Lately(the past couple of days) my car is hesitating to start. I have no ECU codes, and I'm not sure what the problem could be. I'm guessing I need new spark plugs because I haven't changed them since I got my car (a year ago) and I don't know when the previous owner did it last. Any suggestions?

 

Hesitating to start?

Does it crank with no start?

Does it hesitate to crank?

Does it crank longer then it should to start?

Does it crank slowly? (Battery getting tired)


Define the hesitation a bit better and we can help you out more.


Things that don't throw CEL codes and give you hard starts are:

Both crank sensors (REF & POS) or the Cam Shaft sensor may have weak signals.

Dirty throttle body - www.motorvate.ca

Or it's tune up time, what plugs are in there?

 

Another very often missed but VERY common problem is the ground lead for the MAF. Check out other posts for instructions or email me and I'll tell you how I did mine. It's easy, takes less than 15 minutes and corrects some performance and mpg issues too!

 

My car started to exhibit this "hard starts" recently. It RARELY does it.. like once in about 50 starts?
Now, the hard starts of my max is this: it cranks longer then it should.. the plugs are new and I think the battery is fine too. What do you think can be causing this?

 

Does it start better if you depress the gas pedal just a little bit?
If so you likely have the Mass Air Flow sensor problem I mentioned before. If not, take your camshaft position sensor off and clean it.

Also, sticky injectors cause this and I just remembered one time the only thing I could do to get rid of this problem was put a pint of MArvel mystery oil in the gas tank... preferably with less that half a tank.. and kick it open a bunch on the hiway....