Hi,
I've looked through the FAQs and can't find anything so a little help please?????

I've got a crank, slow start. I thought that my starter was going bad, getting a screeching sound after long start that I hadn't noticed before. But, the reason I'm hearing this is that it's taking me 10-15 seconds of starter engagement to get started, rather than the 2-3 seconds before. I guess if the engine would start, the starter motor would not have to run so long and i wouldn't hear the screech???

I'm not getting any codes. Any suggestions?

 

So if I understand correctly, the engine is cranking and cranking and cranking for 10-15 seconds before finally catching?

Could be a dirty TB or IACV... or even a flaky ECTS (engine coolant temp sensor).

(It could also be low fuel pressure)...

 

OK, thanks. Is there a "layman's method" to check fuel pressure and ects? Or, should I just clean the tb and iac and start replacing parts w/ the fuel pump and ects?

Thanks,

 

The only way to check the fuel pressure is by adding a guage inline after the fuel filter. Our fuel rails don't have a port (schraeder) that allow a direct hookup to measure fuel rail pressure.

The ECTS is cheap - 20 bucks or so and take 10 mins to pop in - so it may not hurt to try that, but do the TB/IACV cleaning first.

 

Great, thanks for the great advice. It'll give me something to do on a Saturday morning. I'll try the tb and iac clean (haven't done either in about 50K highway miles).

Again, Thanks!!!

 

By the way, what's the fuel pressure supposed to be?

 

I don't remember off the top of my head... but 30-40psi rings a bell...

 

im sure theres a post or 2 on it in the nitrous forums...

 

There are a lot of hard starting problems with our cars and for different reasons. Can you describe the hard starting more? You say you crank for 10-15 sec (not good if done continuously, btw)... does the starter crank continously during this period or are there stutters. Is it worse with anything like the car being cold or warm? Does pressing the throttle pedal gently improve things? Has the car been properly maintained? ie. fuel filter, ngk spark plugs, tb clean, air filter, etc?

 

Figured it out tonight. I bought a starter (as I thought that was the original fault) and didn't put it on this morning. Used the seafoam through the vacuum hose and smoked up the whole neighborhood!!! Drove 250 miles today, started slow all day, stopped at an O'reilly's Auto parts this evening, 30 miles from home, to see if they had an ECTS and bam, no start, solenoid clicking, hot as heck. Roadside assistance brought me home, I took out the starter at 11 tonight w/ a worklight and will put in the new one tomorrow.

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

34 PSI at idle. 43 PSI at zero vacuum/WOT.