I've seen only a couple reports here of that problem but I don't know the cause. Please let us know what happens. 
5-7 Second Engine Start
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: In the Valley of the Sun
5-7 Second Engine Start
Evening everyone, hoping I can ask for your assistance again. I'm having a problem with the engine starting on my `10 coupe. Ever since the first start at the dealership, I've had a problem with the engine taking a solid 5-7 seconds to catch. This happens about 80-90% of the time. At first, I thought maybe the fuel was vaporizing in the fuel distributor(?) in the all this desert heat since it seemed to happen the most after sitting for a bit in the heat. However, it seems to happen just as often when in the mornings. My in-laws bought a `10 GS a week later and theirs always starts right up.
Has anyone experienced or heard of this? It doesn't seem that the dealer has. The only question they asked was if we used premium, which of course we do.
Has anyone experienced or heard of this? It doesn't seem that the dealer has. The only question they asked was if we used premium, which of course we do.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: DFW area Texas
I am having the exact same problem with my 09. It seems to have gotten worse over the summer months. It was taking about 3 seconds to start after driving it and letting it sit for an hour or two but now it is taking longer to start. I was at a club meeting this past weekend and after letting it sit for about 2 and a half hours I thought the thing was going to crank forever before it finally started.
I am going to have to take it in to the dealer, I just don't want to hear, oh thats normal. I know its not normal, I haven't had a car take that long to start in the last 50 years.
Don
I am going to have to take it in to the dealer, I just don't want to hear, oh thats normal. I know its not normal, I haven't had a car take that long to start in the last 50 years.
Don
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 5
From: louisville "derby city" kentucky
FUEL PRESSURE is very likely the problem. the fuel injection system these cars use is very pressure sensitive. could be any number of things in the system. a competent tech will be able to find it rather quickly. fixing it could take a little longer tho...............
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
I am having the exact same problem with my 09. It seems to have gotten worse over the summer months. It was taking about 3 seconds to start after driving it and letting it sit for an hour or two but now it is taking longer to start. I was at a club meeting this past weekend and after letting it sit for about 2 and a half hours I thought the thing was going to crank forever before it finally started.
I am going to have to take it in to the dealer, I just don't want to hear, oh thats normal. I know its not normal, I haven't had a car take that long to start in the last 50 years.
Don
I am going to have to take it in to the dealer, I just don't want to hear, oh thats normal. I know its not normal, I haven't had a car take that long to start in the last 50 years.
Don
If he says that, Grab the service manager, point to a NEW C6 and fire it up. That should shut him up! If that doesn't work, call GM Customer Assistance Center and get a case number and ask to have the district rep look at it. Be a PITA with a lot of facts ( a polite PITA
) and make them hate to see you back. BC
Gr
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: East Longmeadow MA
pressure at the rail should be like 350 kPa after key off and 320 or so an hour later. Very low leakage limits.
The pressure ramps up very quickly when the pumps starts too. My vote is pressure leak down but where? Injectors? leak in fuel system would be big loss of pressure usually and run terrible or not at all.
The pressure ramps up very quickly when the pumps starts too. My vote is pressure leak down but where? Injectors? leak in fuel system would be big loss of pressure usually and run terrible or not at all.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
Had a local Z06 owner that had a similar problem, Dealer couldn't duplicate the no start so they asked the owner to show them. He got in the car, tapped the accelerator twice then floored the pedal and hit the start button. When the Tech tried to correct his starting sequence his statement was "I've been driving high horsepower Corvettes longer than you've been alive and thats how you have to start a high compression 427. Tap the pedal to set the choke and then floor it so you get enough gas to start the car".
After an explanation of electronic fuel injection and a couple of demonstrations (keep your foot off the gas and just hit the start button) the owner of the Z06 finally became a believer. No more no start problem.
After an explanation of electronic fuel injection and a couple of demonstrations (keep your foot off the gas and just hit the start button) the owner of the Z06 finally became a believer. No more no start problem.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: DFW area Texas
Had a local Z06 owner that had a similar problem, Dealer couldn't duplicate the no start so they asked the owner to show them. He got in the car, tapped the accelerator twice then floored the pedal and hit the start button. When the Tech tried to correct his starting sequence his statement was "I've been driving high horsepower Corvettes longer than you've been alive and thats how you have to start a high compression 427. Tap the pedal to set the choke and then floor it so you get enough gas to start the car".
After an explanation of electronic fuel injection and a couple of demonstrations (keep your foot off the gas and just hit the start button) the owner of the Z06 finally became a believer. No more no start problem.
After an explanation of electronic fuel injection and a couple of demonstrations (keep your foot off the gas and just hit the start button) the owner of the Z06 finally became a believer. No more no start problem.
Don
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
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From: In the Valley of the Sun
Ok, so I finally took the vette in to have them look at the starting problem and they've decided that it was a bad fuel pump. They're replacing it tomorrow once they get the part in. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it fixes it though I'm pretty sure it will. Interesting that the car came from the factory with a bad fuel pump. In all the times it was started to move it around from factory to dealership, no one decided it was worth their time to investigate a long start time before selling it to a customer. My wife and I noticed it when we took it for a test drive. Maybe everyone thought it was just an anomaly when they started it that particular time. Who knows. 
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,951
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Ok, so I finally took the vette in to have them look at the starting problem and they've decided that it was a bad fuel pump. They're replacing it tomorrow once they get the part in. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it fixes it though I'm pretty sure it will. Interesting that the car came from the factory with a bad fuel pump. In all the times it was started to move it around from factory to dealership, no one decided it was worth their time to investigate a long start time before selling it to a customer. My wife and I noticed it when we took it for a test drive. Maybe everyone thought it was just an anomaly when they started it that particular time. Who knows.
Elmer
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
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From: In the Valley of the Sun
Pump or fuel leak. Case in point: I took my fuel rail and injectors off to install a fuel pressure sensor and thus drained the rail. Next start up, cranked 4-6 seconds before it caught. Next start, immediate fire and very short crank time. Fuel pressure is your issue. If they tested the pressure when you prime the pump they can pretty well tell what the issue is. I guarantee you they don't want to change that pump unless they have to because it is a Royal PITA to do.
Elmer
Elmer
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
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From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Also, I believe there is a check-valve in the pump area that is designed to hold pressure in the line. If the check valve is bad, pressure drops and starting issues will occur.
Elmer
Elmer
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: In the Valley of the Sun
Ok, so the new fuel pump has solved the problem. It has started right up every time for the past five days. Interestingly enough, they said that when they tried to pull the fuel pump out of the fuel tank they realized that the fuel tank was warped. They had to keep it an extra day to replace the entire fuel tank. Now I'm just waiting on the passenger side window trim piece to come in so they can replace that too. I noticed shortly after I had my windows tinted that something inside the door had put a pretty deep scratch in the tint. They said they found the problem and ordered to the part. They also said they would replace the window tint.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: East Longmeadow MA
good to hear
Glad to hear u are back running in good shape. Must have been fuel pressure regulator leak down or small debris or scratch in o-ring sealing surface or similar.
Shape of tank has nothing to do with the pressure leakdown but nice they staightened that out as well.
Shape of tank has nothing to do with the pressure leakdown but nice they staightened that out as well.