Engine cranks but won't start
08-14-2010, 06:43 PM
#1
Engine cranks but won't start I've run into a bit of a problem with my fairly stock 2001 WS6. The only mods I have are a ported throttle body and an SLP lid. I had these on it for years prior to this problem arising. I drove it regularly when I was in high school, but moved across the country to California for college and left it home at my parents' house. A Ducati 1098 seemed much more useful for California given the traffic. While the car sat home on the east coast, I'd leave it up on a lift with a trickle charger and all fluids properly treated for long term storage. When I came home every Christmas and summer I would start it up and drive it around, and it never had a problem. Here's where the problem starts.
I came home for the summer a few days ago, filled the car with fluids, fired her up, and went for a drive. I decided to stop and grab some food, and when I came out and tried to start the car back up, it would crank and crank but not actually start. I tried starting it over and over, and it continued to simply crank and not start. I called my parents to try to come give me a jump, and as I was on the phone continuing to stubbornly try to start the car, it fired up as if nothing was wrong. Drove it home, pulled into the garage, and turned it off. Tried to start it immediately back up, and ran into the same problem...it cranks and cranks but doesn't start. After about ten minutes of turning the key, cranking it over for a few seconds, failing, removing the key, and repeating, the car started back up on a random attempt...fired up on the first crank of the attempt. For the past few days, anytime I want to use the car I have to go through ten minutes of trying before I get an attempt that works. Once it fires up, it runs perfectly. No hesitation or rough idle. No error messages on the dash. I have absolutely no idea what could be causing this, nor where to begin my troubleshooting. Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance guys.
Update: Got a fuel pressure gauge and did the following:
1. Used screwdriver to relieve pressure on fuel rail
2. Unscrewed gas cap to relieve pressure, then put gas cap back on
3. Connected gauge to fuel rail
4. Turned key to on position but did not crank
5. Checked fuel pressure gauge
This gave me a reading of exactly 50psi. Does this help narrow down what's causing my car to crank but not start?
I came home for the summer a few days ago, filled the car with fluids, fired her up, and went for a drive. I decided to stop and grab some food, and when I came out and tried to start the car back up, it would crank and crank but not actually start. I tried starting it over and over, and it continued to simply crank and not start. I called my parents to try to come give me a jump, and as I was on the phone continuing to stubbornly try to start the car, it fired up as if nothing was wrong. Drove it home, pulled into the garage, and turned it off. Tried to start it immediately back up, and ran into the same problem...it cranks and cranks but doesn't start. After about ten minutes of turning the key, cranking it over for a few seconds, failing, removing the key, and repeating, the car started back up on a random attempt...fired up on the first crank of the attempt. For the past few days, anytime I want to use the car I have to go through ten minutes of trying before I get an attempt that works. Once it fires up, it runs perfectly. No hesitation or rough idle. No error messages on the dash. I have absolutely no idea what could be causing this, nor where to begin my troubleshooting. Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance guys.
Update: Got a fuel pressure gauge and did the following:
1. Used screwdriver to relieve pressure on fuel rail
2. Unscrewed gas cap to relieve pressure, then put gas cap back on
3. Connected gauge to fuel rail
4. Turned key to on position but did not crank
5. Checked fuel pressure gauge
This gave me a reading of exactly 50psi. Does this help narrow down what's causing my car to crank but not start?
Last edited by cascadesys; 08-15-2010 at 02:45 PM.
08-15-2010, 02:11 AM
#3
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Ok so I tried again and after a while it started then I kept restarting it just fine.
What I'm going to guess is that my fuel filter is clogged up. I have a new one that I'm gonna put in within the next few days. I'll keep you updated.
Thanks for all the help guys!
What I'm going to guess is that my fuel filter is clogged up. I have a new one that I'm gonna put in within the next few days. I'll keep you updated.
Thanks for all the help guys!
08-15-2010, 02:45 PM
#4
Update: Got a fuel pressure gauge and did the following:
1. Used screwdriver to relieve pressure on fuel rail
2. Unscrewed gas cap to relieve pressure, then put gas cap back on
3. Connected gauge to fuel rail
4. Turned key to on position but did not crank
5. Checked fuel pressure gauge
This gave me a reading of exactly 50psi. Does this help narrow down what's causing my car to crank but not start?
1. Used screwdriver to relieve pressure on fuel rail
2. Unscrewed gas cap to relieve pressure, then put gas cap back on
3. Connected gauge to fuel rail
4. Turned key to on position but did not crank
5. Checked fuel pressure gauge
This gave me a reading of exactly 50psi. Does this help narrow down what's causing my car to crank but not start?
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10-17-2010, 01:28 PM
#10
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having the same issues... takes like 4 to 5 seconds to start up.even have to pause then try again before it starts up.. no drivability issued so idle problems... embarrassing when people look at the car and your sitting there waiting for the thing to start
