Intermittent hard start when cold.

[Troywakeling]

I've been having this problem for a while now. Its only when the motor is cold, like going to lunch at work and it only does it like once a month. It will crank and crank for like ten seconds then ill stop and it will crank over more than usual and then start. I can always hear the FP turn on. Im going to replace the fuel filter this week and see if that makes any difference. Im guessing the fuel pump is dying or the cam sensor, im not getting any CEL. Im pretty sure its not the Crank sensor because its only doing it cold not hot. Any thoughts?


BTW this is a short list of things replaced in the last 5k pertaining to this.

Both 02 sensors
plugs and wires
cleaned intake
ECT Sensor
New IAC

 

[itwonder]

Check stored codes. AZ can pull them. It may well be the CAM sensor. It does not sound like fuel issue. See if the CAM sensor (CID ) cavity has oil leaking into it.

 

[whiteguy3]

Cam Sensor (CID).

That would be the first part to check besides something like the battery. If the engine sounds like it is slow cranking than it is most likely the battery. If it is cranking fine, but just doesn't turn over the problem is most likely the CID. Usually, if a car clicks when you turn the key, it typically means it's the starter. If it was the crank sensor than it would not be as intermittent as your describing.

 

[Troywakeling]

Its not slow cranking over, I know its not the battery, and my starter is messed up and I need a new one but thats not causing this. Its either got to be the check valve in the fuel pump or the cam sensor, my bets on the fuel pump. It won't have any stored codes because I disconnected the battery back in April when I did the upper 60k, after that I only had 1 code which was for the EGR, I cleaned the nostrils and it went out and has never come back on.

 

[itwonder]

... my bets on the fuel pump.

Then check it out. Does it run for a second after you turn the ignition key to On and then stop? It should, that is pressurizing the system. 5 min after you turn the car off, do you still get a strong spurt of fuel from the schrader valve on the fuel rail?

 

[Troywakeling]

Then check it out. Does it run for a second after you turn the ignition key to On and then stop? It should, that is pressurizing the system. 5 min after you turn the car off, do you still get a strong spurt of fuel from the schrader valve on the fuel rail?

Yea it does turn on when I turn the key I can hear it, Ill check the valve on the fuel rail thanks!

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Camshaft sensor will throw a code, even if intermittent.

I had this same problem last winter. Initially it was intermittent. As the problem became more frequent, I noticed it started without problem as long as the temperature was above 40-ish. Below that, the car was difficult to start from a cold start. If it didn't fire on the first crank, it would take up to several minutes of repeated start attempts. Once started, it would start without problem until the engine got "cold-soaked" again.

As the problem progressed, it began happening at higher and higher temperatures. It ended-up being the coil ("weak" spark) - which couldn't ignite the cold air/fuel charge.

The problem was worst on very cold, or cold-damp mornings.