My car is cranking longer than usual and the gauges shake after.
It will crank longer than usual, then once it starts my gauges will stay down and shake for awhile before going up
My car has 152474 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello,
There are a number of reasons that may cause the vehicle to take longer than normal to start, however this is usually due to a fuel delivery problem resulting in insufficient fuel being supplied to the motor at startup. This can happen when you have a faulty or clogged fuel injector or possibly a weak fuel pump that may not be pumping fuel properly resulting in low fuel pressure. This may also be a result of incorrect ignition timing as well, which could produce a delayed start. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle to determine what may be causing the hard starting.
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 car cranks too long is due to poor circulation of fuel. If there isn`t enough fuel reaching over for combustion, the engine will not be able to generate sufficient energy to turn over as normal.
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.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
The primary culprits here are fouled spark plugs. Spark plug electrodes wear down over time, increasing the voltage needed to jump the gap in the plug and ignite the fuel and air mixture in the cylinder. That leads to longer cranking times before an engine fires up.
Slow cranking could be the result of several possible conditions, and as you`ve suggested, the fault might reappear or worsen. Possible causes are a degraded or defective battery, faulty electrical connection, a charging system problem, a bad starter or battery rundown when parked.
If the cranking of the engine is sluggish, like your vehicle is harder to start on cold mornings, it starts inconsistently, or there`s no sound and interior lights when you try to start, suspect a failing battery, a loose or corroded connection or electrical draw.
A slow cranking starter or no crank at all may be caused by a faulty ground that prevents full voltage to the starter motor.
Engine problems typically mean it isn`t getting enough fuel, air or it isn`t properly charging. If the issue is at startup, you might check your spark plugs, air filters or suspect the starter is going. If your vehicle doesn`t seem to have enough juice, your battery or alternator may be on the fritz.
Worn or dirty spark plugs can cause a petrol car`s engine to misfire in one or more cylinders, which can cause vibrations when the car is idling or at running speeds. The easiest solution is to replace your spark plugs and check the related wiring. Engine vibrations can also be due to the air and fuel systems.
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.
If you hear a rapid clicking or loud cranking sound when trying to start your car, it`s likely a problem with your car`s battery or alternator, but there could be another engine issue at work. A grinding noisecould also indicate problems with your car`s starter.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car is cranking longer than usual and the gauges shake after.
ANSWER : Hello,
There are a number of reasons that may cause the vehicle to take longer than normal to start, however this is usually due to a fuel delivery problem resulting in insufficient fuel being supplied to the motor at startup. This can happen when you have a faulty or clogged fuel injector or possibly a weak fuel pump that may not be pumping fuel properly resulting in low fuel pressure. This may also be a result of incorrect ignition timing as well, which could produce a delayed start. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle to determine what may be causing the hard starting.
Car won’t crank when it’s cold and now won’t start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:
Usually this issue is cased by low cranking amps inside the battery. If you’ve recently had the battery replaced, it’s possible that an electrical component that makes up the charging system might be damaged or faulty. It’s also quite possible that the main electrical relay or the starter relay is giving you fits. To know for certain what the exact issue might be on your 1989 Toyota Camry, you should have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection, so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend the right repairs.
When I go to crank my car the key stays in the start position and the car is constantly trying to crank itself.
ANSWER : First, let’s make sure about some terminology before I proceed. I will assume the motor is actually turning over. If the car is trying to start, the motor has to be turning over or it is not trying to start. This is an important distinction when diagnosing the starting system. As a technician, I go to different parts of the system based on this description.
If the key is stuck in the start position, this is a ignition lock cylinder issue and the reason the starter continues to turn the motor over. If the starter is turning but the motor is not, then the starter is likely the problem. Either that or the teeth on the flex plate are all gone. This would require removing the transmission to repair.
If the car runs intermittently, this can be a big challenge. And it also means the starting system is working. It will need to be diagnosed when it is failing. A working car cannot be diagnosed because there is nothing wrong. Where you park your car should not have any affect. It certainly could be a wiring problem. Wiring problems hide really well and can happen anywhere in the miles of wires that are in your car. Isolating the system that is failing is really important here. At the moment I am unsure which system is failing. Starter system, ignition lock cylinder and or ignition switch electrical or something with the engine control system.
