really really long starting problem.

ok you were forwarned that this is long.

this has only happened twice since ive owned the vehicle, bought in october with 30,000 miles, now has 43,000. its a 2002 LS with the 3.8. like I said its only happened twice, first time was about 2 or 3 weeks ago, and I blew it off thinking it was a one time deal, then this morning it happened. well before I go into what small things may or may not have anyhting to do with the problem, I should say what the problem is. everytime I get into my car, I turn the key to on, not starting the car, wait like 3 seconds until beeping is done then start the car. I do that so the fuel pump turns on and evrything is ok instead of just turning the key all at once to start the car. but a few weeks ago, I parked for the night on friday, woke up in the morning to move my car saturday and just moved it and the car ran for like 30 seconds, which I know is bad if its done all the time. but then I didnt go anywhere saturday or sunday, but then sunday night when I went to move my car back into the driveway, it cranked, half started and died. so I try again, didnt start, didnt start again, then half started and died, then i got it started and quick got on the gas to keep it from dying held it for a little while let off and it sorta suttered but stayed going, drove around for a few minutes to get the car actually running before I shut it off for the night. then same thing happened this morning. I chalked the first time up to just running it for 30 seconds if that, then shutting it off and leaving it there for two days. but then it happened again of course and im hoping its not going to be a problem, which I know it is. but now small things that probably dont have anything to do with anything, but then they might. I know a good share about cars but not everything. but each time this happened my car was parked SLIGHTLY downhill where the front was lower then the trunk. and it rained both times. and what im thinking is that perhaps some rain got into my exhaust and made it into the pipes and sat there. or im not sure where any sensors are that might affect starting that being at an angle would affect it. but i park in these places before and this never happens. either that or an idle control. really im not sure because once it starts it ran just fine. the damn thing just didnt want to start. and its only happened twice so far, but both recently, so im expecting it to keep happening, but I dont want to go the a dealership and pay dealership prices, or for them to not be able to duplicate the problem since its only happened twice. now I know there have been a few starting problems with the newer impalas but since mine is far and few between I didnt think it would nessesarily be one of those ecpecailly since I dont have any SES or check engine light. but any input would be appreciated. im so sick of trying to figure out whats wrong with cars that I would just like a direction to at least be pointed into.

words.

I highly doubt water getting into the exhaust pipes would do anything, would be quite hard to get rain to go far in and the muffler.

I can't really think of useful advice, maybe the engine gets flooded some by gas. Maybe you just have a starter or something electrical going bad. (Battery/Alternator/etc)

Those are just my guesses. Last car I had with a problem that happened far more often than once or twice had a Alternator going.

ok you were forwarned that this is long.

this has only happened twice since ive owned the vehicle, bought in october with 30,000 miles, now has 43,000. its a 2002 LS with the 3.8. like I said its only happened twice, first time was about 2 or 3 weeks ago, and I blew it off thinking it was a one time deal, then this morning it happened. well before I go into what small things may or may not have anyhting to do with the problem, I should say what the problem is. everytime I get into my car, I turn the key to on, not starting the car, wait like 3 seconds until beeping is done then start the car. I do that so the fuel pump turns on and evrything is ok instead of just turning the key all at once to start the car. but a few weeks ago, I parked for the night on friday, woke up in the morning to move my car saturday and just moved it and the car ran for like 30 seconds, which I know is bad if its done all the time. but then I didnt go anywhere saturday or sunday, but then sunday night when I went to move my car back into the driveway, it cranked, half started and died. so I try again, didnt start, didnt start again, then half started and died, then i got it started and quick got on the gas to keep it from dying held it for a little while let off and it sorta suttered but stayed going, drove around for a few minutes to get the car actually running before I shut it off for the night. then same thing happened this morning. I chalked the first time up to just running it for 30 seconds if that, then shutting it off and leaving it there for two days. but then it happened again of course and im hoping its not going to be a problem, which I know it is. but now small things that probably dont have anything to do with anything, but then they might. I know a good share about cars but not everything. but each time this happened my car was parked SLIGHTLY downhill where the front was lower then the trunk. and it rained both times. and what im thinking is that perhaps some rain got into my exhaust and made it into the pipes and sat there. or im not sure where any sensors are that might affect starting that being at an angle would affect it. but i park in these places before and this never happens. either that or an idle control. really im not sure because once it starts it ran just fine. the damn thing just didnt want to start. and its only happened twice so far, but both recently, so im expecting it to keep happening, but I dont want to go the a dealership and pay dealership prices, or for them to not be able to duplicate the problem since its only happened twice. now I know there have been a few starting problems with the newer impalas but since mine is far and few between I didnt think it would nessesarily be one of those ecpecailly since I dont have any SES or check engine light. but any input would be appreciated. im so sick of trying to figure out whats wrong with cars that I would just like a direction to at least be pointed into.
Change your plugs and make sure you gap them as recomended. also make sure your wires are seated properly. Also make sure your vacum tube in front above the t-stat is conected or has come loose.

My guess would be either you need a new catalytic conv. or your head ga$ket blew.

I think your problem is the oil pressure switch/relay. Since your fuel pump kicks on, but you are not starting the car; the pump signal from the ECM is tell the pump to shut down and not start due to no oil pressure. You need to crank the engine over before the pump's prime cycle is done otherwise the ECM will kill the pump due to no oil pressure. This is a safety feature built in to prevent fires during a accident. At least thats what I think.

i would say oil pressure.

The car will NOT start, or have a ahrd time starting with a bad oil pressure relay.

I highly doubt it is the alternater, because the car would run off of the battery, and the starter acually did start the car, so probably not that.

What does the car do after it warms up? Is is fine .....??? Anything that makes it better or worse???

mike

well its still has only happened those two times nothing since, so it might have just been a fluke, but no once the car starts it runs fine, no noises, no acceleration problems, no electrical problems, runs like the day I bought it. but I did do a little looking and found an older post from someone who had starting problems that changed most of the things suggested in this post, and they finally found there problem in the fuel pressure regulator, I just it went bad and fuel or vapors were leaking back into something and making it hard to start, but in the post they said after the replaced that it never happened again. so im thinking that it is does ever start to do it again enough for me to fix it, ill probably start with that.

well its still has only happened those two times nothing since, so it might have just been a fluke, but no once the car starts it runs fine, no noises, no acceleration problems, no electrical problems, runs like the day I bought it. but I did do a little looking and found an older post from someone who had starting problems that changed most of the things suggested in this post, and they finally found there problem in the fuel pressure regulator, I just it went bad and fuel or vapors were leaking back into something and making it hard to start, but in the post they said after the replaced that it never happened again. so im thinking that it is does ever start to do it again enough for me to fix it, ill probably start with that.


I had a recall notice for my fuel pressure regulator a few months back, you might want to ask the dealer about that.

Go to newimpala.com and ask the same Q. 3.4 imp showed me the way!

Hey, 3.4 imp drop me a PM. I can't PM you due to your preference's.