Slow to Start

88ttoplx · Aug 4, 2008

Hey guys, I've had my '88 mustang for about a year now and it has had this problem as long as I've had it. When I start my car after not driving it for a while it starts to turn over slow and usually turns on, But if I've been driving for a while or it's hot outside and I go to turn it over it does the slow turn over thing and then won't start. I've noticed that if I try to turn it over and it doesn't start, if i try to turn it over again right afterwards it usually turns over. Anyone have any ideas what it could be? Thanks for any advice y'all could give me.

dcurtis · Aug 4, 2008

Could just be a weak starter

jrichker · Aug 4, 2008

No Crank checklist for 5.0 Mustangs

Since some of the tests will bypass the safety interlocks, make sure that the car is in neutral and the parking brake is set. Becoming a pancake isn’t part of the repair process…

Check battery, terminal connections, ground, starter relay switch (also known as solenoid) and starter in that order. The clamp on with 2 bolts battery terminal ends are a know problem causer. Corrosion gets in the clamped joint and works its way up the wire under the insulation. Avoid them like the plague...

A voltmeter is handy if you are familiar with how to use it to find bad connections. Measure the voltage drop across a connection while trying to start the car: more than .5 volts across a connection indicates a problem.
See Fluke Corporation - Site Currently Down for System Maintenance for help for help troubleshooting voltage drops across grounds.

1.) Will the car start if it is jumped? Then clean battery terminals and check battery.

2.) Check the battery to engine block ground, and the ground behind the engine to the firewall.

3.) Jump the big terminals on the starter relay next to the battery with a screwdriver - watch out for the sparks! If the engine cranks, the starter and power wiring is good. The starter relay is also known as a starter solenoid.

4.) Then pull the small push on connector (small red/blue wire) off the starter solenoid (Looks like it is stuck on a screw). Then jump between the screw and the terminal that is connected to the battery. If it starts, the relay is good and your problem is in the rest of the circuit.

5.) Remember to check the ignition switch, neutral safety switch on auto trans and the clutch safety switch on manual trans cars. If they are good, then you have wiring problems.

Typical start circuit...
Diagram courtesy of Tmoss &Stang&2birds

See http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195963.gif for 88-90 year cars
See http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80195964.gif for 91-93 year cars.
See </title></head>"); newWindow.document.writeln("<body><div align='center'><img " + getWidth("yes") + "src='/images/cds/" + tpe + "/" + sze + "/" + pc + "." + tpe + "'></img></div>"); newWindow.document.writeln("<div align='center'><table><tr><td><FORM for 94-95 model cars.

6.) The starter may be hung, loosen up the bolts that hold it on, and give it a good whack with a big hammer. Tighten up the bolts and try again.

7.) Pull the starter and take it to Autozone or Pep Boys and have them test it. Starter fails test, then replace it. If you got this far, the starter is probably bad.

Starter solenoid wiring for 86-91 Mustang

Starter solenoid wiring 92-93 Mustang or upgraded high torque mini starter.

MarcMonteverde · Aug 4, 2008

first things i would check!
check ur ground cabels, the stock ones are pretty weak
i had the same problem , i could start my car and drive somewhere
onces it gets all warmed up it doesnt like to start up,
i added some new grounds, changed out all the old ones
with some phat ass 2 gauge wire, ran 2 from the motor to the chassis
and 2 from the firewall to the intake manifold and changed out my starter
wire to starter relay and ive never had a problem since, but if u think its ur starter
pull it off go to autozone or nearest part store and have them test it,
but added the grounds REALLY did the trick

it cost me like 20 bucks in wire, i went to a audio store and just got some nice size wire

Slow to Start

88ttoplx

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dcurtis

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MarcMonteverde

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Slow to Start

88ttoplx

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