Okay we have had severe cold weather here in NJ. About 5 degrees for the past couple of weeks. I have been driving the 5.0 for the past week. I go out to start the Z and it just tries to crank over but very very slow.Then I try again and all I hear is a clicking noise. So I wait til the next day and try to start it and it starts slowly. So I drive it locally to get some gas and the car runs like complete SH*T!! Also seems like it was backfiring a little. Today I try to start her and she starts then shuts off almost immediately and hasn't started for the past hours. The fuel pump comes on but sounds very wierd like its slow motion. I know the fuel pump is probably original and I'm not to sure about the opti but if not changed by the previous owner the fuel pump and opti have 171,000 miles on them So what do u experts think? Opti or fuel pump? I'm leaning towards opti because that may be the stumble that my car has had. Anyone had this problem or think they know what my problem could be? Or could it be something I didn't mention? Thanks

 

Could be a couple things... check your battery before and after starting, make sure you have enough voltage to keep the car running... could be the alternator or the batt, or both... With it being so cold, your fuel lines could have froze, which there should be some gasoline "antifreeze" you can buy, if that were true, that could cause your fuel pump to die since it will be working harder to try and pump and not be able to if there is a blockage from the freezing.

 

My vote is the battery, and/or alternator. If the battery is old, cold weather is hell on it.

 

the backfiring and runing like **** worry me... unless you find something obvious soon... have a compression/vacuum test done

 

thanks for the replies. I'm going to buy another battery tommorow. I tried to jump the car and no luck. Hope the fuel lines and pump are ok

 

I'd check that battery before I just went out and bought one.

Take a ohm meter and see how many volts you have on the battery before you crank it. It should at least be 12.50 volts or better. (possibly 12.90) The more the better

I'd also check the battery voltage with the car running. Crank the car and check the volts on the battery then. It should at least be up to 13 volts.
If so, then your altenator/voltage regulater is working good.

Look some where else.

Go ahead and invest in a fuel pressure gauge, you'll need it several times, trust me.

David Moss