car starting problems

[Neoscarecrue]

my car has problems starting sometimes.it's not the starter or battery.i'm pretty sure its the fuel or ignition.i have to press the gas down as if my engine is carberated.any ideas?

[youngvr4]

when i first got my vr4 it did that also, it seems to only do it in the winter though, it soon just went away. so i don't really have an answer for you

[Linebckr49]

if you have to press your gas pedal, it sounds like its a fuel problem. Is your car manual or automatic?

when you say you have 'starting problems,' what exaclty do you mean? can you not start your car at all, or just sometimes? when it starts, you have to hit the gas pedal? please explain in detail.

are you sure its not battery or alternator? those are the first 2 to check. they can be easily eliminated. Auto Zone (at least here in TX) will test your batter and alternator for free.

however, as it sounds like a fuel problem, let me ask you this: when is the last time, if ever, you changed your fuel filter?

Fuel filters cannot be inspected for 'wear and tear.' Unlike oil filters which need to be changed roughly every time you change your oil, fuel filters don't necessarily have a prescribed life expectancy. However, you should most likely periodically change your fuel filter about every 20,000 miles? (not sure on that number, check with someone else like Yogs, Hotshot, Igovert).

If your fuel filter goes, then you could have foreign matter buildup in the fuel lines, which is NOT good.

I don't think our cars have a fuel pressure regulator to check the pressure output of the fuel pump, but not sure. You could always check the voltage to the fuel pump with a voltmeter.

good luck.

[youngvr4]

i'm pretty sure what he's saying is,
the car will turn over but will die afterwords. so when he turns it over he then has to give it some gas to keep it alive and then its fine.

i'm also guesing this only happens sometimes, i'm i right?

[Neoscarecrue]

that's right.either my car will start right up,or it won't unless i press down the gas.i think it's a fuel filter or a fuel pump.i haven't changed either since i bought the vehicle

[youngvr4]

i had never changed mine either, and still have not. and for some reason mine just stoped. it always starts right up now.

do you live in a cold area?

[Gateway]

is this a starting that's like 5-10 minutes after you've drove your car? cuz I used to have the same thing happen to my car, because I didn't let the turbos cool down before I shut the car off and they got flooded.

[Neoscarecrue]

my car is an SL,but it will start shortley after i've driven it.but....i did just get done changing my fuel filter,but it's leaking at the bottom of the filter.anyone know how to fix this and is my flow direction correct?

[Neoscarecrue]

ok.fuel filter is good.but car still has problems starting.my car seem like it's not getting enough gas...is that the fuel pump?