UH OH! Problem with starting the engine!

[mike6789]

Most of the time when i try to start the engine, it either fails, or BARELY starts, idles at a wayyy low RPM and vibrates violently with a quick whine at start up...

so what i do is turn off the car and wait a few mins, go again, its a rough start, but then it smooths out and its normal again, but the exhaust smells bad for a few seconds...

anyone know what the problem is and how to fix?

thanks!

[cam2Xrunner]

Sounds like you are not getting spark to one or more of the plugs. That would explain why you are smelling the unburned gas in the exhaust.

Could be a fouled plug, a loose or bad spark plug wire, or something more tricky.

First thing I would do is make sure the plug wires are on tight.

[Hajoca]

After that see if you have broken wires and spark plugs. I am assuming from the vibration you describe, it is a 4 cyl.

Go to dim area, like garage with door 1/2 closed in the day or at night in the open.
Take spray bottle (like for windex) and fill with water, run engine with hood open, spray mist and check for sparks.

There should not be any. Spray along spark plug wires.

Next is to check the plugs themselves. When were the plugs last changed?

Then get a helper to crank the engine with all spark plug boots removed from the cylinder head, and place them on the valve cover or exhaust heat shield. Ask the helper to crank the engine and there should be alot of sparking. If not is it #1&4 or #2&3?
My wife's protege did that and it was a bad coil pack.

[mike6789]

ah ok thanks, ill check the plugs tomorrow!

[mike6789]

erm... weird double o.O