Hey, guys. I've been having a bit of a hard-starting issue that has developed over the past few weeks, and I was wondering if I could get a little bit of input. I'm thinking it's a fuel delivery or fuel pressure problem. I'll try to explain what's happening as best I can, but in the next few days, I'm going to try hard to post a video of what's going on. In the mean time, could you give this a read and let me know what you think?

Okay, The car was performing beautifully once I got the cooling issues worked out of it. I'd done a pretty thorough tune-up on her. New plugs, new cap & rotor, new air filter, and I ran some Sea Foam through the fuel system. Then, a few weeks ago, I started getting a little bit of hard-start out of her. At first, it was intermittent, and seemed to only happen when the weather was hot and the car had just been run (i.e. restarting after only giving her a short break). But, she'd spit out whatever was ailing her and then she'd run fine. Over time, the problem's gotten consistently worse.

What she's doing right now is a little bit more acute version of what happened before. The hard-starts have gotten MUCH harder, and now it's happening even in the mornings after not having been run since the day before. The hard-starts in the morning seem to be a little bit less severe than those when she's just been run. Sometimes, in those hot-start situations, I'll even get a little bit of a backfire of sorts. It's sorta like the car coughs, or something.

The thing is, it's the same as before, though: once she spits out whatever's ailing her, she runs beautifully. No adverse affects at all. Only on start-up.

So, what do you guys think? If you have any suggestions, I welcome them. Like I said before, I'll try to post a video, and maybe that'll help. In the mean time, I thank you in advance for your input.

Thanks for reading.
Jon

 

Well we need to know what kind of car you have first. Include engine code, tranny type, make, model. You get it.

 

viagra will get you started right quick

 

i got the exact same problem right now in my 97 lx. if i come across the problem ill try to share it with u. but as for right now shes just starting up pretty good, the problem is on and off for me.

 

Okay, first off, I forgot to tell you what I've got. I'm driving a 1994 Accord with a 2.2L VTEC and an automatic tranny. Sorry about forgetting that!!

Oh, and I may not have been specific enough as to what I meant by a "hard-start". I'm getting an extended crank. It turns over and turns over, and when it finally fires, it runs crappy for a few seconds, but eventually works everything out and runs fine. The problem is most severe when the car's been off for a little while. If I restart right away, it usually pops right off. Also, in the morning, it starts much easier as well.

Anyway, the overwhelming suggestion so far has been the MFR. I'll look into that, but I wanted to drop a quick post and tell you guys what another guy I know suggested and ask for some feedback.

First off, I'm convinced that it's a fuel problem. I smell fuel when I start up... well, when the starts are especially hard, that is. I thought maybe that it was running rich, since I can smell fuel. Also, a friend told me that it was puffing out smoke when it hard starts. I haven't seen that yet. I pulled the vacuum line off of the fuel pressure regulator, but no gas came out. So, I don't think the diaphragm is leaking there.

So, what this friend of mine suggested was a leaky fuel injector. He theorizes that when I shut off the engine, one of the injectors continues to leak. That would explain why the hard starts are hardest when it's been sitting a while. When I start it right back up, it hasn't leaked a bunch of fuel into the cylinder. When I wait until the next morning, it's dissipated and evaporated. Essentially, if there's a leaky fuel injector, I'm starting a car with one flooded cylinder. It runs like crap until that cylinder empties out, then smooths out and runs fine.

That's the scenario he presented. Let me know what you guys think. Oh, also, I'm still trying to score a digital video camera to post a video of what's going on. I'll let you know if I figure that out.

Thanks for the input.
Jon

 

On the older models it's most likely the main relay, I'm not sure this could be it but try testing your main relay. Try turning the key but not starting your car, you should hear a clicking sound coming around your fuse panel. Your symptoms sounds like a bad main relay, it's hard to start in hot weather and when you drive after you shut it off and try starting her up she wont start.

 

If you did seafoam and then it started happening... Check fuel filter, check injectors... maybe check plugs again.

 

Okay, I've got a video camera. Does anyone know how to post a video on here?

 

Okay, first off, even though it was a major pain in the ***, I finally got the video taken care of and uploaded to a server. Here's the link:

http://s108.photobucket.com/al...o.flv

I need to give a little FYI about the video, though. First off, the amount of hard-starting that you're hearing is relatively minor. At times, it's been much harder than that. Sometimes I have to flutter the gas pedal to get it to fire. But, it doesn't ever NOT fire. It'll always start, just gotta be more persistant at some times than others. Also, the temperature that day was very mild. I've got a SLIGHT reason to believe that the problem is worsened when it's really hot outside. Can't really confirm this, yet. Just keep in mind that usually, the starts are a little harder. Especially the ones at 30 and 60 minutes. They weren't near as hard on the film as they usually are.

I had someone ask me about the Sea Foam. I tried the Sea Foam when the problem started showing up. I'd been planning on doing it anyway, but when it began the hard-start problem, I figured that then was as good a time as any. The Sea Foam/fuel mixture has all run out, though. I've only put another half-tank in since then, though. Oh, and another guy asked if the check engine light is on. That's a no.

Let me know what you guys think. I hope the video helps. At least it kinda shows how hard the starts are. It does show how it runs terribly bad for a while only to smooth out and run like a champ.

