weird starting problem

704 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by ag6286, Jan 6, 2006

wormhole

Discussion Starter · Jan 5, 2006

My car has sat for the past few days due to the fact that i'm visiting my parents. Any how i went out to start my car tonight and it wouldn't start all the lights turn on so my battery fine. It sounded like it wasn't getting fuel or something I had to press the gas pedal a couple of times to get it started and it ran like crap for a little bit and then it was back to normal. Any idea on what may have caused this?

98 4 cyl, auto, with 177,xxx miles

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nodrogkam

· #2 · Jan 5, 2006

not sure what might have caused it since my 98 started right up after being parked outside in the pouring rain for 10 days.

if its not happening anymore, dont think too much about it. It could have been your fuel pumps/throttle was a tad sticky after sitting around. But as long as it started, and ran fine eventually you shouldnt worry much about it.

And if its time for an oil change, go get one asap.

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Mike Gerber

· #3 · Jan 5, 2006

Don't consider the battery good just because all the lights work. It takes a lot more power to start the car (crank over the engine ) then it does to run the lights. Test the battery with a DVM. You should have over 12 volts with the engine off. Then start the engine and test again with the engine running. If the alternator is working properly you should see around 14-1/4 to 14-1/2 volts. If you don't have access to a DVM, and you got the car started, take it over to a place like Autozone. They will check the battery and charging system for free.

That said, you really don't describe the symptoms. Did the car turn over (crank) strongly or was it noticeably weaker than normal? Any other information you can give?

Mike

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wormhole

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 6, 2006

Mike Gerber said:
Don't consider the battery good just because all the lights work. It takes a lot more power to start the car (crank over the engine ) then it does to run the lights. Test the battery with a DVM. You should have over 12 volts with the engine off. Then start the engine and test again with the engine running. If the alternator is working properly you should see around 14-1/4 to 14-1/2 volts. If you don't have access to a DVM, and you got the car started, take it over to a place like Autozone. They will check the battery and charging system for free.

That said, you really don't describe the symptoms. Did the car turn over (crank) strongly or was it noticeably weaker than normal? Any other information you can give?

Mike

Ya, I jumped the gun with the battery only because it didn't seem like a battery problem. The car would crank (sounded a little crappie) and i had to pump the pedal to get it started (which it didn't seem to like to much cause it sounded a little weak but after a bit it was fine, just smelled bad after that). It ran fine today on a 300 mile road trip and a few days prior to this it started fine.

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ag6286

· #5 · Jan 6, 2006

most likely cause: condensation in the tank and existing gas in the feul lines from possibly cold weather; battery is not a probable cause since it turned over fine

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