Thread: Starting Issue

Do you mean it cranks slower or just takes more cranking?

Since there was a comment about exhaust, I have heard that a less restrictive exhaust can cause an engine to crank just a little more than with a normal one. Basically meaning a little restriction helps it to start quicker. I don't know if it's true or not.

have you tried hooking up jumper cables to your battery? if it cranks faster and fires right up, your battery's on its way out.

When I went to look at used Grand Prix's, 3/4 of them cranked longer than they should. Years were 05, 04, and 05. Then when I went to look at the one that I did end up buying (02), it started up real quick. It had just been tuned up a few thousand miles before, and the mass air flow sensor had been replaced. I feel that longer cranking can be caused by the mass air flow sensor. Of course like the above replies, fuel pressure is a possibility as well. Try keeping the key in the on position for a few seconds before cranking and see if the fuel pump running longer before starting makes a difference. That could indicate the one way valve being bad. So many possibilities. Here's a video on how my 3.8 starts in two different conditions.

If it takes longer than my longest when cold, but when your engine is warm, I'd be wondering too. Miles? Tuneup done?

Does it idle smooth once the high idle goes away? My friends car cranked less after cleaning his throttle body, and idled smoother. It was extremely dirty, and at only 67,000 miles. There are many things that can cause longer than usual cranking. Nobody can really say for sure without doing some diagnostics. That first crank on the video was the longest it ever was, I should have also mentioned that the battery had been out for a few hours, and I had just put a new one in right before starting it up.

A tuneup by 100k is necessary(Plugs, wires, air filter), checking the TB for carbon buildup, Cleaning MAF Sensor, Checking for vacuum leaks if you answered no to the idle question^, Checking the state of the battery(State of charge, and life of the battery expressed in CCA, auto parts stores can check this for free) If cranking is slow and battery is good, a voltage drop test can be done, Fuel injector cleaner, checking fuel pressure(also replacing fuel filter), compression testing, etc. The list could go on. I pretty much put it in order.