Car won't start right away
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 671
Likes: 15
From: Houston
Car won't start right away
For the past 4 or 5 months my car has not wanted to start right away. The last time it happened a few years back it turned out to be the battery giving out. This time it is not that, I have a brand new battery and alternator. They checked the starter and said it was fine. What else could it be? Its like it isn't getting enough fuel to start. If I crank it and it doesnt start then my 2nd attempt it starts right up. Any thoughts?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale/Miami FL
How long does the car sit between you driving it? A day? Few hours? What may be happening is your fuel pressure dropping off after several hours. When you first turn the key on in the ignition, it primes the fuel pump & pressurizes the system (that whirring sound you hear in the back of the car.) From what you've indicated, it sounds like the first time you try starting the car, the pump has not fully pressurized the system yet.. however, the second time you try it.. the fuel has now reached the engine & it starts right up. This may sound a little vague, but that's what I think it is. You could have a fuel pump on it's way out. That's my .02.. either way, good luck.
- Matt
- Matt
Last edited by imagine32000; Jan 25, 2005 at 01:47 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale/Miami FL
How long does the car sit between you driving it? A day? Few hours? What may be happening is your fuel pressure dropping off after several hours. When you first turn the key on in the ignition, it primes the fuel pump & it pressurizes the system (that whirring sound you here in the back of the car.) From what you've indicated, it sounds like the first time you try starting the car, the pump has not fully pressurized the system yet.. however, the second time you try it.. the fuel has now reached the engine & it starts right up. This may sound a little vague, but that's what I think it is. You could have a fuel pump on it's way out. That's my .02, either way, good luck.
- Matt
- Matt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 22
From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
You need to be more clear on hard start. Does it crank fine but will not start or cranks slowly and doesn't start?
If it cranks slowly then it's your electrical system. If it cranks fine and slow to start then it could be:
1) Fuel injectors leaking (not likely but possible)
2) Bad fuel pump check valve (all the fuel returns to the tank when the car is shut off)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If you hook a fuel pressure guage to the fuel rail, you should be able to see if your getting full fuel pressure in the fuel system on the first ignition cycle. When you turn the key, the fuel pump will run and then shut off. That indicates that the fuel system is pully pressureized. If not, as stated above, you could have a bad fuel pump check valve or leaking injector which would prevent it from fully pressureizing on the first ignition cycle.
My 98 Coupe had an electrical problem that prevented the fuel pump from running until I cycled the ignition switch numerous times and then I had to clear codes before the pump would run.
BC
My 98 Coupe had an electrical problem that prevented the fuel pump from running until I cycled the ignition switch numerous times and then I had to clear codes before the pump would run.
BC
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale/Miami FL
Originally Posted by Bruceatlam
Dirty Fuel filter?
- Matt
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I had this trouble on my 98 Coupe in 03. When I turned the key in the first time the engine would not start. On the 2nd attempt it started right up. I went to the Dealer and it was throwing a code, problem was bad Cam Sensor. My understanding there are 2 sensors and the bad one was in the front.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I want to be more specific with my problem. The Cam Sensor I mentioned is the Cam Position Sensor, it tells the computer where the Cam stopped or what the firing order will be when the engine is started. Once started the engine ran fine and no indication of a problem.