My car over heated about a month ago due to broken radiator. Everything is fixed and the car is running fine now. However, periodically, especially when the engine is already warm, it would crank (I hear the click click click) but it wouldn't turn over. However, if I give it some fuel (step on the gas) while it's cranking, it would start up just fine. Please help, thanks.

 

how long since you change your fuel filter???it could be that, it happen to me before, changed the filter my car never had problem sinced. recommendation for filter change is every 50-60,000 miles.

 

I had the filter changed only about 25k-30k miles ago, so it should still be good. Could it be spark plugs?

 

I can't tell from your description whether it's cranking. You say you hear clicking, that usually means it isn't cranking. Cranking means the starter is spinning the engine.

Is the starter cranking (spinning) the engine?? If not, then don't worry about spark plugs until you get it to crank.

 

Sorry if it wasn't clear. When I say click, I mean it's the sound you usually hear once or twice before you engine starts up. So yeah, I think it is cranking. But in my case, when the engine is already warm, sometimes, it just crank and crank w/out actually turning over. Unless I give it a little gas. Hope that clears it up.

 

OK. So you think it's cranking. If you're not sure, have someone watch when you try to start. If it's cranking they'll see the alternator/PS/AC drive belts spinning.

Now you gotta figure out - is it lack of fuel or lack of spark? If your spark plugs are old (hey, you mentioned them first), you might want to get new ones just because they're old. If you're getting fuel your spark plugs will be a little wet & you'll smell it.

ps... 'turning over' used to mean the same thing as cranking. But everybody uses that term so many different ways it's about useless. So in your case I'd say it's cranking but it's not firing.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll check it out.