car won't start!!!(sometimes)

supfoo514 · 04-14-2006, 01:13 AM

Sometimes my car just won't seem to start. Its not the starter cause I can hear it cranking. Pumping the gas doesn't always work. Usually I have to give it a couple of tries before the car will start. This started happening a couple days ago. Before then it started pretty well. You would have to give some gas on cold starts in the morning but would start right up after that. Now it just seems to not want to start. I was wondering what could be causing this. Could an oil leak be causing this because there is a leak in my oil pan which I plan on changing pretty soon. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

dcrusupra · 04-14-2006, 03:27 AM

Fuel problem? Spark problem? Ignition problem?

supfoo514 · 04-14-2006, 03:31 AM

could it be bad spark plugs or wires? cause I took the car to a shop and they did a diagnostic check and didn't find anything besides the leak in my oil pan. They checked my starter, alternator, and battery voltage and all checked out fine. Also what do u mean by fuel problem? Are you refering to the fuel pump or something else? Thanks for the reply.

dcrusupra · 04-14-2006, 05:11 AM

It's usually the pump that causes problems like this. Also a clogged injector or 2 could do it. On the next tank of gas, put in some injector cleaner into the tank. And check the spark plug wires and spark plugs. It will be kinda hard to check all the plugs because the intake plenum is in the way. You have to take it off. It doesnt sound like a spark wire or plug problem tho. But it can be if everything else doesnt check out. But unlikely.

supfoo514 · 04-14-2006, 10:07 PM

dcrusupra - this may be a stupid question but im not really good with cars. where could i get some injector cleaner and how do i put it in? sorry if it sounds stupid.

benesesso - when im pouring the gas in should i have someone trying to start the car at the same time or do it after? Thanks for the help guys.

dcrusupra · 04-15-2006, 04:11 AM

There are no such things as stupid questions. Just stupid people, like me!

But yea, you can get injector cleaner at any auto parts store. Just go there, kick in the door, and yell "I NEED SOME INJECTOR CLEANER, NOW!!" You'll get attention and the product rather quickly. Lol.

Burn N' Up · 04-15-2006, 04:05 PM

Anyone else thinking cold start injector? Sounds very likely.... Does the car start easily once warm?

supfoo514 · 04-22-2006, 09:52 PM

sorry for the late reply, been kind of busy lately.
to answer your question, the car does usually start easily after warm but on the day i posted this problem, the car just seemed not to start everytime i tryed to turn it on no matter how warm or cold the engine is. Also this problem has seemed to remedied itself without me doing anything so i don't really know what's going on. It now turns on pretty easily. Not sure what the problem is or was but thanks for all the help!

Burn N' Up · 04-23-2006, 10:26 PM

I asked around, a friend of mine had the exact same problem, ended up being one of the starter wires, apparently the OEMs are a little weak for the voltage they are drawing.

supfoo514 · 04-24-2006, 03:14 AM

I see so just replace the wire and it should be good to go I assume? Thanks again!

04-14-2006, 01:13 AM	#1
supfoo514 Intake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 41	car won't start!!!(sometimes) Sometimes my car just won't seem to start. Its not the starter cause I can hear it cranking. Pumping the gas doesn't always work. Usually I have to give it a couple of tries before the car will start. This started happening a couple days ago. Before then it started pretty well. You would have to give some gas on cold starts in the morning but would start right up after that. Now it just seems to not want to start. I was wondering what could be causing this. Could an oil leak be causing this because there is a leak in my oil pan which I plan on changing pretty soon. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. __________________ 91 Turbo Automatic MKIII a.k.a "Sammie"

04-14-2006, 03:27 AM	#2
dcrusupra 500whp yet? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Plantation, Fl. Posts: 1,052	Fuel problem? Spark problem? Ignition problem? __________________ New Rebuild My CarDomain

04-14-2006, 03:31 AM	#3
supfoo514 Intake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 41	could it be bad spark plugs or wires? cause I took the car to a shop and they did a diagnostic check and didn't find anything besides the leak in my oil pan. They checked my starter, alternator, and battery voltage and all checked out fine. Also what do u mean by fuel problem? Are you refering to the fuel pump or something else? Thanks for the reply. __________________ 91 Turbo Automatic MKIII a.k.a "Sammie"

04-14-2006, 05:11 AM	#4
dcrusupra 500whp yet? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Plantation, Fl. Posts: 1,052	It's usually the pump that causes problems like this. Also a clogged injector or 2 could do it. On the next tank of gas, put in some injector cleaner into the tank. And check the spark plug wires and spark plugs. It will be kinda hard to check all the plugs because the intake plenum is in the way. You have to take it off. It doesnt sound like a spark wire or plug problem tho. But it can be if everything else doesnt check out. But unlikely. __________________ New Rebuild My CarDomain

04-14-2006, 10:07 PM	#5
supfoo514 Intake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 41	dcrusupra - this may be a stupid question but im not really good with cars. where could i get some injector cleaner and how do i put it in? sorry if it sounds stupid. benesesso - when im pouring the gas in should i have someone trying to start the car at the same time or do it after? Thanks for the help guys. __________________ 91 Turbo Automatic MKIII a.k.a "Sammie"

04-15-2006, 04:11 AM	#6
dcrusupra 500whp yet? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Plantation, Fl. Posts: 1,052	There are no such things as stupid questions. Just stupid people, like me! But yea, you can get injector cleaner at any auto parts store. Just go there, kick in the door, and yell "I NEED SOME INJECTOR CLEANER, NOW!!" You'll get attention and the product rather quickly. Lol. __________________ New Rebuild My CarDomain

04-15-2006, 04:05 PM	#7
Burn N' Up 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 238	Anyone else thinking cold start injector? Sounds very likely.... Does the car start easily once warm?

04-22-2006, 09:52 PM	#8
supfoo514 Intake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 41	sorry for the late reply, been kind of busy lately. to answer your question, the car does usually start easily after warm but on the day i posted this problem, the car just seemed not to start everytime i tryed to turn it on no matter how warm or cold the engine is. Also this problem has seemed to remedied itself without me doing anything so i don't really know what's going on. It now turns on pretty easily. Not sure what the problem is or was but thanks for all the help! __________________ 91 Turbo Automatic MKIII a.k.a "Sammie"

04-23-2006, 10:26 PM	#9
Burn N' Up 3" Exhaust Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 238	I asked around, a friend of mine had the exact same problem, ended up being one of the starter wires, apparently the OEMs are a little weak for the voltage they are drawing.

04-24-2006, 03:14 AM	#10
supfoo514 Intake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 41	I see so just replace the wire and it should be good to go I assume? Thanks again! __________________ 91 Turbo Automatic MKIII a.k.a "Sammie"