, ignition switch issue) |
![]() |
|
| thevipofdbz | Oct 19 2013, 03:41 AM Post #9 |
|
Advanced Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
The key turn if it is the same problem I have can be fixed by adding a replay. There is a thread on here some where from my understanding the stock wiring the the start the car weakens over time and the electric signal does not get the the starter or have enough juice to crank the starter. By adding a relay the power come straight from the battery and starts right up. On my 95 1.3 it would not crank but all the lights and every thing would work. Turn the key 4-5 times and then it would finally crank and start. Could be your problem. This mod should run you about $20 buck. $10 for relay and then some wirer. I am sure some one know the thread I am taking about if I find it I will post the how to. |
![]() |
|
| Woodie | Oct 19 2013, 06:58 AM Post #10 |
![]()
|
Sounds like the injector to me. Take off the air cleaner and peer down the throat with a flashlight as someone turns on the key without starting the engine. If you see any gas come out, then your injector is leaking. Then, have them crank the engine over. You should see a nice, even cone of fine mist spraying out. If it's drippy or nothing comes out, then it's clogged. |
![]() |
|
| Memphis metro | Oct 19 2013, 07:20 AM Post #11 |
![]()
|
If autozone tested the starter, forget what they say. Pull the starter, take it to a armature shop who knows something about starters and have them test it. Your starter may work intermittently and thus appear good to less knowledgable people like autozone. The reason you have so wide a variety of answers to your thread arrives from the confusion of what you mean by it will not start. This could mean the starter is not rotating the engine. It will not start. It could mean, the starter is rotating the engine but the engine does not run. It will not start. Since you had the starter tested, I assume you have the first situation, the starter will not rotate the engine. Thus a electrical issue within the starting circuit. Idle issue is seperate issue and can be caused by many things but is very common to be low engine compression. |
![]() |
|
| CharlestonMetro | Oct 19 2013, 08:36 AM Post #12 |
|
Member
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I can clear up the confusion by what I mean by "will not start." Intermittently, at random, I turn the key and nothing happens. The starter doesn't turn over, no clicking, no sound. Dead. I wait a few minutes and try it a few times and it starts, no problem. That's what's happening. |
![]() |
|
| Woodie | Oct 19 2013, 08:48 AM Post #13 |
![]()
|
Okay, that's probably a bad ignition switch or clutch pedal switch. If you don't get a big CLICK, then it's something in the low current supply that tells the starter to go. |
![]() |
|
| Memphis metro | Oct 19 2013, 08:54 AM Post #14 |
![]()
|
I would say most likely starter solenoid. You can rule out the ignition switch and clutch switch by taking a small buzzer like used in many cars to indicate the door is open and putting it in series with the pigtail wire to the starter. When the problem exist and it will not start but yet you have the key turned to the start position, the buzzer will sound if the pigtail wire is energized. It is a audible way to tell if your starter is actually getting energization from the ignition switch. Eaiest way to install such a buzzer would be to snap on a dual spade connector on the single spade connector on the starter and put the pigtail on one and the buzzer on the other and ground the buzzer somewhere. All this can be done with a test light when the car is acting up by probing the pigtail wire with the test lgiht but with the audible buzzer installed you would be able to tell easily without getting out of the car or having a assistant to turn the switch on. |
![]() |
|
| 2000Firefly1.3L | Oct 19 2013, 10:52 AM Post #15 |
![]()
|
try hitting the starter with a hammer |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Engine Tech & Diagnostics · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2


Welcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


![]](http://z3.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)






2:18 PM Jul 11