madeinchina

Sometimes when I start up the car the engine would "lag" a bit.... basically I would turn the key and for a few seconds nothing happens, and then it will start but very weakly (I don't know how to properly describe it), I can barely hear it cranking..... it almost sounds like it's going to die out, but then somehow it will continue to run with a very low irregular idle at first, and then resume normal idle around ~ 1000rpm thereafter. After resuming normal idle it runs fine. It's important to note that this problem usually occurs when I shut the car off, for 5-10 mins and try to start it up again, most of the time it happens when I run to the store to pick something up real fast and come back out. It doesn't happen too often when starting the car up in the morning or after a long shut-off period.

Car is a 2000 ex coupe, with b20b bottom, b16 head. I had it for a year now w/o any problems, the guy who I bought it from last year had the computer tuned, or so he says... last thing - the car smells like fuel when it's running, I'm guessing it's rich due to the computer tuning.......... but it's always been that way ever since I bought the car last year.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Former User

Have the battery and alternator tested.

65td

As stated in above, also review (remove and clean) all connections from the battery to the starter and ground connections.

Anon51

RonJ wanted you to have them test for the voltage and charging amp readings not the connections.

madeinchina

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'll definitely get the bat and alt checked

Although I'm very inexperienced with cars.... but based on the fact that the battery is relatively new, and I would have the car sit for 2-3 days without running the motor at all and it will start with no problems, leads me to believe that it might not be the battery or alt....

Could it be anything else?