Question for mechanics...van starting issue...

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I seem to be full of lots of questions lately.

My van just passed a safety inspection....so either this is new or simply not a safety issue.

When I start my van---sometimes it doesn't start. It does try to turn over...and I have a quiet idle, so it is tough to tell if the van actually came on. It seems that lately, it might take 2 to 3 tries to start it as turns out not to be on. One time it took 5 tries and on the fifth try, I pumped the accelerator to get some gas going and then it "took" and the engine stayed on.

I only have 10,000 miles of warranty left on my extended
warranty. So i'd like to have an idea of what it might be in case it is covered.

Any ideas?

 

[golfgal]

Not a mechanic but from previous experience I would say you either have a carburetor problem or a fuel injection problem. A van with only 10,000 miles shouldn't have ANY problems starting. I would get it in asap.

 

[SondraC]

Not a mechanic but from previous experience I would say you either have a carburetor problem or a fuel injection problem. A van with only 10,000 miles shouldn't have ANY problems starting. I would get it in asap.

I think she said their is 10,000 left on the warranty not the van itself.

OP I had a similar sounding problem, and it turned out to be the battery.

 

[doxdogy]

I think she said their is 10,000 left on the warranty not the van itself.

OP I had a similar sounding problem, and it turned out to be the battery.

I would definitely check the battery first if it is not the battery, then it could be the alternator or the starter. If you get it started and take it to a car repair shop (I think Pep Boys can do it), they hook a battery tester up to it and check if it is the battery.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Golf gal: the van has 90,000 miles. Extended warranty is about to run out. But boy did I get my money's worth.

Hmmm...okay. I doesn't feel like a battery issue. But I can have that checked.
It seems more like a gas issue. Not sure how I can explain that. I just didn't want to go back to the dealership again.

 

[DrCavin]

Sounds fuel system related, could be as simple as changing fuel filter or as expensive as replacing fuel pump.

 

[usnuzuloose]

You can always take it to a regular mechanic to have them diagnose the problem and then go back to the dealer so they fix the exact problem. If it is your altenator it will eventually drain your battery. It could be the starter. I've found that having my own mechanic is so much better than the warranty. At least they know it inside out. I hope you get it fixed soon.

 

[tvguy]

I agree with checking the battery first. Is it the original? Batteries do have a habit of saying goodbye before they die, and with all the electronics in cars now, low voltage can trigger some odd things.
On my MIL's Plymouth Voyager mini-van, the rear wiper would go on when you started it when the battery was about to go.

Second check would be the fuel filter. When was it changed last? Most automakers say to change it every 30,000 miles, so it's due now if you have been faithful to the service schedule, and way overdue if you have not been.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree with checking the battery first. Is it the original? Batteries do have a habit of saying goodbye before they die, and with all the electronics in cars now, low voltage can trigger some odd things.
On my MIL's Plymouth Voyager mini-van, the rear wiper would go on when you started it when the battery was about to go.

Second check would be the fuel filter. When was it changed last? Most automakers say to change it every 30,000 miles, so it's due now if you have been faithful to the service schedule, and way overdue if you have not been.

Not sure on the fuel filter. I am either on my second or third battery. I don't recall if it was replaced a third time. The second battery was installed in Jan 2006. Van wasn't titled even a year yet, but we were the 2nd owners and had it for three months. Come to think of it...I am on the third. The battery was as dead as a doornail and they replaced it. Then the second one died a week later before the saturn folks figured out it was a faulty alternator. So I think I have had this battery since then.

I will head to Sears tomorrow to see if the local one can do the quick check in a drive through sort of set up. The one in Melbourne has that. Very convenient. Though now that makes me believ I am on my 4th. I can't recall if I went to Sears for this van or the last one.

My Saturn Relay--oh how you annoy me.

 

[tvguy]

Not sure on the fuel filter. I am either on my second or third battery. I don't recall if it was replaced a third time. The second battery was installed in Jan 2006. Van wasn't titled even a year yet, but we were the 2nd owners and had it for three months. Come to think of it...I am on the third. The battery was as dead as a doornail and they replaced it. Then the second one died a week later before the saturn folks figured out it was a faulty alternator. So I think I have had this battery since then.

I will head to Sears tomorrow to see if the local one can do the quick check in a drive through sort of set up. The one in Melbourne has that. Very convenient. Though now that makes me believ I am on my 4th. I can't recall if I went to Sears for this van or the last one.

