2001 Impala Starting Problem

[cbrdude]

I have a 2001 Impala that is having a little trouble. When the car sits over nite and you go out and crank it, it cranks fine. When you shut it off and crank it back up with about a minute it cranks fine. But when it has been sitting a few minutes (5-10) and you go to crank it, it will crank but then it will sputter and then just die out, so you re-crank and it does the same thing. A few tries and it will crank and also giving it some gas will get it cranked......any ideas as to when this might be????

ANY help is very appreciated!

Thanks,
Corey

[Kemi]

Originally Posted by cbrdude

I have a 2001 Impala that is having a little trouble. When the car sits over nite and you go out and crank it, it cranks fine. When you shut it off and crank it back up with about a minute it cranks fine. But when it has been sitting a few minutes (5-10) and you go to crank it, it will crank but then it will sputter and then just die out, so you re-crank and it does the same thing. A few tries and it will crank and also giving it some gas will get it cranked......any ideas as to when this might be????

ANY help is very appreciated!

Thanks,
Corey

Just to clarify....

So the car cranks good all the time, but after it been running, shut off for a few minutes and then restarted, it cranks but won't catch. Not sure if I understand your problem completely. If I go this wrong please clarify.

[cbrdude]

Yes that is correct...it is only every now and again that it wont crank cold. it is when you crank it, it will crank but it wont catch and stay cranked...

thnx
Corey

[Gems]

I might have had a similar problem... My 2001 LS would cold start fine... But after running it awhile and then trying to re-start I sometimes had problems... It would crank, fire and then sputter and die... The problem turned out to be the fuel pump going bad... The fuel pump finally completely died and I had it replaced... No troubles for over a year now...

[mbevans2]

Hello,was wondering if you solved your problem as I seem to have the same thing going on
Thanks Mike

Originally Posted by cbrdude

I have a 2001 Impala that is having a little trouble. When the car sits over nite and you go out and crank it, it cranks fine. When you shut it off and crank it back up with about a minute it cranks fine. But when it has been sitting a few minutes (5-10) and you go to crank it, it will crank but then it will sputter and then just die out, so you re-crank and it does the same thing. A few tries and it will crank and also giving it some gas will get it cranked......any ideas as to when this might be????

ANY help is very appreciated!

Thanks,
Corey

[Iflylow]

Sounds like a fuel pump, as GEMS said.

[Gems]

You might first try replacing the fuel pressure regulator... That's a cheap and easy thing to do... Takes all of about 5 minutes and the FPR only costs about $40...

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mbevans2

Hello,was wondering if you solved your problem as I seem to have the same thing going on
Thanks Mike

if fuel pressure test is good then it could be the ECT...if engine is cool and ECT tells computer engine is hot the injectors will not be turned on long enough and keep engine from starting...

[mbevans2]

well I check the fuel presure and it seems to all be fine,did a ohms test on the ect sensor and its reading seem correct,any other ideas

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by mbevans2

well I check the fuel presure and it seems to all be fine,did a ohms test on the ect sensor and its reading seem correct,any other ideas

with the engine hot and it will not start measure the ECT resistance . then give us the results...obviously do this with out removal of the sensor...


the other problem could be bad/leaking injectors when you measured the fuel pressures did the pressure fall after engine shut down....if it did , this indicates the the injectors could be causing this.....and if so could cause a flooding situation...

[DirkDigler84]

I have an 02, chevy impala 3.8L, every monday now for 2 weeks I go to start my car and it won't start. No fuel pump kick on or doesnt even try to crank. but if i was 10-30 min it normaly will start. I took it to a dealer and they looked at it for 4 hours and decided theres nothing wrong with my car! but they said it might be the BCM but they dont want to replace it until there sure. SO what the hell do I do? I don't even have the security light on? so I'm not sure if its the Passlock system or the BCM... any ideas?

[DirkDigler84]

Please help!!!

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by DirkDigler84

Please help!!!

first off battery must be load tested or replace with a new tested charged battery.... i have seen weird battery failures ......intermittent good one time shorted or open then next time.....



when cranking or attempting to crank do the headlights stay on or no head lights....if the engine won't start and the headlights are dead the battery connections cables fuseable links battery are in need of attention ... obviously having a volt/ohm meter is needed to properly troubleshoot this type of failure...

[DirkDigler84]

Originally Posted by j cAT

first off battery must be load tested or replace with a new tested charged battery.... i have seen weird battery failures ......intermittent good one time shorted or open then next time.....



when cranking or attempting to crank do the headlights stay on or no head lights....if the engine won't start and the headlights are dead the battery connections cables fuseable links battery are in need of attention ... obviously having a volt/ohm meter is needed to properly troubleshoot this type of failure...

But why after 10-30 min of waiting it starts just fine? doesnt souind like a battery to me? I had someone look over my car and test everything. they even took out my dash to find the ignition wire that might be rubbing on the stearing but that wasnt the prob, they said it might be the BCM but there was no way to tell for sure.

But. the battery in my car isnt the battery for my car it puts out less volts. but if it was the battery would the car atleast try to start?

[maxwedge]

How could we sitting at our desks with no way to test this at the time of failure, possibly give any kind of meaningful diagnosis. BTW in the future start a new thread, do not jump into the middle of another thread. Intermittent battery and /or poor connections can cause what you describe, as j cat said.. If your headlites won't come on during this occurance then you have battery or cable issues, if they come on and do not dim during the no start event then, the circuit from the ign to the passlock to the starter must be checked.