If you've got any ideas for me, I welcome them.

Thanks again.
Jon

 

Your friend is right, there is a leaking injector. You will have to replace all your injectors unless you know a way to figure out which one is leaking. or you can take each out and get a plastic coke bottle or something watch which one is spraying correctly and which one leaks after it sprays. the flooded piston cant burn the fuel until it vaporizes because gas cant be burned in its liquid state. thats why your starting hard and i would also recommend using injector cleaner to clean out all the deposits that can cause the injectors to go bad.

 

Okay, it was suggested to me that I try starting the car with the throttle wide open to see if that minimized the problem. So, I decided to try it on for size. For the last 24 hours or so, everytime I've started the car, I've turned the key on, pumped the accelerator once, then pressed it to the floor. At that point, I start the car. It DEFINITELY starts quicker like that. It doesn't necessarily pop right off immediately every time (though often times it does just that), but it does start within a couple of seconds instead of the ten or fifteen that it takes sometimes without messing with the throttle. Also, when I start it like that, it still runs rough after starting. However, since I've got the throttle pegged, it revs high immediately after starting and seems to smooth out much quicker than when I start it without using the throttle. What do you guys make of that?

Also, I'm replacing the fuel filter today. I'll let you know if that helps matters any. Oh... FYI: I'm not just throwing parts at the car trying to solve the problem. The only things that I'm doing to the car right now are routine maintenance things that I'd planned on doing over the next few weeks anyway. I WILL NOT buy new fuel injectors/pressure regulator/whatever else until I know what the problem is. Playing the guessing game and throwing parts at a car problem can get real expensive real fast.

Oh, and one more thing: the fuel pressure test might take a while. I don't have access to a guage. Can't do the test until I find one. If you know anyone in Lincoln, NE that has a fuel pressure tester, feel free to send 'em my way!!!

Let me know what you think on that 'open throttle' thing.

Thanks for reading.
Jon

 

Uh-oh... my cooling problem is back. Well, maybe not back. Maybe just another cooling problem. I'm going to post it in here, because I'm wondering if my two problems are related. I'm hoping to get a little feedback as to whether anybody thinks that there is anything that could cause both of these problems.

Let me give a little bit of background for those of you not in the know. I spent about three weeks diagnosing a cooling system problem. I was losing coolant, and I couldn't figure out where. The problem wouldn't really show itself when I drove around town. The problem ended up being a hole in the radiator. I replaced that, and for about two months, all was well. Hell, I even drove the car from San Diego to Lincoln, NE and never had a single problem.

So, I thought I had the problem whipped and I put that topic to bed. Then, the other day, I was cruising down the freeway, and it started to run hot. Couldn't figure that out. Pulled over and had to fill it up with coolant. I was in the midst of a 200 mile trip, and over the course of that time, I had to fill it up three more times. This was in mid-afternoon. Then, in the evening, I had to make the trip back, and I didn't have to stop and fill up at all. It was low when I got back, but it didn't overheat. Couldn't figure that one out.

Now I'm back in Lincoln, and whenever I drive around, I lose some fluid. Problem is, I can't find the leak. I've even put a pressure tester on the car and it'll hold pressure (well, for a little while at least - it slowly drops after you pressurize it). Can't or see a leak when it's pressurized. Thought maybe the cap was shot, so I replaced that. It didn't fix the problem. Not sure what's causing this.

I'm concerned that the two problems might be related. I've got my theory, but I don't want to post that yet. I want people to give me their opinions instead of just agreeing with mine. If you can give me some feedback as to what kind of problem might result in BOTH a hard-start and a loss of coolant, let me know.

Oh, by the way, still not seeing any smoke (or steam) out of the tailpipe. Doesn't mean it's not there, though, right?

Thanks
Jon

P.S. Replacing the fuel filter didn't accomplish a thing.

 

it might be that your condensor is bad and not working properly. have you checked the t-stat as well? hmmm, could you have a leak from the bottom radiator hose? or your fan might not be working. Im still going to school for this so im jus giving you ideas. im on this exact subject at school so im thinkin of cooling system.

 

hey johny

i were you i'd check my fuel pressure first, if it is actuaaly a fuel problem your having. that should be able to give a decent diagnosis on your fuel issues good luck.

 

Hey, everybody. Sorry I've been out of the loop. Been a busy boy over the past two weeks, so I haven't been able to turn any wrenches on the ailing car. I'll have to remedy that over the next few days. I'm going to check the fuel system. I have a couple of questions for you.

Question 1: Can anybody give me insight into hooking up a fuel pressure guage to my car? I'm used to there just being a schrader valve that the guage hooks into. Can't seem to find one on my car. Do I have to buy a special fitting? If so, where can I get one?

Question 2: I want to test the "leaky injector" theory. What I'll probably do is pull the fuel rail off, re-attach the electrical connectors with the injectors out of the cylinders, and pressurize the system. Any advice on the best way to do this? If I turn the key on, will the fuel system automatically pressurize? If so, I should see any leaks at that time, right? I don't have to turn it over, do I?

Question 3: How in the heck do you check a fuel pressure regulator? I have no clue there, other than to disconnect the vacuum line to see if fuel leaks out, which would indicate a leaky diaphragm.

Okay, that's all I've got for now. Drop me a line and let me know what you guys think. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jon