My 96' D16Y7 struggles to start after it's been sitting for 4 or 5 days. When driven on a daily basis, the car shows no symptoms; it starts and runs every time, even when its minus 20 outside. I can hear the fuel pump prime, the starter engages and keeps cranking and it sounds like it wants to go, but won't start. The battery is strong and boosting doesn't help. Repeat the process three or four times and after a little throttle it will eventually sputter to life. Drive around for half an hour, turn off, then it restarts no problem. Park overnight and it starts fine in the morning.

The battery and fuel filter are both new. It has strong spark, fuel pressure is fine, plugs are wet, all fuses are intact, plenty of fuel in the tank, and no CEL. I doubt it's the main relay because it's not temperature dependent (starts in freezing cold or hot summer heat). Car has 240,000 km (150k miles). Plugs were replaced 20,000 km ago.

What happens to a car after sitting for several days that would cause it to struggle to start? I'm thinking dirty injectors, or bad ignitor (ICM), or bad cap/ rotor, old plugs.

 

Anyone have a thought on this?

 

you may want to check your starter and solenoid. your starter/ solenoid could be going bad. I have sometimes have this same problem. tested the battery cales to the starter and solenoid with a multimeter turns out its just a solenoid.

 

Tested the solenoid and connections and found no failures. Any other ideas?

This car currently starts and runs without issue. The problems only come up after its been sitting.

 

compression check?