Starting issue, fuel smell
In the last ten months or so, my car started having difficulty starting. Recently, I had it tuned up but it didn't solve the problem. The car would chug when I turn the key in the ignition, However, I have to apply the gas pedal in order for it to turn on. Then, I could smell the fuel quite a bit. What could be the issue?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The fuel pressure would need to be checked to make sure the pressure regulator is not leaking fuel and that the pressure is correct. You may have a leaking injector if the pressure is okay. I recommend having a certified technician diagnose the starting issue and fuel smell in person in order to have the correct repairs done.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Usually, this issue is caused by a faulty idle control valve or restriction of fuel flow through the throttle body. A damaged mass air flow sensor, dirty or clogged fuel filter, air filter, fuel injectors or EGR valve can also be the source of this problem.
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.
Odds are, if you smell gas while cranking the engine, it`s getting fuel. It`s probably not getting spark. Common causes for no spark: Bad crankshaft sensor. Bad camshaft sensor.
Failing Battery or Starter Motor
If a battery is low on energy, or if the connections are loose, your engine may be able to crank, but it may not start–or it may take several tries. Similarly, a starter motor that`s beginning to fail may still crank the engine, but won`t be powerful enough for it to start.
The most common reason a pump fails is wear on the pump from improper lubrication or over-use. The best way to explain a failed fuel pump due to wear and tear is to explain what other reasons may have lead to a failed pump: Most fuel pumps are lubricated by the fuel in the tank itself.
The mass air flow sensor (MAF) is used to measure the flow rate of air entering a fuel injected engine. The PCM uses air mass information to calculate and deliver the correct amount of fuel to the cylinders under all engine operating conditions.
If the fuel pump relay fails the fuel pump will be left without power. The engine may still crank when the key is turned, however it will not be able to start due to lack of fuel. This symptom can also be caused by a wide variety of other issues, so having the vehicle properly diagnosed is highly recommended.
Do you smell gas when you start your car? Your gas cap may be missing, loose, or damaged — causing gas vapor to escape from your gas tank. This means if you have a loose gas cap, gasoline fumes can enter the inside of your vehicle.
Whenever gasoline gets to the catalytic converter, it will transform the amounts of hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide. This will cause the catalytic converter to not process the gases as it should, which will give the smell of rotten eggs. This will cause you to need a new catalytic converter.
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.
Starting a vehicle with a bad crankshaft sensor can be risky and it`s unlikely to work. Disconnect the damaged sensor and try spraying a little starter fluid in the throttle body on your engine. Then, try cranking the engine to start the vehicle.
Faulty Fuse
And if that`s faulty or the fusible links are damaged, your car wont start. A damaged or blown fuse can prevent power from reaching the starter relay, which is needed to provide the spark, the ignition, and the power to move your vehicle.
Low fuel pressure can also be caused by a leaky fuel pressure regulator. The pump may be working fine, but if the regulator is leaking and can`t hold enough pressure in the fuel rail that supplies the injectors, the engine may be slow to start or may not start at all.
How to Tell if Your Gas Grill`s Regulator Is Bad. There are several signs that show that your gas grill`s regulator is bad. These include your burners lighting up unevenly, yellow/orange or lazy flames, flames that float above the burner ports, and a popping sound when you turn the gas burners on or off.
Electrical issues: Electrical faults are also significant contributors to fuel pump failures. The most common electrical issues are rusted connectors, loose connectors, or melted wiring and connectors.
The most common cause of fuel pump failure is frequently running the tank low on fuel, which causes the motor to overheat. The second most common cause is fuel contamination, usually dirt and rust particles that clog the fuel strainer and prevent the pump from drawing enough fuel under high engine load.
The MAP and MAF sensors monitor the amount of air entering the engine, and the crank and cam position sensors influence ignition timing and fuel delivery. Sensors such as the throttle position sensor and vehicle speed sensor read engine load and help determine transmission shift points and fuel metering.
Some sensors change how the engine behaves when it receives information from the control module. The idle air sensor, coolant temperature sensor and EGR sensor all change things within the engine and fuel delivery system.
The fuel pump shut-off switch has a red reset button on top of it.
There are many reasons for faulty fuel injectors but the three most common issues are clogging in your car`s fuel injectors, leaky and dirty injectors. You should remove the fuel injectors and clean them up before putting them back in for your car to function optimally.
Damaged O2 Sensor
If one (or more) of the oxygen sensors in your car is damaged, your engine may be using too much fuel and not enough air. This could also cause the exhaust to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs, so the presence of this smell alone isn`t enough to determine what the underlying problem is.
