Hard starting in morning.
Hard start, acts like timing is off a little, and when it starts, acts like it's cold, like it has a carburetor,, but it is fuel injected. Also, once warm, easy starts, but seems like it's not at 100%. 2nd, my left tail light is dimmer than the right side, blinker not working in tail light only. Connected?? Thanks!!!
My car has 179000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The hard start may be from the fuel injectors sticking and combustion chambers carbon build up is causing hard starting. Have the fuel pressure first checked to make sure it is high enough. Then have combustion chambers cleaned and injectors cleaned using GM approved method and cleaners. Replace the left rear tail light bulb first to see if it helps then check light socket to see if it is burned and replace if it is.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reason a Chevy car (or any car) won`t start is a dead battery. If you have a battery tester, check your charge to see if it`s low. A dead battery can also be jumpstarted with jumper cables.
A difficult start could be due to a number of things, from a dying battery to a faulty starter. But if your vehicle has a hard time starting after sitting for just a few hours, it can cause an extra layer of confusion. When this happens, one of the most common causes is low fuel pressure.
A bad coolant sensor, a bad throttle position sensor (TPS), a bad fuel pump or a plugged fuel filter can all cause a lean condition causing long cranking times.
The cause of this problem is usually one of 3 things – a failed starter motor, a bad connection between the battery and starter motor, or a blown fuse (if present) in line between the starter and the battery.
There are many causes of hard starting but illustrative ones are a faulty engine coolant temperature switch (sensor), malfunctioning idle air control (IAC) valve, vacuum and EGR leaks, inadequate fuel delivery or pressure (clogged fuel filter, injectors), and contaminated or old gasoline.
It`s a common occurrence as low temperatures can cause your car battery to produce less current, making it that much harder for your engine to turn over in the morning. The cold can also stop your engine oil from flowing as well as it should, which puts even more strain on the battery.
If the car cranks when you turn the key, but the engine won`t start, it could be because fuel isn`t getting to the engine. One potential reason for this could be dirty fuel injectors. Over time, the fuel injector nozzles can become clogged with rust, corrosion or debris.
If your car struggles to start after putting gas in there might be a problem with the fuel system, likely with the purge valve. Sometimes, a little bit of dirt or debris gets into the system, making it difficult to start the car. Cleaning the fuel filter and checking the fuel pump can help.
Hard start symptoms and starter failure may NOT be caused by the starter, but could actually be caused by the crankshaft position sensor. If your vehicle is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, the crankshaft sensor may be at fault.
If your car won`t start but the battery is good, the most common cause is a faulty starter – though it could also be to do with your fuel. You may have insufficient fuel to get the car going.
The source of a “cranks, but no start” problem on your Chevy 350 distributor install is most likely incorrect distributor alignment with the harmonic balancer or a mismatched balancer and timing tab.
When your engine cranks but won`t start or run, it could mean your engine is having trouble producing a spark, getting fuel, or creating compression. The most common causes are problems in the ignition (for example, a bad ignition coil) or fuel system (for example, a clogged fuel filter).
Cold temperatures affect the chemical process inside the battery and reduce its ability to hold a charge. It also thickens engine oil, increasing friction in the starter motor and forcing it to work harder. Your alternator belt is also prone to cracking in extremely cold conditions.
Why your car struggles to start but runs fine. There are a number of reasons why your car might be slow to start but runs as-normal once it gets going. Causes can vary from weather conditions to battery health, wiring issues, starter motor concerns and fuel-pump health.
Recommended Services. If the throttle body was causing a hard start, then the engine would run with a loss of power all the time.
If your engine gets too hot, certain vapours can cause obstructions, which can make it harder for fuel to circulate. This, of course, will make it more difficult for your car to start. This isn`t really a problem with newer models, as most new cars are fitted with fuel injectors.
The most common reason cars don`t start is a dead or faulty battery. Even though most cars run on gasoline, they all require electrical power to function. The starter that cranks your engine to start requires an electrical signal to fire. If something`s wrong with your battery, your car engine won`t turn over.
If you continue having difficulties starting your car in the morning, you may have a drain on your battery somewhere, or you may need a new alternator.
Slow Cranking: For the starter to be cranking, the control circuit would have to be working. So, if battery and cable checks are within specification and the vehicle still cranks slowly, then it`s a slow cranking problem and it`s time to replace the starter.
There is usually a tray inside the fuel tank located under the fuel pump. This is used to get fuel to the pump when the gas is low or if the car is on an incline. This tray could have shifted, making it difficult to start when the gas in on a quarter of a tank or less.
Hard or No Starting
The MAF sensor keeps track of the amount of air that flows into the engine. If it is sending incorrect readings, the engine control module will make harmful adjustments to the air and fuel in the combustion chamber. This can make starting your car, truck, or C/SUV difficult.
