QuestionQUESTION: Sometimes it will start right away in the morning. Other times, it will turn over 10-20 times before it starts. When it takes that long to start and finally does, it runs very rough for about 2-3 seconds then smoothes out. If I turn it off, then start it immediately, it always starts right away. If I wait 5 minutes or so, sometimes it starts right up and other times it take 10-20 revs before it starts. Also, when I am going about 20mph and step heavier on the gas just before overdrive kicks in, I get a very loud knocking. I always use premium fuel and have also tied octane boost, but this does not help. Can anyone help?
ANSWER: IS or HAS the CHECK ENGINE light ever illuminated on the dash ?.
Perform a test for me the next time you know that it will NOT start right away.
1. Turn the ignition key to the ON position and back to the OFF position 3 times and on the fourth time try and start the engine and see if it starts right up and let me know.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I have had the car for about 18 months, and have never had an "check engine" light come on. I tried your solution #1 and the car started right away. However, as I have previously stated, the hard starting does not happen every time. Consequently, it is difficult to ascertain if this time would have been one of those times it started hard. If I attempt to start it and it does not start after 2 seconds, would your test still be valid or not? Thank you for the assistance you have provided.
ANSWER: Since the CHECK ENGINE light is ON. perform this procedure to see what codes you get.
1. If your speedometer is a DIGITAL display, With the ignition key in the ON position without starting the engine, Push and hold the OFF and WARMER buttons on the climate control panel until you see ACM
2. Press the high (fan speed) button until ACM CODES? appears.
3. Press the high (fan speed) button until ACM DTC appears and let me know EVERYTHING that displays until the screen stops as if you were video taping it. I need to know EVERYTHING you see.
4. Turn ignition switch OFF.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I apologize for the information confusion, but in my last followup question, I stated that I have NEVER had a "check engine" light come on. Does this help? Thank you.
AnswerOK, So what you are telling me is that the CHECK ENGINE light is NOT illuminated on the dash.
If I attempt to start it and it does not start after 2 seconds, would your test still be valid or not? YES, It would be valid.
What i suspect you have is a possible weak fuel pump in the fuel tank, a faulty fuel pressure regulator or some leaking fuel injectors.
What you need to do is to install an external fuel pressure gage on the fuel line and every time you turn switch to the ON position, look to see what the fuel pressure is reading BEFORE you start the engine.
What I do in cases such as this is to tape the fuel pressure gage to the outside of the windshield so you can see it and leave it on there for a few days and see if you experience a LOW PRESSURE reading .
