Re: [DML] Re: TESTING THE FUEL ACCUMULATOR

[Peter Lucas <lucas@xxxxxxxx>]

On Oct 18, 2008, at 11:55 PM, David Teitelbaum wrote:

> Accumulators are generally good or bad, there is no in between.

Interesting you should bring this up.  Although I have always assumed  
that accumulators either worked or they didn't, a recent experience  
has convinced me otherwise:

Some of you may recall that I have been a student (and victim) of the  
so-called "warm start" problem, in which the engine starts fine when  
hot or cold, but not when it has sit for an hour or so, and so is warm  
but not hot.  I have argued that this must be different from the  
classic "hot start" problem, since, although my accumulator was old  
(and possibly original), I repeatedly measured the rest pressure and  
it was always within spec.   I've changed my mind, though, on the  
basis of new data.

My accumulator finally gave up the ghost, producing the usual hot- 
start symptoms.  When I replaced it, I was pleasantly surprised to  
discover that, not only did it fix the hot-start problem, it fixed the  
(long standing) warm-start symptoms as well.

 From these data, I conclude three things:

1) "Warm start syndrome" is not a distinct problem, but merely a mild  
version of the accumulator-caused "hot start syndrome", contrary to my  
previous belief.

2) It must be possible for an accumulator to be a "little bit broken",  
and to remain so for a long period of time.

3) The "rest pressure hold time" spec in the shop manual is not  
adequate (at least not for a 25 year old engine).  Although my car  
always met the spec, it nonetheless exhibited problems starting when  
warm that were cured by a new accumulator.

--Pete Lucas
   VIN #06703




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