It's been garaged for about the last 7 months and my mother starts it every 2 weeks (I know that's not enough but I couldn't be here to do it myself). Anyways, she says it started just fine 2 weeks ago.

I got in the car last night and all it does is turn--but it won't turn over. It's got a brand new battery and alternator so the charging system is fine. So I went and got a bottle of starting fluid and that BARELY starts it. It takes a long time for it to work. The start is VERY rough, but once it starts, it's fine! I don't think it's the fuel pump b/c when I turn the key to "on", I can hear the little buzz coming from back there. Any ideas? She put 87 octane in it a while ago and I'm wondering if that has fouled something out. Once I finally got it running, I went and put the usual 93 octane in it that I always do and like I said, it runs just fine--WHEN IT STARTS. Guys, I'd really appreciate your help on this, I'm only home for so long before I have to leave again. Thank you for all replies.

 

You were at Casey? So you were 2ID? I just got back from Stanley in August. From the sound of it, sounds like you're taking midtour leave, so enjoy it!

Does your car start any easier after it's been running for awhile, or does this happen regardless?

 

Were you Aviation Brigade? Yea, I was there--IT SUCKED! I'm done with Korea now, I'm headed off to Alabama.

After it's been running awhile, it starts a little easier. But I bet if I go out there right now it won't. I pulled the PCM BATT and PCM IGN fuses to reset the comp, maybe that will help. Anyone else?

 

Have you double checked your battery connections? I don't think it would be fouled out either. Have someone check the battery voltage and alternator. Like AutoZone or something. Just to be *sure*. Then you can rule out those 2. Even if they are new, things can happen. How does the voltage gauge do going down the road?

Good think to check the fuel pump. Here is another way. Turn the key to the ON position once, then turn it off. Repeat that 3 times for a total of 4x.

Then try to start it. That procedure can point at a bad/going bad fuel pump.

Good luck!

 

I'll try that. I just went out and tried to turn it over and it wouldn't. The voltage is perfect going down the road. When it tries to crank, it cranks fast. I just don't get it. More to follow..

 

I tried turning the key on and off 4 times then starting.. Didn't work. The engine light is on now as well so I guess I'll go see what that's about. I wonder if the fuel filter's clogged. This sucks.

 

My Haynes mentions the fuel filter as a probability, but it sounds like more than that. My crazy 99 did something insane that I will mention. It was very hard to start and when it did start, it started fast. It ran kinda crappy though. The code was a P0342. It was the camshaft position sensor-low circuit. It would start fine sometimes, w/ no light, and then hardly start w/ a light.

I have an Actron scan tool, and I kept clearing the code. But every other start or so, it would come back, until I fixed it. It was slightly unplugged. It was behind the intake. Not saying that is your problem, but that happened to me. I don't know what you could have done, or maybe it could have went bad.

Just find out what the code is if possible, and let us know!!!

 

Ok, I went to Autozone and got the codes. They are 0200, 0443, 0449, and 0803. I looked them up on their catalog and they were all basically MAF, EVAP, and fuel injector codes. Half of them I attribute to starting the car with the air breather and linkage off in order to dump the ether into the throttle body. I don't think they are true codes. I dumped another bottle of fuel system cleaner into the tank and sprayed the throttle body down with cleaner. If it doesn't start tomorrow I'm gonna change the fuel filter and if that doesn't work, I guess the dealership (as much as I hate to do it).

 

just to be safe, you might want to look those codes up on your own. I had a check engine light on my previous lt1, and autozone scanned it and gave me the codes. their explanation of codes was different then what someone told me on the forum, and sure enough it ended up being what someone here told me. Luckily i learned easily by coincidence. Not positive that ALL autozone codes are not true, but i had a bad experience with their description of what the numbers mean, even though the code #'s were correct. Good Luck!

 

Appreciate it. I had the same frame of mind so I actually did double check them. I'm gonna cross my fingers and hope for a bad fuel filter.

 

I think I may have found the culprit..

I did some more searching around and found someone having the same problem. Turned out to be a bad ignition relay. I switched it with one of my fan relays and so far 3 out of 3 starts. Even started cold!! I hope this is it..

Thanks for the help from everyone though. I really appreciate it considering I only have 30 days with my vehicle before I have to leave it again.

Mark