car parked on slight slope, wouldn't start

[tvr totty]

hi people, once again the benefit of your wisdom, every night car is parked in the garage, safely locked away,nice flat level surface. Whilst away in bath on saturday night, had to park in hotel car park, which was on a slight slope.

got in on sunday morning (car had full tank of fuel) and she wouldn't start, turning over okay but not firing up. absolute panic as we were supposed to be starting off on this bath to bournemouth rally, thinking oh god, its a trailer job. pumped the gas pedal quite a few times, begged, threatened and sweet talked before turning the key again (god knows what the oldy in his bentley thought of me) and hey preston she started.

any one had this before, she's been fine ever since, hubby seems to think that maybe as the back of the car was lower than the front, the fuel may not have been getting to the bits it needs to?

any offers??

ps- the rally was 98% on little country roads, not even listed which involved hair pin bends, zig zag hill (bloody brill that was), turning right at complete blind bends, trying to get past some 0ld guy who looked 90, whilst on his pushbike -cycling up hill and snaking from side to side. all good fun, but probably not the best road for the tuscan as it was mainly 30 - 40 mph stuff. good laugh though and quite brown pant stuff in places but thats another story

xx

[GreenV8S]

Can't think of any reason the slope would cause a problem. Could it just have been damp in the electrics or something like that?

[Nick Elliott]

I sometimes park the Tuscan overnight on quiet a steep slope & have have had no problems starting it the next day.

If it was rained on it could have been water geting into the the spark plug area.

Nick

[sixspeed]

Sounds like my old Surrey Run #2 route..


-andy-

[Maf]

I've had a problems starting on a slope.

Make sure you turn the ignition all the way off in between attempts to start (rather than just releasing the starter motor and then trying again) as this will reprime the fuel pump.

Cheers
Maf

[tvr totty]

thanks guys, mental note to one's self re turning over ignition.

definately no rain, and not done it since. (touch wood)
xx

[andyvdg]

Just a thought - I don't think pumping the gas pedal would do any good as the car is fuel injected. I think the recommended procedure after failing to start the engine with no gas pedal it to try with a little or minimal gas. I think there is a risk you can flood the engine otherwise which may involve taking the plugs out to fix!

Cheers,

Andy.

[swordfish]

Mine does something similar some days.
I start it in the garage, it's idling fine.
I reverse out onto the driveway (which slopes uphill), hop out to shut the garage door and the tuscan stalls. Never stalls in the garage or if I back it out onto the road so I surmise the slope is connected somehow.
Only happens in that 1st couple of mins while everything's cold though.

[st george]

I think you have all missed the point.
Tuscan is telling you it dont like being parked, just driven!!

TRS

[cacatous]

[tvr totty]

spoke to good old dr payne at my dealer and when i mentioned the volt reading was 10, and yes it was slightly colder, though not frosty, looks like these conditions seem to effect the battery.

hope it doesn't mean a new one!! - any prices people, from the dealer or otherwise?

[Nick Elliott]

The first bit of cold weather will always show if a battery is on it’s way out. It must have turned over very slowly with only 10 volts in the battery, replacements from dealer are £70-£75 dependant on type.

Nick