Throwing Money at a Hard Start
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Car: 92 Firebird
Engine: 3.1L V6
Throwing Money at a Hard Start
Up until now, my car had always started up right away. Now I have an intermittent starting problem. The car just cranks and cranks. The problem first started about a week after rebuilding my ignition system.
It first happened in the morning when I was on my way to work. I immediately suspected the ignition system. The first thing I tried was plugging in the old ignition coil. The car started right up. I turned the car off, and plugged the new coil back in, the car started right up. So I left the new one in place.
A few days later in the afternoon it refused to start again. Crank, crank, crank… I did not have the extra coil with me this time. I just waited a minute tried it again, nothing. I waited another minute, and it started right up.
That was a week ago and it just did it again this morning. I tried starting for a few minutes and it wouldn’t start. I opened the hood and wiggled the wires on the ignition coil. It started right up. I’m not sure if the ignition coil is to blame, it seems more like the car just needed some time to start up.
I noticed after I changed out the ignition parts I noticed the idle was slightly rougher than it used to be. I wonder if the two issues are related. The car runs great besides the slightly rough idle.
I obviously want to fix the problem and need help deciding where I should throw my money at.
I am looking at 4 possible options.
-Replacing the IAC Valve, TPS Sensor, and MAP Sensor.
-Fuel Injectors
-Timing Belt
-Some other fuel related component.
Is there something else I should be looking at?
I haven’t suspected the starter because the car seems to crank fine.
It first happened in the morning when I was on my way to work. I immediately suspected the ignition system. The first thing I tried was plugging in the old ignition coil. The car started right up. I turned the car off, and plugged the new coil back in, the car started right up. So I left the new one in place.
A few days later in the afternoon it refused to start again. Crank, crank, crank… I did not have the extra coil with me this time. I just waited a minute tried it again, nothing. I waited another minute, and it started right up.
That was a week ago and it just did it again this morning. I tried starting for a few minutes and it wouldn’t start. I opened the hood and wiggled the wires on the ignition coil. It started right up. I’m not sure if the ignition coil is to blame, it seems more like the car just needed some time to start up.
I noticed after I changed out the ignition parts I noticed the idle was slightly rougher than it used to be. I wonder if the two issues are related. The car runs great besides the slightly rough idle.
I obviously want to fix the problem and need help deciding where I should throw my money at.
I am looking at 4 possible options.
-Replacing the IAC Valve, TPS Sensor, and MAP Sensor.
-Fuel Injectors
-Timing Belt
-Some other fuel related component.
Is there something else I should be looking at?
I haven’t suspected the starter because the car seems to crank fine.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Car: 92 Firebird
Engine: 3.1L V6
Re: Throwing Money at a Hard Start
The timing seems right on.
I suspected the injectors because I heard that they can cause a hard start condition when they leak. I thought this might also explain the slightly rough idle.
I suspect the timing belt because I thought the rough idle might be cause by the timing bouncing around a bit.
I don't really suspect the sensors, but those are just parts that I have never changed.
My car has 134K miles on it.
I suspected the injectors because I heard that they can cause a hard start condition when they leak. I thought this might also explain the slightly rough idle.
I suspect the timing belt because I thought the rough idle might be cause by the timing bouncing around a bit.
I don't really suspect the sensors, but those are just parts that I have never changed.
My car has 134K miles on it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
