Calling DU mechanics

[billyskank]

Please let me pick your brains if I will. My car is misbehaving slightly:

If it's cold, it starts okay.
If it's hot, it starts okay.
But if it's just been driven for a couple of minutes, and hasn't warmed up yet, often it won't start. Say, I have just driven a mile to the gas station to fill up, like this morning. After I'd paid for the petrol it simply didn't wanna go - I had a lot of bother getting it started again.

Obviously I'm not going to fix this myself - the garage will - I am just curious as to what things might be wrong to cause this symptom.

Just for the info, it's a basic 16V MPI petrol engine, four years old, 55K miles on the clock.

Cheers!

[Rosemary2205]

1. My old honda did that twice

it needed fuel filters the first time. 2nd time I was thinking fuel filters again but it was during a really rainy period and somehow the engine was getting wet. The fixit guy told me stop driving through puddles. :)

Just my measley 2 cents.

[billyskank]

2. Thanks

It doesn't only do it when it is wet. :)

[REP]

3. Does It Crank?

Could be the starter or the relay.

[billyskank]

4. Yeah, it turns over okay

Nothing wrong with the starter. It just doesn't ignite. It's as if it's flooded.

[REP]

5. Plugs Clean and Wires Good?

[REP]

6. O2 Sensor Can Also Cause Problems With Fuel Mix

Taking my summer cold to bed - in my experience with this type of problem, it's usually an easy enough thing to fix, especially if your car can have codes pulled from it. Good luck!

[billyskank]

8. It had a new lambda sensor less than a year ago

That much I do know.

[billyskank]

7. Good question

To be honest, I don't know. I take in for servicing according to the maintenance schedule, and apart from that I don't bother about it. It's probably something basic like that. :)

[mikeytherat]

9. My first suspicion would be leaking fuel injectors

Try this. The next time you run the car for a few minutes and it won't start, hold the gas pedal to the floor and try to start the car. If it starts up, you probably have leaking fuel injectors. What happens is small dirt particles on the tips of the injectors don't allow them to close fully so, after you stop the car, they leak a little bit and create a "rich" condition (too much fuel) when you go to start the car. Holding the gas pedal to the floor closes off the injectors' start-up spray, and will allow the car to start.

If this is your problem, the great news is it's most likely a cheap, easy fix. The next time you fill up (all the way), drop two cans of Chevron Techron into the tank and run it through. Once you have run through that tank of petrol, CHANGE THE OIL and fill the car back up with petrol only (the Techron will get dilute your oil a bit, so you MUST change the oil after you have done this). You should only need to do this every 60,000 miles or so.

mikey_the_rat

[billyskank]

10. You mean floor the gas pedal and then turn the key?

And thanks. :hi:

[mikeytherat]

11. Yep. Hold the accelerator to the floor and turn the key.

It should start right up, idle a bit rough for a few seconds, and then it should be fine.

mikey_the_rat