Weird start, cause??

[91CoupeMike]

Here lately since the snow, when I go and start my car cold or warm it will start, skip a beat then fine other then that.

Also when I did my timing cover and while tightening the balancer bolt it hand turned and I could hear a hissing sound coming from the driver side head. Also, there has always been little bubbles in the coolant.

So, is the headgasket causing the start issues? Maybe some coolant is leaking into the cylinder and causing it to miss?

Another thing. My car tends to steam out of the pipes more then other cars. Doesn't smell like coolant but I also do not have converters. Running off road mid pipes cause it to steam more when its old out?

[krazy kris]

your car is telling you to put it out of its misery

[91CoupeMike]

your car is telling you to put it out of its misery

And I'm telling you to fuck off. Lol Jk.

I drive it hard so shit is bound to happen. Whoo big deal. Engine work is fun and easy, but not cheap.

Gt40 heads won't be too bad.. Ha!

[2cammer97]

I'd quit worrying about little every little thing. Face it, it's a 20 year old car that gets the crap beat out of it. On top of that the temps are really cold right now.

Just worry about major problems (bad noises, loss of fluids, overheating, major loss of power, etc). Old cars are going to have minor quirks, especially in extreme weather.

Marcus

[shumpertdavid]

The hissing sound is normal, it's compression leaking past the rings as the piston comes up. All engines will do this to some degree because the rings can not seal 100 % to the cylinder wall. As far as bubbles in the cooling system, best thing is to check for combustion gases in the cooling system with a tester. There is a kit that uses a special liquid to check for combustion contamination. The kit draws vapor from the coolant fill through the liquid and if it changes color then combustion is present. Very simple way to track it down. As far as the "skip a beat", as long as it starts and runs well I wouldn't be too concerned. As stated above, the extreme cold may play havoc on the start up.

[Sleeper]

I find it funny that most people up north bag on fords not starting in the winter.


My old h/c/i lx had no problems at all starting in -20 degree weather.

[turbostang]

I'd quit worrying about little every little thing. Face it, it's a 20 year old car that gets the crap beat out of it. On top of that the temps are really cold right now.

Just worry about major problems (bad noises, loss of fluids, overheating, major loss of power, etc). Old cars are going to have minor quirks, especially in extreme weather.

Marcus

This.

The hissing sound is normal, it's compression leaking past the rings as the piston comes up. All engines will do this to some degree because the (COLD)rings can not seal 100 % to the cylinder wall. As far as bubbles in the cooling system, best thing is to check for combustion gases in the cooling system with a tester. There is a kit ("BLOCK TEST") that uses a special liquid to check for combustion contamination. The kit draws vapor from the coolant fill through the liquid and if it changes color then combustion is present. Very simple way to track it down. As far as the "skip a beat", as long as it starts and runs well I wouldn't be too concerned. As stated above, the extreme cold may play havoc on the start up.

and this..