Car sounds like it's choking or stuttering when trying to start.

[psteng19]

Car is my mom's 1994 Quest with 105k miles. I'm pretty sure it's not the starter, because I know how that sounds when it's going.

It takes a little longer than usual to start.
It'll stutter or choke for a few seconds while trying to start, then it sounds like it's started so you release the key.
After releasing the key/ignition from the start position, it'll sound like it's about to die, but it'll start up again.
Sometimes it'll completely die on the first try, but the second time around it'll start up much easier without problems.

So is it spark plugs? Fuel/air not getting to the engine?

 

[DarkManX]

fuel pump? air filter? fuel injection?

 

[kt]

Clean your fuel injection. That exactly what happened to my old car. After having the fuel injection cleaned, it runs like a champ again.

 

[cavemanmoron]

have you had the battery replaced in the last 3 years?
if its weak,the car will turn over s-l-ower and not start as easy...\

 

[psteng19]

OK, I'll try some fuel injection cleaners. Or do you recommend to get it professionally cleaned?

Pretty sure the battery isn't the culprit either. The turning over part is fine (starter). It's the igniting part that isn't.

 

[Imported]

How much gas do you have in the car?

I know on my car, when the tank gets to about 1/6 full, it'll take a while to start.

 

[psteng19]

Full tank.

 

[Vortex22]

Originally posted by: Imported
How much gas do you have in the car?

I know on my car, when the tank gets to about 1/6 full, it'll take a while to start.

This happens on my Civic and every Civic I have ever seen...

I bet you have a Civic, am I right?

 

[JC]

Originally posted by: psteng19
OK, I'll try some fuel injection cleaners. Or do you recommend to get it professionally cleaned?

Don't bother with 'add a can' cleaners, take it to a shop where they actually run the engine on the cleaner for a few minutes. I used to do this, what a difference. Tends to gunk up the spark plugs, though, so plan on replacing them afterwards. And make sure they clean the idle air control (IAC) valve too.


JC

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: Vortex22

Originally posted by: Imported
How much gas do you have in the car?

I know on my car, when the tank gets to about 1/6 full, it'll take a while to start.

This happens on my Civic and every Civic I have ever seen...

I bet you have a Civic, am I right?

Yep..

 

[Ornery]

You ain't gonna get it fixed without a trip to the garage, and even then it's a crap shoot. Damn newfangled, computer controlled, emission controlled, electronic ignition controlled, over complicated buckets of bolts! I just went through this, and my trusted mechanic failed to find the real problem after throwing piles of parts at it and many hours. I finally found out it was corrosion on the connector to the ignition coil! Would have cost zero to fix had I known. Good luck to you... you'll need it!

 

[psteng19]

Thanks. I was hoping it was something easy like spark plugs, fuel/air filter, even injectors. But you're right, a lot of electronically controlled components in cars these days.

Will get it checked out

 

[Zee]

How much would I expect to pay to clean the fuel injection?