When the car is failing, you need to check for spark and fuel pressure. If neither is present, this is a clue. Usually the crank sensor will do this. Does your car have a tachometer? If so, does it move at all when cranking. This is a clue whether or not the cam and or crank sensor is working. Is there a Check Engine Light on with the key on? If there is a Check Engine Light, the code or codes can be used for specific diagnosis.
All of these concerns will send you down a diagnostic path. Be sure not to confuse yourself by misinterpreting multiple system failures. If the key does stick in the start position, this would be the first problem to solve. After that, does the motor actually turn when the starter turns? After that, the question of "Why won’t it start?" is first answered by finding what the motor is lacking. Fuel, spark etc… Good luck.
If you need assistance with these checks, contact a certified mechanic who has the tools and experience needed to properly diagnose this starting issue with your car.
My Car will not crank regularly.
ANSWER : Hello there, many common faults will cause your 2011 Audi A4 to have issues starting. If you have to inset the key a number of times your vehicle may have an ignition issue, the most common are worn keys, ignition switch, or a key cylinder. Other possible issues are the battery, fuel pump, starter, battery cable, MAF sensor, or a wiring harness issue. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your car hard to start issues and make any repairs required to resolve the issue.
I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you
The starter off and on wont turn over when trying to crank the car.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Often when starters are installed they come with a shim. These shims need to be installed to help hold the starter at the proper angle. If the angle is off the gears may not mesh correctly putting excess pressure on it that the starter cannot compete with. If the starter did not come with a shim, or you do not have it anymore, you can likely purchase or fabricate one relatively easily. If this does not solve the issue, make sure there are no wires that are being pinched or shorted out when the full weight of the car is being supported. For more help diagnosing the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment. And thank you for you service to our country.
car shakes when idle and accelerating
ANSWER : It is very possible that you have a valve cover gasket or spark plug tube seal leak on your vehicle. These type of leaks will allow oil to leak onto the spark plugs causing misfires. When the engine misfires due to oil getting on the spark plug, the engine oil will burn. Since oil and tires are both petroleum products, they will both smell similar when they are burning. I would recommend having an oil leak inspection performed by a qualified professional to determine if there is an oil leak. Consider YourMechanic as an Oil/Fluid leak inspection can be peformed at your home or office.
Is this car typically a great running car? And what is usually the main issue with this particular car make and model?
ANSWER : In evaluating the wisdom of buying a particular model of car (used or new), consult the database of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. The NHTSA database contains model specific consumer complaints, official recalls and factory service bulletins searchable by individual make, model, and model year. I encourage you to go to the NHTSA website and enter "1998 Mercedes Benz C230" into the search dialog box and simply review the existing reports. For the 1998 Mercedes Benz C230, I see that there is 1 recall, 2 investigations, 56 consumer complaints (that’s a relatively small number), and 10 Technical Service Bulletins (discussing post production problems unique to the vehicle). If you carefully review these reports you will gain an excellent overview of what has been experienced by other owners insofar as faults in the particular make, model and year you are interested in. I would post the text of the reports here, but they are detailed and voluminous so it will be more practical for you to view them online (it is free). An additional resource, "Consumer Reports", publishes system-by-system vehicle reliability data for all years, makes, and models. This data is available free in the library, or on-line if you are a paid subscriber. That reliability data will give you an excellent indication of the relative likelihood (probability) that key systems on the model (and year) of interest to you will fail at greater, or lesser, frequency compared to those rates reported for other vehicles. Obviously, what you want to be looking for in the "Consumer Reports" database is an indication that the vehicle "make and model year" of interest to you is not a "lemon" insofar as reliability. Finally, to protect yourself in any used car transaction, you should request a pre-purchase vehicle inspection. That inspection, carried out by a certified Mechanic, dispatched to your location by YourMechanic, will give you very specific data regarding any current problems with the actual car you want to buy. If you are unable to access any of these resources, or desire data of a different type, please do not hesitate for a moment to re-contact YourMechanic and we will assist you further in your attempts to make a wise used vehicle purchase.
