Car wont start sometimes?

[v-mac]

this is a weird dsm i swear. the car randomly a few weeks ago wouldnt crank, it turned over normal but just didnt crank and then next turn it started right up no porblem so i wrote it off, but just two days ago it started doing it frequently and sometimes it would do it sometimes it wouldnt. The car is not throwing a code and ive been told it could be one of three things. most likely the engine coolant temp sensor, or an injector is either clogged or leaking gas, or my ecu is going bad. like i said ive been told it probably the temp sensor but just seeing if theirs anyone out their who knows a bit about this problem if you've had it. the car runs perfect, but it seems sometimes it wont crank and it usually does when i give it gas. any suggestions?

 

[garrek11]

Idk why a coolant temp sensor would make your car not start but ok....and if you had a clogged injector the car would still start. either your fuel pump is going bad or you can have a little gas leak to were it wont build enough pressure. or even check your positve and ground connections (voltage drop tes). try to check for those.

 

[habitatguy187]

Could most definitely be your CTS (coolant temp sensor) If it's not reading anything or reading really low then your ecu will add too much fuel at start up, causing it to flood. Do you have a logger?

 

[v-mac]

no i dont have a logger, my friend works for mitsu for the past twenty years and thats what he is telling me...he said he vary rarely sees any inkectors leaking or ecu's going bad so my best bet was the temp sensor but i dont know how to check it or what i can do to figure out what it is since i have no code to go by. and im supposed to be leavin for the ebach on saturday

 

[Blurred Talon]

CTS.
Maybe check your battery terminals too.

 

[v-mac]

how woyuld my battery terminals cause that to happen? and its making me mad i sat at walmart an hour ago for about en minutes before it finally started. but i think one of my battery terminals is lose actually i noticed that the other day i can wiggle it with my bare hand without loosining im not very good with cars so idk how that would play into it not cranking like it is, oh yea andhwne i got back tonight i cut the car off and crunk it up three times ina row, it just doesnt make sense

 

[Blurred Talon]

A bad connection or bad ground can do lots of funky things, trust me.

If you can take your cable off by hand, I'd replace it. Clean the terminals too.

I had a similar problem, replaced the CTS and it's fine now.

 

[v-mac]

i just dont understand why my CEL has not come on. im pretty sure its the CTS bc i have been reading over some threads and the symptoms are right on the money it seems..but myCEL hasnt come on

 

[habitatguy187]

You need to log it while you're cranking the car to see what temperature it's showing your ecu. That or just replace it for $20 and see if it fixes it.

 

[v-mac]

well i replaced both my CTS and my Terminal on the battery, and the car is running perfect now, didnt have a bad start up all day and car actually drove better as it seemed to be sputtering somewhat before...thanks for the help!!