Today when I tried starting my max she wouldn't start, the whole car felt like it was shaking. I tried a few times throughout the day and finally got it to start just a bit ago after about 20seconds.. there was a TON of fumes coming out which led me to believe it was vapor lock. I asked my dad about it who told me the max has always had trouble with vapor locking when turned on/off quickly. Last time I started her up was yesterday, only for 30seconds just to put her in the garage which makes me further believe that turning on/off quickly created the problem. What can be done to prevent this outside of just not turning my car on/off quickly, and will injector fluid help this at all?

 

Vapor lock = car wont run = blown motor

I dont you think you have vapor lock. Tune up ??

-matt

 

I may be mistaken but vapor lock was something that really happened to cars with carbuerators (sp.)
I had something similar to my Maxima where after not catching the first time, when the second time, it sounded like I had an almost dead battery and it took about 20 seconds of cranking (with gas pedal down) b4 the car caught. Lots of smoke and gas fumes. Drove the car, and all is okay now. Mine had sat for three days in the "cold" down here in Raleigh.

 

Vapor lock happens when the fuel gets too hot and starts to boil. It's not that common of a problem anymore because fuel pressure is higher and thus the boiling point is higher. The way our fuel systems are set up, there is about no chance that it is vapor lock, especially in the winter time. Cranking the engine will send gas into the cylinder and when/if the car fires, that gas will burn up and go out the tailpipe.

 

Vapor lock doesn't happen on fuel injected engines.