Ignition problem

[Jokular]

Hi guys,
I have an annoying problem that someone here may be able to help me with.

I have Au2 XR6 hp pacemaker headers 2 1/2 inch mandrel bend exhaust k&n panel filter standard au2 intake. 92500ks. manual

Ok... when i sometimes try to start the car it wont kick over it just goes rr..rr..rr like a flat battery. I then switch it off and try again and its like it sort of wants to stall but it realizes 'oh yeah...time to start the car'. So it kinda hesitates then it cranks over.
This happens about 2-3 times a week .
The car is usually started about 14 times a week on average.
It doesn't matter if its cold or if the engine is warmed up it seems totally random.(the car sits for about 12 hrs at a time without being started)
Possible related problem is that my fuel economy is becoming worse to the point where I thought someone was siphoning fuel while it is parked at work.
Would the fuel filter cause this problem if it needed replacing as it hasn't been changed to my knowledge.
Any helpful suggestions are welcomed

[nob92@]

maybe a number of things could be your coil pack, battery, or maybe fuel pump ? not sure just a suggestion..

[BFD83]

your problem sounds a lot like the problem i have jokular...sometimes when i go to start her she doesn't fire...she like struggles to start, so i turn the key back, try again and she fires up! i have been told it could be a few different things but my mechanic thinks it could be something to do with the computer...

[FGII-XR6]

in the old points days this often indicated retarded timing maybe you have an issue with the crank sensor retarding the ingnition? just a thought ???

[waggaclint]

sounds like ya battery is on its way out...

[Jokular]

in the last couple of days it has started to idle a bit wierd at traffic lights etc(idles at 900 then sort of drops to 750-800rpm if this has happened before ive never noticed it always has stayed around the 1000rpm mark. I don't drive with aircon or heater on.
the exhaust note gets deeper too.
does the black cap on the isc valve do anything i was kinda mucking around with it when i was cleaning the throttle body?
I don't think its the battery the voltmeter on the instrument panel goes to 16 with the motor cranking.

[FGII-XR6]

Originally Posted by Jokular

in the last couple of days it has started to idle a bit wierd at traffic lights etc(idles at 900 then sort of drops to 750-800rpm if this has happened before ive never noticed it always has stayed around the 1000rpm mark. I don't drive with aircon or heater on.
the exhaust note gets deeper too.
does the black cap on the isc valve do anything i was kinda mucking around with it when i was cleaning the throttle body?
I don't think its the battery the voltmeter on the instrument panel goes to 16 with the motor cranking.

no it is an air filter for the the air it sucks in

[BillC]

In the older fords this was a common problem. It sounds like your car has VD. Not the VD you get from playing up but Voltage Drop accross your ignitian swith between your battery and your starter moter. Their are a couple of fixes. look for any sort of problems with the connections between the battery, ignitian switch, starter etc. If thats OK you may want to get another ignitian switch or i would probably try a relay just near your starter motor. The wire that pulls in your solenoid on your starter is used to activate the relay and it switches current straight from your battery. This worked well on the older fords.

[mat08h]

Hi,
I have spent the last couple of days looking into a similar problem on a 99 XH ute where it starts fine cold but sometimes hot will sound like it's got a flat battery and just crank a couple time.
Traced fault to the engine control relay which is the one with the brown bottom under the coolant overflow bottle.
Definately worth a look but is hard to test so if you can track down a similar car try swapping.
The Engine Control relay passes voltage between the start/run circuit and the ecu. If you have the battery voltage it will crank but not fire as there is not ignition or fuel.
the one next to it with the green base is the fuel pump relay.

Hope this helps!!

[Jokular]

Thanks for you info everyone, definately gives me a good starting point
to start tracking down the problem.
cheers