mlanepa44 Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 My car recently sat for a while and when i went back to start it. I had an unbalanced start. What i mean by that is the car did not start smooth and ran like only a couple of the cylinders were firing. Then of course the check engine light came on. I replaced the spark plugs and wires hoping that the problem resided in them. Then I let the car sit for a couple of days and went to start it and again the same thing happened. I let it run for a couple of minutes and the car smoothed out but the check engine light came on again. I drove it to a friends house about 15 miles away and then cleared the check engine light again. I then drove it home a few hours later with no problems. I am guessing that it is an ignition problem but I don't know where to start. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!! Does anyone know a good mechanic in the Salt Lake City area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 My car recently sat for a while and when i went back to start it. I had an unbalanced start. What i mean by that is the car did not start smooth and ran like only a couple of the cylinders were firing. Then of course the check engine light came on. I replaced the spark plugs and wires hoping that the problem resided in them. Then I let the car sit for a couple of days and went to start it and again the same thing happened. I let it run for a couple of minutes and the car smoothed out but the check engine light came on again. I drove it to a friends house about 15 miles away and then cleared the check engine light again. I then drove it home a few hours later with no problems. I am guessing that it is an ignition problem but I don't know where to start. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!! Does anyone know a good mechanic in the Salt Lake City area? Maybe it's just losing its fuel pressure really quiclky or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 You need to pull the codes. I agree it sounds like a fuel problem as opposed to a ignition issue. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlanepa44 Posted October 1, 2005 Author Share Posted October 1, 2005 You need to pull the codes. I agree it sounds like a fuel problem as opposed to a ignition issue. nipper Should I go to the dealership or find an independent mechanic for this. I guess I could also buy my own code reader if it is worth it. Thanks for your input. I am also starting to think it is a fuel issue the more i research this problem. I am now starting to think it is the fuel pump or filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted October 1, 2005 Share Posted October 1, 2005 Try this next time. Turn the car to on, do not start it. Wait a few seconds (give the fuel pump a chance to pressureize the fuel system). The start the car and see if there is a differnce. A bad fuel pump of filter would usually show up on acceleration or high speed driving. Sometiems a part store will pull the codes for free. I have seen code readers cheap on ebay. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted October 1, 2005 Share Posted October 1, 2005 This problem may be due to a leaky injector. Fuel may be leaking into the intake and the mixture will be rich until the excess is burned off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlanepa44 Posted October 2, 2005 Author Share Posted October 2, 2005 now that I have not let my car sit for more than one day, the problem has not occured again. The symptoms I am hoping will occur again after I let it sit for the next couple of days. This way I can get the check engine light to come on again and get the code read. I found the all "Auto Zone" parts stores will read codes for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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