Car taking longer than usual to start.

[fuzzybabybunny]

2000 Toyota Echo 2 Dr Manual 108,000 miles

Every now and then I find that it takes a bit longer to get the engine fired up. I'm not good with car terminology, so bear with me.

Normally the engine should go "er-vroom (on)"
Now it sorta goes "er er er er er er - vroom (on)"

Got new spark plugs. Still does it.
Battery is about 3 months old.
Ran two tanks of Chevron fuel with Techron fuel cleaner through it. Still does it.
Currently have a container of STP fuel cleaner in the tank.
Did it even after an oil change.

One of the guys at the oil change place said that it could be due to the fuel filter. An old fuel filter may not allow the gas to build up enough pressure in the fuel line or something.

Is this probably the cause of it? Everything else still runs fine. 40mpg average, 45mpg high, 38mpg low.

 

[alimoalem]

i'd like to know, too, cause my car does the same once every 2-4 weeks maybe. of course the problem could be from something else cause i know little about the car's history

 

[cprince]

It could be the fuel filter like you said. It could also be a weak starter or weak charging system. I think that autozone will check your charging system for free.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Could be a partially-clogged fuel filter. They typically need changed every 80,000-120,000 miles (or sooner depending on your own level of obsessiveness).

Does it typically only happen after the car has been sitting for a while? If it's only after the car has been sitting for a long time (say, overnight), then it might just be that the drainback valve isn't seating fully and the fuel lines are de-pressurizing. This isn't a big deal, it just means that sometimes the car has to bring the lines back up to pressure before it can start.

Try this: When starting the car, turn the key to the "run" position but do not start cranking the engine. Leave the key there for a few seconds, then turn it the rest of the way. If that stops the problem, then it's most likely that the fuel lines are just losing pressure. Which could be the check-valve like I said above, or it could be a slightly leaky injector. Neither is an immediate worry.

If that doesn't help, it's possible that the fuel pressure regulator is getting just slightly flaky, but that's rare.

ZV

 

[MovingTarget]

Autozone can check your battery and alternator. Fuel pump may be an issue, but you'll know eventually if it is because it will go out completely (happened to me). Of course, the problem could be with the fuel line or filter. You might want to run some fuel system cleaner through with your next tank of gas. It couldn't hurt. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Crucial]

I had this happen with 2 of my cars. strangely enough they were both 90 olds 88's. Both times it was a leaking fuel pressure regulator. The other times it happened were from bad fuel pumps. One in my 95 firebird and the other in my 97 chevy pickup.

Easy way to tell if it's a fuel pump or fuel filter is to buy a cheap fuel pressure gauge. Put it on and test the pressure. If it's high enough the fuel filter isn't the problem. Leave it on overnight Like Zemm said and if it's drained in the morning check out the pressure regulator.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Could be a partially-clogged fuel filter. They typically need changed every 80,000-120,000 miles (or sooner depending on your own level of obsessiveness).

Does it typically only happen after the car has been sitting for a while? If it's only after the car has been sitting for a long time (say, overnight), then it might just be that the drainback valve isn't seating fully and the fuel lines are de-pressurizing. This isn't a big deal, it just means that sometimes the car has to bring the lines back up to pressure before it can start.

Try this: When starting the car, turn the key to the "run" position but do not start cranking the engine. Leave the key there for a few seconds, then turn it the rest of the way. If that stops the problem, then it's most likely that the fuel lines are just losing pressure. Which could be the check-valve like I said above, or it could be a slightly leaky injector. Neither is an immediate worry.

If that doesn't help, it's possible that the fuel pressure regulator is getting just slightly flaky, but that's rare.

ZV

It typically happens when the car has been sitting overnight. Although sometimes it's weird. One day I started it up (took a while) then drove it about 3 miles to the nearest Walmart for an oil change. The mechanic went into my car to start it up, and again, it took a while to start. I would think that since I had just driven the car that this shouldn't have happened?

Fuel pressure regulator getting flaky or partially clogged fuel filter?

When I do the bolded, the problem still occurs.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Could be a partially-clogged fuel filter. They typically need changed every 80,000-120,000 miles (or sooner depending on your own level of obsessiveness).

Does it typically only happen after the car has been sitting for a while? If it's only after the car has been sitting for a long time (say, overnight), then it might just be that the drainback valve isn't seating fully and the fuel lines are de-pressurizing. This isn't a big deal, it just means that sometimes the car has to bring the lines back up to pressure before it can start.

Try this: When starting the car, turn the key to the "run" position but do not start cranking the engine. Leave the key there for a few seconds, then turn it the rest of the way. If that stops the problem, then it's most likely that the fuel lines are just losing pressure. Which could be the check-valve like I said above, or it could be a slightly leaky injector. Neither is an immediate worry.

If that doesn't help, it's possible that the fuel pressure regulator is getting just slightly flaky, but that's rare.

ZV

It typically happens when the car has been sitting overnight. Although sometimes it's weird. One day I started it up (took a while) then drove it about 3 miles to the nearest Walmart for an oil change. The mechanic went into my car to start it up, and again, it took a while to start. I would think that since I had just driven the car that this shouldn't have happened?

Fuel pressure regulator getting flaky or partially clogged fuel filter?

When I do the bolded, the problem still occurs.

I don't remember your mileage, but if it's over 80,000 miles, replace the fuel filter and see if that helps. It's an inexpensive fix, relatively speaking, and probably should be done anyway.

ZV

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Okey doke. BTW, my car's over 100K miles and it hasn't had ANY routine maintenance as far as I know. Just oil changes. What are some other things that I should consider looking at at 100K miles?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Okey doke. BTW, my car's over 100K miles and it hasn't had ANY routine maintenance as far as I know. Just oil changes. What are some other things that I should consider looking at at 100K miles?

LOL

u got a list there bud

u can start with air filters
TIRES
ac filter
oil FILTER (they don't normally change those for u during oil changes)
etc
etc

 

[thomsbrain]

You just need to sit down with your Echo and have a heart-to-heart about each other's feelings. Tell him why you are concerned about his well-being. He's been sleeping in later and later, and you're worried he might be... depressed. Let him vent. He may need to leak a few tears of embarrassed sorrow. Then really listen to him and work together to devise a plan of action to address his needs in a positive, open, and accepting environment of mutual trust and devotion. Give him a hug.

Then kick the shit out of his quarter panel, remind him that he's just a soul-less piece of shit commuter beater, that he's easily replaceable, that you were never really that into him anyway, and that you've got your eye on that hotty Yaris at Big Al's Toyota-Buick-Yugo.

The power of car psychology is yours!