Failing Catalytic Converter (Sulfur Smell)
Over time, the catalytic converter can become overheated, contaminated with gasoline in the exhaust or simply wear out. When this happens, you`re likely to notice a rotten egg, sulphurous smell coming from the exhaust.
Symptoms of an Inefficient Fuel Injector
There are several symptoms that indicate an inefficient fuel injector: Strong gasoline smell. Significant decrease in fuel efficiency. Uneven idling of the engine.
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.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
It will not start on starting fluid, it dies right away. Replaced fuel pump, fuel compressive regulator, and fuel filter
ANSWER : Hey there. If the motor will only start with the use of starting fluid, this suggests you may have a fuel supply problem such as faulty or dirty fuel injectors. If you have replaced the fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator, we can reasonably assume that you are getting the correct amount of fuel pressure through the system. You will need to check the voltage at each of the injectors to be sure they have the proper amount of power. You may also need to check them to be sure they are freely spraying the proper stream of fuel. If you would like to have this taken care of, a certified pro from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting issue and follow through with a fuel injector replacement (or any other repair) as needed.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
Where to troubleshoot fuel issue?
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The issue could be any of the components you mentioned. There are several tests you can do, and you will want to pick the tests to perform first that are easiest for you to do with the tools available to you. One common test is to install an in-line gauge at the engine and check for fuel pressure. If it is in fact low, then you know you have a pump or module issue. If the pressure is within manufacture specification, you know the problem is likely the sensor failing. With the issues you have been having starting, the mileage of the vehicle, and the age of the vehicle, I would not be surprised to see the pump starting to fail. Keep in mind the fuel filters also need to be replaced periodically (some every 50,000 miles), and it should be looked into as well. The filter will also restrict flow and pressure. The sensor can also have electrical testing done if you have access to a multi-meter. Only further testing will tell. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
Installed new delphi fuel pump and fram fuel filter. still no pressure on fuel rail valve and wont start. 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
ANSWER : Hi there – I suspect you have weak power getting to the fuel pump. I would first check the voltage coming out of the fuel pump relay. If the contacts in the relay are burned, you will not get reliable current flow to the pump. Check the fuel pump ground as well (voltage drop across the ground, not just continuity). I recommend a fuel system inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
My car stutter starts, but only after driving it for a few minutes.
ANSWER : Hey there. This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire, or stall. If you would like to have an expert pinpoint the issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the hard start problem and confirm which repairs are needed.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
Engine won’t start and it’s a fuel related problem because I can spray starting fluid in the throttle body and it starts.
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have an air leak present in your EVAP system. When an air leak is present in the EVAP system, the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor will not be able to determine the air density, and the MAF sensor will not be able to determine the volume of air, entering the engine correctly. This will lead to an over fueling situation or an under fueling situation depending on the size of the air leak and engine operating speeds and load. This may eventually lead to catalytic converter problems as well as misfiring problems. As you may know, if the MAP sensor is not working properly, depending on the severity of the air leak (and the related adjustments the MAP sensor is making to try and compensate for this), this may in fact cause the motor not to start. I would recommend having an expert from Your Mechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
Changed battery and the fuel pump and car still slow to start. When it does start it shuts off without warning. Fuel filter is fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. The battery could be dead even though it has a full charge. There could be a dead cell or an over charged cell. Have the battery checked with a load tester. This will place a load on the battery and the battery is not to drop more than 3 volts during the test. If the battery drops more than 3 volts, then the battery needs replaced. Also, check the starter and ignition system for any faults. Look for corrosion on the ignition wires and see if the cables to the starter are loose. If you need further assistance with your no start situation, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
I have a 1981 e-350 with dual fuel tanks the p.o. added a third tank and 3 electric fuel pumps along with sepparate gauges and swi
ANSWER : The switch you are referring to is vended with the required electrical and fuel schematic (I just looked in the box) that answers your installation question. If you want an advance view, here is a link as well. Yes, you need a return line and just refer to the aforementioned link. If you are retrofitting back to OEM, I strongly encourage you to buy the original Factory Service Manual (FSM). There are lots of details attending this system and obviously it is difficult to recount it all here. The FSM will make your life much easier and you can then make sure your installation is perfect. Alternatively, YourMechanic can dispatch a certified mechanic and perform the whole retrofit and check out if you desire. Just request and schedule a generic service such as fuel pump service and the mechanic will come to your location and estimate the parts and labor required. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting issue, fuel smell