You may begin to notice your engine having hard starts, misfiring, or rough idling. All of these symptoms may indicate that you have a clogged or dirty air filter. Your engine requires a balance of air and fuel to require it to start properly.
“Cycle” the Key. Make sure the radio, headlights, heater, etc., are switched to “off,” so they aren`t pulling energy from your battery and engine. Now put the key in the ignition and turn it from the “off” to the “start” position about ten times. You`re “cycling the key,” which can help warm up the battery and starter.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.
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Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.
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Cranks over start than dies
ANSWER : Hi There,
The idle air control valve is a small valve on the engine’s intake system that reads the air intake as it comes into the motor. This is controlled by the car’s ECM which uses this information to make adjustments to the air/fuel ratio depending on various inputs such as outside air temperature, intake air temperature, load and various other things. As you accelerate, your car’s engine is receiving a much higher dose of fuel than when at idle and conversely, when you let off the gas pedal, there is a sudden change in this fuel supply as a result of your foot letting off the pedal. When this happens, the job of the idle air control valve is to bring this deceleration down to a slow and smooth idle rather than suddenly cutting off the fuel supply causing the motor to die. When the idle air control valve is not working properly, this cause a disruption in this process resulting in the engine not being able to idle properly. I would recommend having a professional come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
The idle air control valve is a small valve on the engine’s intake system that reads the air intake as it comes into the motor. This is controlled by the car’s ECM which uses this information to make adjustments to the air/fuel ratio depending on various inputs such as outside air temperature, intake air temperature, load and various other things. As you accelerate, your car’s engine is receiving a much higher dose of fuel than when at idle and conversely, when you let off the gas pedal, there is a sudden change in this fuel supply as a result of your foot letting off the pedal. When this happens, the job of the idle air control valve is to bring this deceleration down to a slow and smooth idle rather than suddenly cutting off the fuel supply causing the motor to die. When the idle air control valve is not working properly, this cause a disruption in this process resulting in the engine not being able to idle properly. I would recommend having a professional come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
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Truck won’t start in morning. 2nd day now. Battery seems good.
ANSWER : Since the symptoms changed when you touched the battery terminal, it leads me to believe you may have a poor connection and the main battery terminals. If they are badly corroded or have any small cracks, the terminal may be too loose on the battery. You can rule out the battery by removing the connection to the vehicle then testing the battery itself. If the battery is good then reattach the terminals, tighten them and see if you are able to wiggle them on the posts. If the terminal still moves, replace the entire cable. You can cut the terminal ends and replace them, but you will never get as perfect a connection as replacing the whole cable. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and take a closer look at the loss of electrical power situation and run tests to offer a more personal diagnosis.
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Morning start problems
ANSWER : Hi there. First thing I’d check is your cold start injector. The cold start injector is also known as the cold start valve. The part is located on the cold air intake, which is found on the intake manifold. It is a fuel injector that is controlled electronically. The cold start injector works only when the engine has a cold start, or when the engine’s temperature is below a certain point. When this happens, a computer tells the injector to inject more fuel into the mixture that goes through the cylinders to the engine.
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Why does my car struggle to start every 4th to 5th time?
ANSWER : It sounds like your starting issues may be linked to a problem with air metering or fuel delivery. A clogged or malfunctioning idle air control valve may show some of the same symptoms you are describing. The idle air control valve can be stuck in a cold start position which may work well if the car has been sitting a few hours, but as the engine warms up there must be a regulation in airflow. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out for a closer look at your hard start situation and offer a more personal diagnosis.
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My truck has hard start issues in the morning and afternoon. I live in Florida.
ANSWER : There are many causes of hard starting and the reality is all of the causes have to be considered sequentially and patiently. Some illustrative causes include a faulty engine coolant temperature switch (sensor), malfunctioning idle air control (IAC) valve, vacuum and EGR leaks, inadequate fuel delivery or pressure (clogged fuel filter, injectors), and contaminated or old gasoline. If you can start the vehicle readily when cold by holding the accelerator pedal to the floor while cranking, suspect an air induction fault such as a stuck IAC valve. To resolve the issue that you are writing in about, please request a hard start diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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Hard start, sputtering even idle, sometimes turns off while idle
ANSWER : Hello:
In general, when a vehicle has problems starting initially, it’s usually caused by a restriction in fuel flow or the mixture of air and fuel to create the right volume of vapor to be ignited in the cylinder. This could be caused by a fuel pump that is faulty, however, there are more than a dozen potential other mechanical components that might be dirty, clogged or damaged that cause the same issues. Before you decide to purchase a new fuel pump, you should probably contact one of our mobile mechanics to complete a car is hard to start inspection first. This will allow them to pinpoint the source of your PT Cruisers issues and recommend the right repairs.
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