ltumacder

I started having problems when the weather out here in SanFran started getting cold, in 40's(F). When the engine has not been run in for at least 3 hours, the engine will crank over (of course by itself) for at least 10-15 secs before it fires up. Also, after starting the car cold if you step outside you smell gas fumes. If the car is warm then the car starts normally within 3 secs.

I have brought the car to my independent mechanic and he has changed the crankcase position sensor and sparksplugs and can't find any other computer error codes.

Could it be the 1. Air flow mass meter 2. faulty fuel pump 3. bad battery in key ( I notice the batter has been wearing out because i have to stand 1 foot from the car to open and close doors.

Please help me before I bring to dealer who will charge me without mercy..

abhatti55

my car is doing the same thing and i have replaced the same things as you plus the fuel filter...still the same problem. i think it is a weak fuel pump

fusion2007

im here in stl and its cold my car sometimes cranks over for about 2-4 secs before starting up sometimes.. its normal.. but if its really 15secs long.. take to the dealership before it ends up costing you a fortune

ltumacder

Yes I changed the fuel filter too. My indep. mech. measured the fuel pressure from the pump and said it was 30% lower than normal but it seems to run great after the car starts and he's not convinced his measurement is accurate.

Does anyone know if the Air Flow Mass Meter cause the cold start problem?

ltumacder

Abhatti55

Do you get the gas fumes too?

abhatti55

no just takes longer than usual to start, i am still leaning towards the fuel pump

trumpet1

I'm not much of a mechanic but that sounds like the most logical cause based on the description of the problem.

Gondon

Im in Cold Weather here, its like 30 degress outside.

only issue is when I start car up when leaving it overnight steering wheel is frozen for few min lol.

I need to jerk it left and right so it unfrezzes

winmaw

Buddy,
it sounds like you have water in your steering fluid. Frozen Water will damage your steering pump. It is cheaper to change the steering fluid now.

Gondon

Hmm I dont know , doesnt Service B change this Fluid.

I didnt have it today though and when I do its just for like 1 second..

mittalv

you said you had the crank"case" position sensor replaced

please be more specific - is it the crank"shaft" or "cam"shaft position sensor

the latter are known to fail and cause this issue

hope this helps - good luck

ltumacder

turned out to be a bad injector which was flooding the engine randomnly upon engine starts. dealer also replace both 02 sensors near injectors, said flooding damage them. cost $1800.00. Yikes!