Here's the dealio...

Happened for the first time about a month ago, 2nd time about 2 weeks ago, 3rd time last night.

The car will crank, crank, crank, crank. Try to turn over, but won't.

It's nothing to do with the alternator, and the battery- of course, isn't dead. This isn't a click, click, click... it tries to start. On some tries it will ALMOST start, then go back to cranking.

This is also not a warm start. The first time it sat for about 1.5 hours during dinner. Last time it sat for about 20-30min. (She's always had a somewhat hard warm-start like so many others report after shutting the car off and 2min later trying to start it).

All 3 times this has happened has been around 9-11pm. During the day I can stop and start it 10 times and it won't act badly or anything.

Last night was the worst. The other times I try about 3 or 4 times and it'll finally start up. Last night took about 45min and 10 tries. Finally unhooked the battery when someone brought me a wrench, hooked it back up and it started.

Cycling the key normally helps on warm starts and such, but in these cases it makes NO differences. Neither does lightly holding the gas or pumping it while trying to start.

Someone was saying it could be a fuel issue?

ProCharged
UTEC
RC 750cc inj
Walbro 255
SGP Racing return fuel system

Please help! I don't want to become stranded somewhere!

Thanks!

 

Well, first you need to figure out if the "at night only" is just coincidence or the cause of it. If it is the cause, then it would have to be something crossed up with your automatic lights. Do you have an aftermarket alarm? Do you have any kind of aftermarket electronics?


If so, i would look there first.

It really would suck to be stranded somewhere so you should really try to figure it out. Good luck!

 

I agree. Only reason I'm mentioned it being at night is because I normally only drive it on the weekends.

On all three occasions what I was doing with the car was different.
1st: I hadn't driven it all day, started in the garage just fine (7pm), went out to a meet, then took 2 or 3 times for it start (10pm).

2nd: It started fine in the garage about 5pm, stopped and started it about 3 other times with no issue. After dinner it was about 11pm, no start. Cranked it about 4 to 5 times, finally started.

3rd: Had been driving it all day. Stopped and started probably 10 times. It started once, ran for about 5 seconds, and died. Started it again, and it stayed running just fine the rest of the day. Went to another car meet and stopped the car around 8pm. Started it again just fine around 9pm. And tried to start it again to leave around 10pm... no start. Tried cranking it 8-10 times with nothing. Disconnected the battery for 1 min, plugged her back in and it started.

Could it have something to do with the air temp being cooler at night?

No aftermarket alarm. Only aftermarket electronics are the UTEC, Defi Boost, Fuel, and AEM wideband with the Defi gauge controller thingy (to record and playback gauges).

Nothing in the last year has been changed on the car, or messed with. Including the tune or anything.

 

Funny how there's three active threads right now listing similar issues and all three involve UTEC.

Hmmmm...

 

not sure if mine is utec related, since we tried starting the car w/ just the oem ecu and the utec unplugged

 

Our Acer laptop does that no joke! Did it this morning in fact. Took 5 times just so it could start up fine. No viruses etc...

My guess would be your EMS...something's wrong. Can you get it back to your tuner for a checkup? Have them check all the wiring and make sure nothing's loose or about to come loose.

It may be a bi$$$h to do all the inspection work but it'll be worth it in the end if you can catch the problem early before it progresses

 

Try pushing the gas pedal down on your car every time you start it. I bet this will take care of the issue for you.

 

Jeremy, as stated in original post, "Cycling the key normally helps on warm starts and such, but in these cases it makes NO differences. Neither does lightly holding the gas or pumping it while trying to start."

JZurita, I've had the UTEC since about '06. It's seen every extreme weather conditon, never had this issue.

I cannot make it back to my tuner, and am in the process of switching. Next time I can try to unplug the UTEC to see if it'll start. Don't know if unplugging the battery and it starting was coincidence or not.

Any other ideas... keep 'em comin! I know this is going to happen again and will be prepared to set the car on fire

 

unplug the utec will not help because you have 750cc injector
take it to your tuner I face the same problem I have haltech I adjust the
cracking inj time and everything is fine now it only happened to me when
its cold out side

 

night might have to do with the fact you are using your lights.. i would double check the battery and grounds.. check the battery cables.. i had an issue with starting for a while turned out to be a loose battery cable.. also check your lights to make sure your lights arn't blown.. these cars are very tempermental.. something small can seem so large..

what about codes? check your crank or camshaft POS sensors too.. i've had so many stupid simple battery/ground issues.. i keep a volt meter in my car