Truck Only Starts When Cold after having Work Done

[stephiep]

Hi all,

I had a cooling system problem and had to have my Radiator replaced as the plastic bit on the top was leaking. At the same time, I also had an oil change and my Power Steering Fluid flushed and replaced as I had accidentally filled it with water (Yes, I know Im completely ignorant, but it was dark... )

When I picked the truck up, and after paying $700.00, the manager informed me that the car had trouble starting after the work had been finished, but left overnight, it started perfectly. Despite me almost accusing him of not putting something back right or damaging something, he insisted it was the starter motor going out, but this problem has never happened before, it has ALWAYS started first time regardless of how hot/cold the engine was.

Today I got the same thing. This morning it started perfectly, after that (ie after the engine had warmed up) it took at least 10 key turns. After that, it would not start at all. Left for a couple of hours, it started on the second attempt. I have trouble believing it is the starter motor, as it starts perfectly if left for a while - then again, i did fill the power steering fluid with water...

Please can someone help. It has a full tank of Gas, and the repairs were done at Midas?

Many Thanks,
Stephanie...

Kia Sportage - 1996 2.0L 5-Speed Manual - 93000 miles. The 2WD I think!

[Wild1]

First, I would be very cautious about Midas. Unless you know the mechanic personally, I have yet to hear one good report from them... many complaints.

Let me ask a few questions to get a better understanding of the situation. When it doesn't start:
1) Does it crank and crank, but doesn't seem to "catch", or
2) It doesn't crank and the battery seems like it is dead... nothing happens.

The reason is that there are different scenarios for both conditions.

There were 3 repairs:
1) Radiator - Was the plastic bit the radiator cap? If your cooling system was overheating, some damage could have occured. Heat warps metal, expecially aluminum.
2) Power Steering Pump - would not affect start up except that if the pump was "jammed" then it would hold back the crank... but would also make a very louds screeching sound.
3) Oil Change - I wouldn't trust the filter that Midas would use. But in any event, it shouldn't affect start-up. I would recommend checking the dipstick to make sure they put enough oil in it... that could cause a problem.

Do you have any lights on the dash (Check Engine?).

The fuel injectors on the Sportage are very sophisticated Bosch 4-hole injectors with an air-injection element surrounding the injector. It is possible that the mechanic disconnected that air line on accident... that would cause a start up issue.

So here's the plan:
1) Check the dipstick to make sure that the oil is at the correct level. The car should be on a flat surface and the engine off when you check the dipstick.
2) If you can unplug the battery for 10 minutes, it will reset the computer... it may help.
3) Depending on where you live, there is a "Winterized" gas... especially in some northern states. Try fueling up at a different gas station. It wouldn't hurt to grab some fuel injector cleaner if you haven't done it in a while.

Good luck.

[stephiep]

Hi Wild1,

Thanks so much for the info, you really must know these trucks inside and out! Thanks also for the tip on Midas, I never imagined such a large chain of mechanics to have a questionable reputation, which is why we took it there. I'll try and answer your questions:

1) Does it crank and crank, but doesn't seem to "catch"

Firstly it sounds as though its starting normally, the high speed "Chug, Chug" then that noise stops and all I hear is a kinding of "Whurring" noise. Try it again and same thing Chug chug... whuuurrrrrrrrr!! It just sounds like its not catching something. I have had issues with other vehicles where the engine tries and tries to start until the chugging gets slower and slower until the battery is drained, but this is not the case this time. I have gently tapped the starter with a metal post, which did resolve the problems on my other car, but this didnt help.

3 repairs:

The leakage was actually coming out of the top of the radiator. The plastic bit I was referring too was the long top cover bit, maybe 1-2 feet long. Water was hissing out there at the front, which is why the mechanic told me the hole couldnt be welded. No noticeable screeching sound on startup, just that whirring noise. The oil level is good.

Do you have any lights on the dash (Check Engine?).

Before the work was done, we did have the ABS and the Hand Brake signs lighting up. This started to blink as the vehicle slowed down, and evetually the two signs were constantly lit during transit. Now however, all lights show on startup, but the ABS and Hand Brake lights never light up anymore. No other Warning lights come on either.

I will get my husband to disconnect the battery and try that. We live in Texas, its about mid 80s already!

Thanks so much for your time and help, if anything obvious alerts you from my reply, please let me know, but don't go through any trouble!

Thanks again,
Stephanie...

[Wild1]

In Texas, you shouldn't need to worry about Winterized fuel... so I could cross that off the list.

However, the sound of the starter motor slipping sounds very unique. Throughout my experience, I have never heard of this one. Perhaps you can ask your husband to make sure that the bolts on the starter motor are tight. Perhaps they are backing out and not engaging the starter motor to the flywheel (hence the chug, chug, whurrr).

Two things puzzle me about this. None of your repairs involve the starter motor or anything in that area. It is suspiciously coincidental to have it fail while in the shop. Secondly, the starter motor would not have any affect on temperature.

Something that is possible which could have a factor is the negative ground cable from the battery. When you crank it, if that cable gets HOT, then that could be a large part of the problem. Heat creates resistance (why computers are slow when they get hot). Perhaps the mechanic disconnected the negative cable (one end goes to the battery BUT the other end goes to the engine block). Perhaps it was disconnected to access the power steering rack for the flush. If it was reconnected either dirty or loosely, that could have an affect on engine start up.