08 sport cranks but doesnt start

[ms0072]

Picked up an 08 sport model with 39,000 miles on it the other day.

Having a strange intermittent problem that Im hoping someone can help me with.


So far I have started the car about 30 times.
Out of those 30 times there were 5 or 6 instances where I turn the key and the motor cranks but doesnt start. I tried it again and it did the same thing , cranked for a while but didnt start. 4 times it took two or three tries and then it started. Twice it took at least 6 or 7 tries before it finally started. After a short drive I stopped for coffee, came out and it started right up with no issue.

All the rest of the time it started perfectly normally within a second or two of trying.
This makes no sense to me
-- the battery seems strong and charged
-- It cranks at normal speed , not slow but it doesnt catch, seems like it couldnt be the started because its cranking fine.

What am I missing ?
I tried searching but I am getting mostly battery/starter problems that dont seem the same as my issue.

Any Ideas ? I need to fix this before Im stranded somewhere unable to start it.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[eternalsoil]

Sounds stupid but my guess is battery.
It's about time for a new one if you have the original probably. If you go that route, dealership is your friend. Ours was $118 if I install it (in parking lot) and 84mo warranty.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[ms0072]

Doesnt make sense that it would be the battery.

It cranks strongly and after trying a few times it does eventually start ( at least so far).

 

[Ralphman]

I dont think it is a battery issue from the sounds of it, and more of a miscommunication between computers and sensors or possibly a loose ground/broken wire. A quick way to test your battery without a carbon pile is with a DMM, if you have a helping hand just put your leads on the terminals while someone is cranking, if your solo and you DMM has a min/max feature just get your leads to stay on the terminals get it set on the minimum voltage setting crank and read the voltage then determine if your battery any good. When i have ran my battery down jamming out with the engine off ive only had the typical solenoid click never crank no start. I would also check the efi relay and make sure its completely plugged in which it most likely is.

 

[Morphyne]

Bad chip reader in the steering column? Our keys are chipped and won't start with a copy. I have a copy for opening doors and such. A d it does the same thing yours does. Cranks but won't start. But I would have the batery t3sted first.

 

[ms0072]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

If it was the chip why would it be intermittent ?
It works most of the time no problem but then it just doesnt work for a few tries and then it just starts working again.

Im going to test the battery just to rule it out but I still dont see how it could be that.
Anyone heard of any similar issues where it turned out to be fuel related ? Its almost like its cranking but not getting any fuel to start. Is there a relay or anything that might be loose or on its way out that controls whether any fuel is sent ?

 

[Ralphman]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

If it was the chip why would it be intermittent ?
It works most of the time no problem but then it just doesnt work for a few tries and then it just starts working again.

Im going to test the battery just to rule it out but I still dont see how it could be that.
Anyone heard of any similar issues where it turned out to be fuel related ? Its almost like its cranking but not getting any fuel to start. Is there a relay or anything that might be loose or on its way out that controls whether any fuel is sent ?

The blue relay i have my finger on, its the EFI relay, you pull it and it will crank no start.

 

[ms0072]

Cool thanks for the info , Ill check to see if its in solid. Ever heard of that relay going bad causing intermittent issues ?

 

[Ralphman]

Relays don't usually fail as often as other electrical components, most of the time if a relay fails it's because of a problem farther down the line. Not saying that they cant randomly fail, but they are easy to test via DMM or good ole swapnostics probably have better luck with swapnostics if it is an internment issue. Also check the engine wiring harnes for any damage, rodents loves runners almost as much as we do. If nothing is found i would pull a Jeremy Clarkson and start with the Technical taps

 

[blkrnnr]

Something very similar happened to my '07 v6 sport (~90K miles) this morning.
Stopped by Costco to get gas with engine barely warmed up.
After fill up, crank but no start.
I turn the key and release it as engine tries to start. It stopped cranking by itself as it did not catch. I tried three more times. It turns over as normal as far as I can tell.
Finally I played with shifter, tried again and then it started. Probably a red herring.

My battery is the original panasonic it came with but similar to your situation, it cranked five times without dying.

What did it end up being in your case?

Thanks

 

[akcc]

If you still have the Panasonic battery. Most likely it is getting tired and doesn't hold enough amps to start the car.

If not, then it could be your fusible links or your starter is tired (but judging from what you said that it cranks strong. I doubt it)

And then last but not least, maybe your throttle body is super dirty and needs a clean up to get it unstuck.

 

[blkrnnr]

Thanks, I will keep these in mind. I will also keep an eye on the engine immobilizer icon by the ac controls.