multiple cranks required to start

Topic: multiple cranks required to start (Read 1503 times) previous topic - next topic

multiple cranks required to start

February 26, 2012, 10:33:19 PM

So I have a few questions about some little things with my car. Nothing big, but if anyone who knows more than I do has input, fire away.

First up: Starting. It used to be that the car would fire up after only a second or two of cranking the starter. I mean always. It started so easy.

But then the car sat for 3 years and was only started a couple times a year. Now when the car is cold I almost always have to crank 3 separate times before it takes off. After it warms up it will sometimes start with one crank but usually it takes 2. The weird thing is it seems to have more to do with the number of times I crank than it does with the length of time. Maybe I am crazy but it seems to start better with 3 short periods of cranking than it does with 1 long one.

Anything I might be able to do to get the thing to start a little easier?

multiple cranks required to start

Reply #1 – February 27, 2012, 12:24:57 AM

Since it's been sitting for 3 years maybe your battery is going?

multiple cranks required to start

Reply #2 – February 27, 2012, 06:11:03 AM

I'd say you've probably got a leaking fuel injector or a bad check valve in the fuel pump. The fuel system is losing its prime. In essence it's like running out of gas every time the car is shut off, and you need to refill (or repressurize) the fuel lines. Each time you turn the key on the fuel system primes itself, so the multiple tries would build up the prime quicker than one extended crank.

multiple cranks required to start

Reply #3 – February 27, 2012, 06:20:20 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;382127

I'd say you've probably got a leaking fuel injector or a bad check valve in the fuel pump. The fuel system is losing its prime. In essence it's like running out of gas every time the car is shut off, and you need to refill (or repressurize) the fuel lines. Each time you turn the key on the fuel system primes itself, so the multiple tries would build up the prime quicker than one extended crank.

That would be my thoughts as well. Fuels turn Varnish and cam play havoc on check valves and fuel system parts. I would install a pressure gauge and monitor the fuel pressure to see if it looses prime pressure. Thanks

multiple cranks required to start

Reply #4 – February 27, 2012, 07:20:19 PM

Try to cycle the key a few times before starting, and see if it cranks a long time then. If it starts normally, it will be fuel bleed down for sure.

multiple cranks required to start

Reply #5 – February 27, 2012, 09:39:35 PM

Quote from: chrome;382185

try to cycle the key a few times before starting, and see if it cranks a long time then. If it starts normally, it will be fuel bleed down for sure.

multiple cranks required to start

Reply #6 – February 29, 2012, 09:39:03 PM

This explanation makes sense to me and seems to fit with the symptoms, but I did try turning the key off and on several times before starting today and it didn't seem to take off any quicker.