Hello there,
This may be another newbie question, but my 03 cav wont start.... almost starting, it gets to the point to where it wants to, then wont. Just keeps cranking and cranking and cranking and cranking. Sometimes, it starts to start, then dies immediately. About 4 months ago, had fuel pump replaced as well as the fuel relay.
Now, I noticed that when I turn the key to accessories, I don't hear the usual sounds I normally hear. I was told it was the injectors turning on, or something? Not sure about that, but it sounds like a humming sound like something electronic turning on. I DONT hear this when it wont start, I DO hear it when it does start, but it sounds different. Lots of clicking uner the hood.... Not sure what this is about.
I checked the valve under the hood on the fuel line and pushed it in, and no gas came out when the car DIDNT start.... after it started, I checked the valve and out came fuel.
The car EVENTUALLY starts after about 15-20 times of trying to start it.
Could I have air in my fuel line, or is this something electronic? I am totally confused. I have noticed that gas mileage has gone down in the last 6 months (even before the fuel pump was replaced).
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
Chris
The humming sound you hear for ~3 seconds when you first turn the key to the ON position is the fuel pump priming. It pumps for ~3 seconds and shuts off, unless you actually start the car. If you're not hearing the fuel pump prime... which is why you get no fuel pressure at the lines on the engine, which means no fuel out of the schrader valve that you're checking... then you have a fuel pump issue again. (Sorry to break it to you)
You won't hear the injectors clicking... unless you have super hearing. Those solenoids are tiny! Likely you're hearing the IAC motor on the throttle body moving around...
John-
Thanks for the detailed response. I appreciate it.
Back to the shop I go...
One more question. They replaced the relay and the pump--- is this likely an issue with the install, or could this be a separate issue entirely? Just wondering before I take it back and they try to give me a raft of sh!t about it.
Thanks again,
Chris
Do you tend to refill your tank at a quarter tank, or do you let it run down to empty before you fill up?
Well.... since I have had the car (about 3 years now) I always kept it at least half full.
Recently, (since I wanted to see what my gas mileage was) I waited two times until it was completely empty, then filled up.
Ok, well in the future don't do that
... because the fuel pump relies on there being fuel in the tank to keep cool. If you run it low, it will overheat and die. As you already know, the pump ain't cheap.
It's hard to say without seeing the car myself. It could be a poor connection at the back of the car, above the axle below the rear seat where the wiring connection goes through the floor pan. It could be a bad pump. It could be a worn out relay. It could be a bad connection at the fuse in the IP block.
If I was there... I'd try and make it fail in front of me.... ie. turn the key to on, and get no response from the pump. Then I'd see if there was voltage at the leads that go from the floor pan to the pump harness. If there's power there, then you know the problem is in the pump or at least on the tank end of things.
...j
Thanks- appreciate all the info!
Running it to empty two times could cause it to fail like that?
Crazy!
Well, not likely... but you never know.
