Hard starting question: Hold key for 15+ seconds before car starts.

t0p_sh0tta · 10-05-2009, 04:45 PM

Hey everybody. The car is a 99 (made late 98). Regardless of temp, previous drive conditions (time, length, etc.) the starter doesn't engage as soon as the key is turned. It can take up to a minute for the car to start, and sometimes it doesn't start at all.

I've checked all of the grounds and they're normal for a 10yo car. The battery is <6mo old. The positive batt terminal corrodes from time to time and if I clean it off, it starts right up. However, there are times when it doesn't start right up, even when it's clean as a whistle.

My best guess is that it's either the starter, or the ignition switch. Any insight?

Leo_Koneval · 10-05-2009, 05:46 PM

I am not sure if my understanding of starting problems is complete but from what I have learned if you can start the car without any metal scraping noises, without it slowing down all of a sudden then speeding back up, and you have never had a issue where you turn the key to START and hear absolutely nothing no ticking, clicking and so on.

Then it is mostly likely a sensor.

If your starter makes metal scraping noises, slows down all of sudden, and sometimes just clicks when your battery is fine, then it most likely the starter and if all of this happens regardless of temperature then changing the starter is your best bet. IF you are having metal scraping and it happens only when you are cold starting the car or when its cold then the grease in your starter could be dried out and you just need to regrease the starter to get it back up.

And for the ignition switch I am kind of confused as to what are the symptoms of it dieing but from what I experienced it seems like if you turn the key and hear nothing at all no clicking no nothing, and/or are having odd electrical problems like A/C not turning on while car is on, or if the stereo won't turn on but the car is running then it might be the switch.

Hope it helps

I have a thread on a starting problem as well, i am not sure if its the same but it might help if you need it.

EDIT: I have read that your key could also cause the problem like the ECU or whatever doesn't recognize the key and won't let the car start, but I have a 97 so I have no idea on this subject.

96WhiteMaxima · 10-05-2009, 05:48 PM

The starter would be my bet, mine has no problem starting on cold mornings, but after its warm, it takes 5+ seconds to start, and it slips, so I get this "DJ slowing down the music" sound and it takes 5+ secs to start. It stalled out on me twice today in the middle of an intersection.

wxm · 10-05-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t0p_sh0tta

Hey everybody. The car is a 99 (made late 98). Regardless of temp, previous drive conditions (time, length, etc.) the starter doesn't engage as soon as the key is turned. It can take up to a minute for the car to start, and sometimes it doesn't start at all.

I've checked all of the grounds and they're normal for a 10yo car. The battery is <6mo old. The positive batt terminal corrodes from time to time and if I clean it off, it starts right up. However, there are times when it doesn't start right up, even when it's clean as a whistle.

My best guess is that it's either the starter, or the ignition switch. Any insight?

I know you checked the ground so did I. But I had been experienced the similar problem - hesitate to start when the car sit for long time (never an issue when restart thereafter). I took the ground cable and its bracket out the last Sunday, and completely cleaned off the rust on the terminals and the bracket contact area. Guess what, the car starts fires right off now. Even better my radio panel light had also come back

. (knock on the wood - I probably should wait for a couple of days...). It might not be your problem, but definitely can't hurt, especially so many people on this board had reported good result after better grounding...

BTW, the ground cable locates right underneath the coolant bypass hose in front of the engine. You might need some an extension and long wrench to access it. Not easy place to reach, but definitely do-able.

DBear · 10-06-2009, 02:06 PM

If the dash lights all go on but the starter doesn't engage at all (until it actually starts), look at my posts 13 and 18: starting problem with 96 max

Mistertones · 10-06-2009, 03:02 PM

I have like a 5-6 second start in the morning. But after that it starts within 2-3

*maxgtr2000* · 10-06-2009, 07:29 PM

Fuel pump might be going out or fuel pressure regulator.

lbrowne · 10-07-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxgtr2000

Fuel pump might be going out or fuel pressure regulator.

My car had the same issue, especially if it had been sitting for several hours. Sometimes it caught it and would die right away, (feathering the gas would keep it going) and I would have to restart it - which means the FPR (fuel pressure regulator) was toast.

I replaced it this past weekend, (*&$#%&* bottom bolt!!) and now the problem is gone.

t0p_sh0tta · 10-08-2009, 08:47 AM

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm pretty sure it's not the fuel pump. It primes just fine when the key is turned, the car just doesn't turn over immediately. I'll pull the igniton switch when I get back home and see if that can shed some light on the issue. I'm in Seattle at the moment, but I'll put up a video when I get back home.

*Phaedrus220* · 10-09-2009, 01:58 PM

if it's the original starter from late 98, it's the likely culprit. Just replaced mine at 195k / 10+ years. ~$100-120, and a half hour, maybe the easiest repair of all. In my case, the symptoms began and grew worse quickly - longer and longer time cranking the starter, the 'dj slowing the music' effect, then intermittent 'nothing' - it went out over 2-3 weeks.