Car struggling to start....ideas?
 

So the car (a 2005 STi Blob that I have run fault free for two years) was playing up as the battery neared the end of it's life a few months ago.

New high quality battery and all appeared well. But now it is really struggling to start in the mornings, sounds like it is struggling to catch\fire when the ignition is turned. Once the engine has started it runs beautifully, and if warm everything is fine. But when cold the following morning it struggles, and she continues to struggle at first attempt no matter how far she was driven the day before.

It can't be the battery again can it, given it was fault free and no battery drain for the previous two years?

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**** Most recent update at post number 36 ****

In summary:

-Not battery but changed that
-Not crank sensor but cleaned that
-Doesn't appear to be the fuel system but did clean that with Redex
-Cambelt changed plus full service and there has been some improvement
-Best results are when ignition is turned and left for 10 seconds as fuel pump primes itself

-Perhaps improvement is thanks to a mixture of all of the above?!

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be worth seeing what the voltage is on the battery on a cold start, just so you can rule it out

You may have been drain free for 2 years, but a drain could have developed. Do you have a multimeter which reads amps?

what fuel are you using? Tesco, shell, 95, 97 98, 99 etc

Could be crank sensor on way out? Sure I read somewhere that it can cause this when its on its way out. Could be wrong tho..

Vpower and only Vpower

Yes I do, will try to give that a go tonight.

Interesting, could be worth looking at....is this easy to change / for me to change?

Hi, the crank sensor is top of the engine next to the alternator. They have a tendency to seize in place so ,unless your really lucky , be prepared for a bit of a battle. Access is limited so take off or swing the alternator out the way and use loads of good penetrating oil ,preferably a few days before you intend to have a go. I had to destroy mine ,and I do mean destroy . Make sure you have a. Replacement to hand before starting the job .

Coolant sensor?

Wade your way through this lot?https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...rt-issues.html

JohnD

Nice one

mine splutters to start from cold on v power at the moment. havnt filled up with Tesco 99 in a while and don't use the car much atall but im sure its better with Tesco 99 ron.
will try out a tank and report back.

Managed to get to the sensor without moving the alternator, but only cos I have skinny arms and fingers!! It came free with only damage to my knuckles. Cleaned the sensor, will monitor the car for the next few days and update the thread.

Not the crank sensor. Took this out, good clean etc, car still struggles to start.

Next thing will be to try the wedging the throttle open trick. Will report back.

Cam belt up to date I assume?

I had a classic that did the same and it was idle control valve.
It had seized exactly so it was ok once started and warm but wouldn't start unless throttle was applied.
Drove fine.

Not due for 10-15k miles but have booked it in at ExtremeScoobies for one in a fortnight.

How would the cambelt affect it struggling to start?

General update:

Cleaned a few bits, no difference, spoke to Paul at Extreme, he thinks it is unlikely to the be the cam belt (but I'm gonna change it anyway).

However, keeping a stick on the throttle when the car is left over night is allowing her to start perfectly.

Going to start turning the ignition on and off and handful of times before I start her next time to see if it is fuel pressure / fuel pump. Hope it's not the pump, that's a pretty new Walbro.

ive switched to Tesco 99 from v power and the cold starts are better now. it doesn't struggle into life.

Ok, update nr 2:

-Not battery, appears to be no drain
-Removed and cleaned crank sensor, made little to no difference
-Given the fuel system/engine a clean with Redex, no difference to how she starts
-Spoke to specialist, doesn't think it will be the belts

However:
-Does start fine if I wedge the throttle open over night with a stick
-Does start fine if I turn the ignition on and off three or four times before start

This weekend she will be having a thorough service, at which point I can give more feedback.............

-Since speaking I specialists she had a full service and cambelt change, made little to no difference

have you tried a different brand and octane of fuel yet?

[QUOTE=romford-boy;11515294]Not the crank sensor. Took this out, good clean etc, car still struggles to start.

Mine went when the car was a few years old cleaning wont help mine was like new its a magnetic trigger I am sure there is a check that you can do across the terminals ,any how swapped mine out, no more issues. Try and borrow one and see how you go.

The fuel has absolutely nothing to do with it mate your clearly not a very good troll

Im not trolling. Fuel manufacturers are constantly changing the content of their fuels. Fuel content between retailers is also very different. Different detergents different addatives different ethanol content etc. Some of these are widley reported to have an effect on cold start performance. e.g Ethanol absorbs water in the cold and this sinks to the bottom of the tank...The fuels have changed but your ecu map has not....It was just an idea for you.....good luck.

I have always used VPower (or whatever Shell call it nowadays). Have tried Redex and Octane boosters. Didn't have a chance to try the car on Tesco Momentum, but I'm getting through a tank of VPower a week so at the least I know it won't be a single bad batch of VPower.

Car is now at ExtremeScoobies so we will see what Paul finds.

My car did it on V-Power and Momentum.
Paul will try the crank and cam position sensors amongst other things.
Did you tell him about the stick trick? Think I might patent the idea and start making adjustable length sticks for sale!:norty:

JohnD

Yes, although in our house it's the "umbrella" trick :thumb:

[QUOTE=romford-boy;11528428]I have always used VPower (or whatever Shell call it nowadays). Have tried Redex and Octane boosters. Didn't have a chance to try the car on Tesco Momentum, but I'm getting through a tank of VPower a week so at the least I know it won't be a single bad batch of VPower.

Car is now at ExtremeScoobies so we will see what Paul finds.[/QUOTE]

What did Paul find?

JohnD

[QUOTE=JohnD;11533272]He hasn't! It has started perfectly for him every time and he can't find any problem, lol.

Nonetheless it has been serviced, new cambelt too, so will pick her up shortly and see whether it is only doing it for me! :wonder:

If you turn the ignition on and leave it on for 10-15 secs then go to start does it still do the same thing?

I tried that (when you've got the problem, you try everything!) It was to make sure the fuel rail was fully pressurized.

JohnD