QuestionQUESTION: My car refused to start, I called for help, they jumped in and it
started. I was worried about the battery as summer is coming in I live in Pahrump NV, bought a new duralast battery. Went to grocery store, came out 1 hr later, would not start, left overnight, started fine inthe morning. Seems like when you
turn the key, it sounds like it will catch, but does not. Can a hot engine cause this???? Where do I look....spark plugs???
ignition coil? HELP Thanks for listening.
ANSWER: We'll first need to establish whether the starter motor is functioning. This will help us establish whether the problem is related to the starting system or with other things necessary for the engine to run.
Does the engine crank (ruh-ruh-ruh noise) when you attempt to start the engine (but it doesn't start)?
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QUESTION: The starter is functioning. It feels like the starter is starved for fuel or spark. Starting in morning is fine...drive 8 miles, park,
shop 1 hr...come out and starter trys to start car......leave it all night and next morning starts fine. Had someone drive it on a cooler
day and it ran and started on multiple trips. Help!!! Thanks
AnswerWe can then probably eliminate anything electrically connected with the starter, such as the battery and cables.
It's possible problem is with the coolant temperature sensor, but this is rare, and you won't be able to verify without the aid of a scan tool which will read the data from the engine control module (ECM).
To further narrow the problem, you'll need to check some things while the problem is occurring:
-- Does the check engine lamp come on when the ignition is turned to the on position? If not, suspect that there's an electrical problem preventing the ECM from turning on, such as a defective relay or a wiring problem.
-- Carry a spare spark plug in the car. When the problem occurs, remove one of the wires from a spark plug-- #1 is usually best because it's the longest-- place the spare plug in it and lay the wire on the intake plenum. Then have someone crank the engine while you observe whether the spark plug is firing. If not, suspect the crank sensor is defective; the ECM cannot determine when to fire the spark plugs without the signal from the crank sensor.
-- If you have one, install a fuel pressure gauge. When the problem occurs, check the fuel pressure while cranking the engine. If it's low or zero (and the check engine lamp comes on in the test above), suspect a defective fuel pump.
Lastly, if your check engine lamp has been coming on, have the ECM checked for diagnostic trouble codes. This may lead you directly to the source of the problem. Even if the lamp hasn't come on, do this. Sometimes a code will store but not cause the check engine lamp to illuminate if the problem hasn't occurred twice consecutively.
