[UN4GTBL]

Today I experienced this for the second time in a week.

Background:

2007 Dodge Caliber SXT
1.8l 4 cylinder
5-speed manual
48,XXXkm
November 2006 build date

About -5*C outside or cooler

Last Thursday, when i came out of work, i got in my car and it felt like it didn't want to start. It took a while to finally turn over. I took it to my local dealer and told them about it. They took it in just before closing and looked it over and we decided that the battery, although not bad, wasn't the best for the winter ahead (which I was planning for considering that I drive 2.5km each way to work everyday) I had them put the battery in as I was already there, and they had done some test for me. The tech said that everything appeared fine, and there was not any draw even with the battery out of the car.

Friday the car started fine.

Car was fine all weekend, did 6+ hours of driving on the weekend in 4 ~45 minute trips and 2 1.5 hour trips.

Yesterday the car started fine.

Today I come out to my car, and the exact same thing happened as what happened last Thursday, where it seemed to crank for a while before it started. It did start though.


When my car is at home and its winter its in the garage plugged in. I have no place to plug it in at work.

Also, It was fine when I went to Montreal a little while ago and we had similar temps there, and it sat outside all night and started just fine in the morning.

I did a fuel system flush in October 2009, so that shouldn't be an issue. Is it this stupid computer again?

Anybody have any ideas as to what is causing this?

 

[08sunburst]

So, it will crank, but takes a while to start?

How long does it crank before it starts?


Every once and a while, mine will complain and bitch about starting. Ill crank it the normal amount of time, and it just sputters and doesnt turn over. There have been a few times where its taken 5-10 seconds to get it to start, but thats very very rare.

 

[UN4GTBL]

Yeah it cranks...just longer than it normally would. I dunno, it feels like forever though. maybe 5-10 seconds?

It starts up and idles fine.

 

[08sunburst]

Yeah it cranks...just longer than it normally would. I dunno, it feels like forever though. maybe 5-10 seconds?

It starts up and idles fine.

Yea, idk man. Mine does it on occasion too. Its very rare though, like once or twice a month, if that.

 

[UN4GTBL]

Yea, idk man. Mine does it on occasion too. Its very rare though, like once or twice a month, if that.

me neither. but its only done it twice to me. i mean its been hesitant to start before, but not like this.

 

[08sunburst]

me neither. but its only done it twice to me. i mean its been hesitant to start before, but not like this.

Yea, its kind of weird for a new-ish car to have that problem, wonder if anyone else has experienced the same thing..

 

[UN4GTBL]

might it be a fuel pump issue?

doing some research

 

[08sunburst]

might it be a fuel pump issue?

doing some research

I HIGHLY doubt that the fuel pump would be going bad.

Go out to your car, and turn the key to the on position without starting it, and listen for the fuel pump to prime. If it primes and sounds normal(if you know what a normal prime sounds like) chances are its not a fuel pump.

If you dont know what its supposed to sound like when it primes, i can run outside with the video camera

 

[UN4GTBL]

I HIGHLY doubt that the fuel pump would be going bad.

Go out to your car, and turn the key to the on position without starting it, and listen for the fuel pump to prime. If it primes and sounds normal(if you know what a normal prime sounds like) chances are its not a fuel pump.

If you dont know what its supposed to sound like when it primes, i can run outside with the video camera

Ok.

its been cold recently, so i haven't listened to it lol. try and do so tomorrow morning if i remember

 

[UN4GTBL]

Apparently the plugs should be changed at 30000 miles or 48000km.

Does that sound like a potential cause of this problem?

I think you had done up a how-to for swapping the plugs sunburst? Just gotta make sure they are all gapped correctly right?

 

[08sunburst]

Apparently the plugs should be changed at 30000 miles or 48000km.

Does that sound like a potential cause of this problem?

I think you had done up a how-to for swapping the plugs sunburst? Just gotta make sure they are all gapped correctly right?

yea, plugs are a 30k service. I dont think i wrote up a how to, but i can if you'd like tomorrow-ish when i get out of work

Yes, make sure they are all gapped properly, and use anti-seize on the threads so their easy to remove when you change them later down the road

plugs MIGHT help you out, not going to say it will fix it though

 

[UN4GTBL]

yea, plugs are a 30k service. I dont think i wrote up a how to, but i can if you'd like tomorrow-ish when i get out of work

Yes, make sure they are all gapped properly, and use anti-seize on the threads so their easy to remove when you change them later down the road

plugs MIGHT help you out, not going to say it will fix it though

there are at least 2 on the "z"

 

[08sunburst]

there are at least 2 on the "z"

oic

:rofl: :rofl:

 

[UN4GTBL]

oic

:rofl: :rofl:

theres always room for another...would be nice to have one here too if you have the time :bigthumb:

 

[08sunburst]

theres always room for another...would be nice to have one here too if you have the time :bigthumb:

definitely, ill see what i can do. If i have any extra anti-seize ill write one up, if not, then i probably wont :rofl:

 

[UN4GTBL]

definitely, ill see what i can do. If i have any extra anti-seize ill write one up, if not, then i probably wont :rofl:

makes sense. at least show me what this anti-seize stuff is and how to gap them lol

 

[08sunburst]

makes sense. at least show me what this anti-seize stuff is and how to gap them lol

Can do. Its pretty easy as long as you have basic mechanical knowledge.

If i do a how to, ill just make a video. Pictures help, video is better

 

[UN4GTBL]

Can do. Its pretty easy as long as you have basic mechanical knowledge.

If i do a how to, ill just make a video. Pictures help, video is better

ooh, yes +1 on the video

 

[UN4GTBL]

I HIGHLY doubt that the fuel pump would be going bad.

Go out to your car, and turn the key to the on position without starting it, and listen for the fuel pump to prime. If it primes and sounds normal(if you know what a normal prime sounds like) chances are its not a fuel pump.

If you dont know what its supposed to sound like when it primes, i can run outside with the video camera

listened this morning, everything sounds normal.

 

[08sunburst]

listened this morning, everything sounds normal.

yea, i doubt its a fuel pump. Its always possible, but unlikely