97 Bird hard to start - intermittent

B. Harper · 12-19-2006, 12:01 PM

My Bird, 73K miles, has developed a strange problem. Occasionally cranks slow and takes forever to start. It's been in the shop three times for the problem (new battery, new cables, checked alternator, starter, etc.) Here is a recent time line: Picked up Friday night with new battery, started right up, cranked fast. Sunday AM cranks real slow takes a while to start. Monday afternoon starts right up. Tuesday (today) cranks slow and takes a while to start. Seems to require pumping the gas pedal. My mechanic is stumped. Also, no longer able to turn on the radio/cassette player, it's factory issue with a push "Power" button with power antenna. Does anyone have any ideas? Has anyone seen this before?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Bryant

Jake · 12-19-2006, 07:53 PM

well, sounds like a corroded ground wire... check both starter wires for corrosion under the insulation, you may have to crop bacl, solder in some new wire and the connectors... Could be the starter going....In which case the hitachi mini starter (hi tork) is the starter of choice. Also would be smart to add an extra ground wire from motor to the chassis....I used a 18" battery cable bolted up to the pass side fender well, and a bolt on the timing cover... now bear in mind I live in Fla, not the rust belt so corrosion isnt an issue here, but things get old....