starting the car

99gsAllday · Jun 2, 2011

okay so my car always starts up. but lately it jusrt like skips. it doesnt wanna start like one in a whilen idk what it is. idk it seens like the clutch isnt engaging in the motor? its really weird n then after abourt 10 min of trying it starts up?? any help :pray:

LiquidX · Jun 2, 2011

The clutch has nothing to do with starting up other than the ECU seeing the clutch switch is pressed. Any CELs and how's the battery voltage? Test the alternator?

99gsAllday · Jun 2, 2011

the battery seems strong n soo does the alenator. but ima test them

EvilTSi_97 · Jun 3, 2011

99gsAllday said:
the battery seems strong n soo does the alenator. but ima test them

Any chance the starter could be taking a dump on ya? :hmm:

Anubis_4_99 · Jun 3, 2011

cels? when my coolant temp sensor went bad i was having some pretty hard starts. does the car run well when it does start?

Teyrnon · Jun 3, 2011

CEL = Check Engine Light... And thats where I would start... if you elimate any cause of a light, you will be much closer to solving ANY starting/running issues your car may have!

96rsSTBRWD · Jun 3, 2011

I'm having a similar problem lately. I was about to make the transition to my spyder to DD for the summer, but lately my 96 420a has been giving me starting issues. The starter does engage and turn the engine, and the fuel pump does work properly, but the car will just turn over for a few minutes and will eventually start and run after a while.

Things replaced in the last 6 months:

1. I had a faulty thermostat housing, and replaced it with a used one (shout-out to miller import parts the only vendor that had a replacement) and like an idiot i used the coolant temp sensor that was already attached to the used one. Faulty radiator cap replaced. Thermostat replaced. New radiator.

2. I replaced my fuel filter two weeks ago thinking it was a gasoline delivery issue.

3. New spark plugs and wires, coil pack tested fine.

4. Battery and alternator test out fine.

After the car does start it runs perfectly, and no CEL's to report. Even after turning the key off and on repetedly.

Trying to track this down but its driving me insane. Replacing the temp sensors on the housing tomorrow but I'm not sure that this could be the problem or not.

Any Ideas???

Anubis_4_99 · Jun 4, 2011

i would have to crank for 2 minutes or more before mine would start when my coolant temp sensor was bad. after its been replaced starts in about 5 seconds :thumb:

i would definitely start there.

96rsSTBRWD said:
I'm having a similar problem lately. I was about to make the transition to my spyder to DD for the summer, but lately my 96 420a has been giving me starting issues. The starter does engage and turn the engine, and the fuel pump does work properly, but the car will just turn over for a few minutes and will eventually start and run after a while.

Things replaced in the last 6 months:

1. I had a faulty thermostat housing, and replaced it with a used one (shout-out to miller import parts the only vendor that had a replacement) and like an idiot i used the coolant temp sensor that was already attached to the used one. Faulty radiator cap replaced. Thermostat replaced. New radiator.

2. I replaced my fuel filter two weeks ago thinking it was a gasoline delivery issue.

3. New spark plugs and wires, coil pack tested fine.

4. Battery and alternator test out fine.

After the car does start it runs perfectly, and no CEL's to report. Even after turning the key off and on repetedly.

Trying to track this down but its driving me insane. Replacing the temp sensors on the housing tomorrow but I'm not sure that this could be the problem or not.

Any Ideas???

LiquidX · Jun 4, 2011

99gs (original poster), have you had any luck?

96rsSTBRWD · Jun 5, 2011

I replaced the Temp sensor on the RS today. It worked! It did have a little bit of hesitation at first, but it started the first try, let it idle for a while then, restarted it and now its insantaneous. I also Drove it around all day just to be sure. Works great. Thanks Anubis_4_99!

Anubis_4_99 · Jun 5, 2011

glad to help, let us know if you have any other problems, im sure someone will fix you right up. :thumb:

96rsSTBRWD · Jun 6, 2011

Well, just went out to start it again. Just turns, no start. FML. I know my fuel system is okay, i can smell gas after trying to start it for a while.

Im going to investigate for any loose wires/sensors, check the timing, and cleanup the battery terminals again.

Oye Vay...

99gsAllday · Jun 6, 2011

okay so yeah there isnt any cel lights on at all. And i think the starter is just taking a dump. lately it starts when it wants n when it doesnt start i have to push start it ahahaha. idk its weird i think its just dieing. it starts right up when i push start it

96rsSTBRWD · Jun 6, 2011

99gsAllday said:
okay so yeah there isnt any cel lights on at all. And i think the starter is just taking a dump. lately it starts when it wants n when it doesnt start i have to push start it ahahaha. idk its weird i think its just dieing. it starts right up when i push start it

There really isnt a CEL for a starter so that is definitely the culprit.

On my problem, my car was still not willing to start this morning. Took forever as usual, but when it finally did start. A CEL came up that read: P0118 (I think) engine temperature input too high. I thought the sensor i just replaced had already was defective. So I was going to erase the code, but before i could try, the CEL went off after restarting the car once again. :confused:

Now it starts perfectly again...

Could it possibly be that the new sensor just needed to be broken in for a while or could it be that i still have something else wrong? Anybody else have a similar experience after changing their coolant temp sensor?

99gsAllday · Jun 7, 2011

well mine turned out to be that the battery drained n shocked the altenator n i got a new battery. but found out later about the altenator so yeah. im screwed and also my motor temp gauge thing broke. so i just took it off. but yeah i dont know it could be your sensor.

well i got the car fixed, turns out the belt came off the altenator and broke. So that all got fixed.

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