2006 Challenger 180 - the last issue I'm chasing down

[jrsharpebc]

Hello all,
I've been reluctant to post up but I'm kind of at my wit's end. I've been chasing a few issues on my 06 Challenger for a couple years and have solved all of them but this final one: hard starting when warm or hot. I've read every "hard starting" post on here and some of them are close in similarity, but their solutions are things I've already tried. I took a video last year (August, I think), with a voltmeter on the battery: Here. This happens consistently and is very repeatable.

Things I have done/troubleshot in 2020 include:
- installed new battery, 950CCA (old one was on its 4th season)
- cleaned all grounds (block & battery)
- cleaned all +12 (battery, switch & starter relay)
- new coils
- dealer checked fuel pressure and pump, apparently is OK (disconnecting fuel lines is beyond my comfort...)

She starts perfectly when cold (sitting all night), and runs perfectly in either scenario (ie either from a cold start or after a hard hot start it chugs to life and shows no running issues afterward).

The only things I have not done are checking voltage drop across the relay, checking voltage at the actual starter and pulling the starter (worn brushes??). The first 2 are on my list this year once things warm up a bit more. I'm also tempted just to buy a new relay, I've read these things just go bad over time...and they're relatively cheap. CanDoo is on my purchase list this year also.

So I turn to the wisdom of the forum...and I know it is impossible to diagnose over the internet... but any insight will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.
John

 

[Atom1234]

Could have a bad temp sensor , if it registers as cold when warm , then the computer would give extra fuel and flood it . You need to scan

 

[jrsharpebc]

Could have a bad temp sensor , if it registers as cold when warm , then the computer would give extra fuel and flood it . You need to scan

Huh, would have never thought of that. I also didn’t mention hat I’ve not had the CEL light come on, not sure if the temp sensor would trigger that? But something to check when Candoo arrives. Thanks!

 

[ski-d00]

Try holding the throttle body open a little bit by hand while cranking and I'll bet it starts. I think it is a parameter that is not getting reported or read correctly by the ECU, like engine temp, throttle bypass valve, manifold air temp, manifold air pressure, etc. All of which change drastically when the temp rises.

 

[jrsharpebc]

Resurrecting an older thread of mine, I am still fighting this issue. I appreciate the wealth of much-smarter-than-me people on this forum and the ideas given thus far.

I've been following this thread about an identical issue and how the solution was a misbehaving TOPS valve; so I have done a bunch of digging this morning after an on-water failure yesterday. I've downloaded what was labelled as 2006 service manual but it seems to be the same as the 2005 I already had. For the life of me, I can't find my 2006 Challenger's TOPS valve. In fact the entire oil-fill tube area looks completely different on my boat compared to the service manual, some photos attached. This has me completely baffled.

I am trying to solve it myself rather than deal with the dealer but I am pushing the limits of my knowledge base and might just have to bite the bullet...I am kinda at a loss (again)...