Car occasionally doesn't start

[shifty_uk]

This is really winding me up now. Last month the Clio began developing a habit of not starting first time. Only after two or three attempts at turning the key and giving it a boot full does the engine run.

It's happening more and more frequently and to the extent that it generally takes far more than two or three attempts at ignition. I had to sit red faced in the city centre for half an hour before it would start, for example. It always gets there eventually but it's beginning to become so unpredictable. Sometimes it starts perfectly.

I just don't know where to begin looking and taking it to the garage seems a bit pointless as it would no doubt start up first time when I'm there.

Any ideas? I've checked for dampness on the electricals, the battery charge seems fine, everything inside the car runs to full capacity when the engine is off, immobiliser seems okay, fuel filter is apparently submerged in the tank and wouldn't need replacing and the engine is turning strongly, it just wont fire up.

 

[sigma]

Does it turn over?

Could be starter motor related might be sticking, although I had it once where the earth for the starter was poor which caused intermittent starting issues, it would just chug or click.

Might also be the ignition switch?

Not sure if dodgy spark plugs/leads/coils could cause this? Probably would start but run rough if it was those.

Check the battery with a multimeter, just to be sure.

 

[4T5]

I'd say you have a sticky auto choke.

 

[shifty_uk]

Does it turn over?

Could be starter motor related might be sticking, although I had it once where the earth for the starter was poor which caused intermittent starting issues, it would just chug or click.

Might also be the ignition switch?

Not sure if dodgy spark plugs/leads/coils could cause this? Probably would start but run rough if it was those.

Check the battery with a multimeter, just to be sure.

Sometimes it does start rough, despite the plugs being brand new. After giving it some gas the rough idle goes away. More often than not it either starts perfectly or just wont budge. Leads are fine, could be the coils? It's just expensive parts to replace on an utter guess.

Is there anyway I could check them or the starter motor?

 

[Skyboat]

How odd, been having the *exact* same problem with my Puma recently (been a lot more noticeable last couple of days). Refused to start at all down the shops tonight unless I gave it a bit of throttle.

The engine turns over, but it feels like it is either fuel or ignition related.

 

[shifty_uk]

I'd say you have a sticky auto choke.

Do cars still get auto choke?

 

[sigma]

I think you can check coils by measuring resistance?

Edit - yeah : http://www.ehow.com/how_4558863_check-ignition-coil.html

 

[trentlad]

I bet it's your battery mate! My sister in law just had the same issue, garage checked it over and they said battery was fine (cos she'd charged it up by driving there). It used to turn over too, didn't sound like the dulled slow-mo whir you get on a dead battery.

When you would sit there and crank it for a while, it would eventually start up. She switched the battery out and it's never happened in 6 months now.

 

[zipp0r]

id be thinking idle control valve is sticking abit and not allowing enough air in to start it and then it starts flooding itself with petrol making it even harder to start.
next time you go to start it, press and hold accelerator 0.5cm(enough for 1500rpm) before turning over.

 

[shauncr91]

I had same issue on my old Clio, turned out to be a sensor in the engine that was leaking in water. Dried it with a cloth then wrapped it in electrical tape and that fixed it.

 

[Django x2]

This happened to my GFs Clio. I cleaned / changed the ICV, didnt sort it. Replaced coil packs, didn't sort it. Replaced HT leads, didn't sort it. Replaced spark plugs, didn't sort it. Replaced starter motor, didn't sort it.

In the end the only way to fix it was to buy a Suzuki Swift Sport

 

[Philtor]

I had this problem with my car a few years back where every so often it refused to start. Took it to a local Auto electrician and got it put on the diagnostic machine and it turned out the Crankshaft position sensor was faulty. Might be worth getting it checked out on a diagnostic machine.

 

[shifty_uk]

I've had enough of it, today it took 15 minutes to start. I'll give the garage a phone tomorrow and get it booked in for testing. Whether something will come up or not is another thing. I'd rather take it to them with a definite place to start but that doesn't seem like it'll be the case.

 

[bodybag]

I had this problem with my car a few years back where every so often it refused to start. Took it to a local Auto electrician and got it put on the diagnostic machine and it turned out the Crankshaft position sensor was faulty. Might be worth getting it checked out on a diagnostic machine.

Same happened to me, crankshaft sensor......

 

[Father Ted]

Is this a diesel or a petrol engine?

 

[Bat]

Another possibility is that the timing is out. Is the cam belt in good order?

 

[Andre]

I had this problem with my car a few years back where every so often it refused to start. Took it to a local Auto electrician and got it put on the diagnostic machine and it turned out the Crankshaft position sensor was faulty. Might be worth getting it checked out on a diagnostic machine.

Same happened to me, crankshaft sensor......

Yup - crankshaft sensor sound most likely. Little diddy thing only takes five mins to swap out

 

[trentlad]

So what was it then???

 

[MikeHiow]

crankshaft sensor......

Would have been my first guess to be honest.

 

[breadturbo]

ill guess idle air control valve, very very very common on renaults.