Strange Starting Problem

[Walrus]

'98 Accent

This only seems to happen randomly. Sometimes once a week.... once every few weeks... or every few days. There doesn't seem to be any particular relationship between the times and places it's happening. When I try to start the car, it won't start. The starter cranks just fine but the engine won't start. I can try a few times and nothing and I've held it on for about 30 seconds - don't see any need of going any longer at that point, especially since it's a new starter and I don't want to kill it. I've found that once this happens, if I wait 10-15 mnutes and try again it works fine. Yesterday I waited 45 minutes and it still wouldn't start up, so I got pissed off and held the starter on and started pumping the accelerator and about 20 seconds in it fired up.

I do get a CEL after it won't start the first time, but it turns itself off before I can get it anywhere to get a reading - it's probably just telling me what I all ready know: the car didn't start on the first attempt. After the car finally does start up after this I can smell gas. Other then this the car works excellent.

Anyone have any ideas where I could start looking? Seems like if it was a problem with the fuel system it should be happening all the time? This car is costing me enough money, and rebuilding the transmission about sealed the deal. If I didn't think it would lead to this piece of **** being towed I would just say **** it and live with it... but I'm thinking this is probably only a warning sign of something starting to die so I better fix it now.

thanks.

[wilburisthecoolest]

New fuel filter, and that CEL might be stored in the ecm.

And just for the hell of it, get them injectors cleaned.

And check your fuel presssure in your fuel line.


You can do all of this with the proper tools... save ya some money.

[Walrus]

Fuel filter was replaced only a few months ago... so we can rule that one out

I had bought a code reader a while back when this first started happening, the CEL had turned off at that point and it was reading "No Codes Found". I waited a while and it didn't happen again so I took the code tool back

[wilburisthecoolest]

Hmmm... well crap.


OK! Pull a plug out and ground the side where the threads are and see if you get spark!

Cause yeah... no spark=no go.

[Jed118]

Try disconnecting the wire that goes to the coilpack and then simply plugging it back in. Sometimes corrosion forms there. Else, do what wilbur said, check to see if there's spark.

[Walrus]

ok thanks guys. Looks like I'll have to wait until it happens again to troubleshoot

[Walrus]

hmm as far as checking for a spark... I'll have to do that while I'm cranking

[Jed118]

You'll need a buddy to crank while you hold a screwdriver (with the driver end into the spark boot) close to the rocker cover. When doing this, stand clear of any metal parts, including your legs to the fender. Many times I have gotten a good shock through my legs... an MSD blast at 40,000 volts 7 times is never fun!

[Komptek]

40K volt that would explain a bit. LOL

[tibbydrvr]

If you have any crappy e-bay special "chips" connected to your ATS or Coolant sensor, that can also cause a problem....and before you ask.....the answer is "yes" i have tried them. My wife thought she was doing me a favor since I'm always trying to get more power. She bought me some crappy thing that you hook up. My car ended up running worse than ever and it would never start until the third or fourth try. (she finally bought me the sharkracing CPU, which wasn't much better) try waiting for a few seconds with the key on before you try starting it, if it won't start on the first try, shut the key off and turn it back on and wait a few secs. and turn it over again. if it starts that way, you need an injector cleaning or a new pump