My Saturn Relay--oh how you annoy me.

Well, if your battery is 4 1/2 years old, you really do need to get that checked. Anything beyond 3 years on a car battery an you're living on borrowed time.
A lot of fleets just get in the habit of of replacing them on a scheduled basis rather than waiting for them to die. We replace them every 2 years where I work. $60 for a battery even though it may have a year or two of life left in it is a small price compared to a $150 tow bill when it dies at 11:30 pm in the middle of nowhere. And then you have to spend that $60 for the new battery too.

 

[crewmatt]

Questions to help diagnose:

1) Does the starter turn quickly or does it sound like its lagging. If the starter sounds fine (the whir whir that you hear is quick and peppy, not drawn out, you don't hear any clicking). If it sounds laggy I'd check the battery first, if the battery is fine you could look into your alternator or starter.

2) If the actual starting sounds fine but it just refuses to catch there are a few things to check:
a. Fuel Injectors/Filter - these might need cleaning/replacement of the fuel filter. It is a fairly common thing to have to do every 40-50k. I had it done on my car and it seemed much happier for it. You could also try a bottle of the fuel system cleaner - seeing as you have a van I'd wait until you have about half a tank of gas left then pour it in. This will also remove any water that may have accumulated in the gas tank. Water sinks to the bottom of the tank over a long period of time and will then be drawn into the engine first. getting large amounts of water (enough to cause problems) in the tank is pretty rare unless you live in a humid area with large temperature swings.

b. Spark Plugs - need a spark to ignite the fuel obviously. When the engine's hot you need less of a spark. Does the car hesitate when you step on the gas? Or does it rev right up and go.

c. Idle Air Solenoid - I doubt this because you said it idles smoothly. When this is going it doesnt idle well at all.

d. Gaskets - 4rd thing you need for an engine to start (all engine problems break down to 1 of 4 categories - fuel, spark, air, and compression). Have you overheated your van ever? If the gasket doesnt form a tight seal you wont get the compression to start it. In general you'll have a less transparent exhaust if this is the case. Other things to look for in this case would be antifreeze in your oil and visa versa. Also burning oil smells.

I'm assuming you don't have serivce engine light on, so I dont think its electrical or a bad sensor/emissions control system.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

LEt's see.. 1). I don't notice a lag. In fact I think it has started...but then figure out quickly that it hasn't. 2b). It revs up and goes 2d) it has never overheated and there are no indications on temp
guage or oil smells that indicate that it might.

No check engine lights. I have a check ABS/traction sensor triggering...but that has been faulty since 2007. Numerous sensor resets and did have the wiring for that replaced. Did fine for a year but now is failing again. But my brakes are working properly. Aside from that, nothing else.

I guess I will call the dealership and ask. But we had an appt three weeks ago, first thing in the morning and it didn't even get evaluates until the next day.

 

[sparklynails23]

I'm voting battery.

 

[tvguy]

Has anyone here ever had to replace fuel injectors? I put 140,000 miles on a Mercury over 18 years, and have 135,000 miles on my 23 year old Chevy and never did a thing to the fuel injectors. I thought they were life of the car parts.
We run our fleet at work 250,000 miles and never had one fail there either.

 

[golfgal]

Has anyone here ever had to replace fuel injectors? I put 140,000 miles on a Mercury over 18 years, and have 135,000 miles on my 23 year old Chevy and never did a thing to the fuel injectors. I thought they were life of the car parts.
We run our fleet at work 250,000 miles and never had one fail there either.

We had a Chevy Blazer for a while and we had to replace one-had about 70,000 miles on it.

 

[bettymae1121]

Has anyone here ever had to replace fuel injectors? I put 140,000 miles on a Mercury over 18 years, and have 135,000 miles on my 23 year old Chevy and never did a thing to the fuel injectors. I thought they were life of the car parts.
We run our fleet at work 250,000 miles and never had one fail there either.

I had to replace mine on my Saturn SL2 at around 90,000 miles (I think it was around then). $1000 for all four injectors, it's the only big $$$ repair I've made to my Saturn, everything else has been nickle and dime stuff.

 

[crazymama]

This is a very timely topic! I am having the exact same problem with my 2008 Sedona. Very slow to start. I have it booked for service on Wednesday as this is the soonest I can get it there because of work. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that we make it till then. Every time I go to start it I feel like i am playing the game 'Start or No Start!' I hope it is something warranty covered!!!