Hard Starting Intrepid

I have a 1997 Dodge Intrepid ES with the 3.5 V6 in it. It has 80000 miles on it with well cared for engine, except for a short drive by a woman with the water temp over heat light on. That was 8 years ago. It has started and run fine until now. It has developed a hard starting attitude, and sometimes will start with the first turn of the key. If it cranks more than 3 times, I stop and pause for a second. It will then usually start and run fine. I have had new plugs installed, wires checked, fuel pressure checked, and no trouble codes are present. Compression is Ok too. My mechanic says there is no problem with the fuel injectors either. Whats going on here? Just old age?

 

I'm sure it has nothing to do with that overheating years ago, aspecially if a good compression check was done.

There are a few things that if the parts are cheap, it might be worth replacing, like the throttle position sensor, and the crankshaft position sensor.

I hate intermittent problems, they can be difficult to diagnose.

It may also be bad spark, restrictive air flow, and so on.

 

Does it make any difference if vehicle is already warmed up, compared to cold start?

 

Sound like losing fuel pressure after parked for period of time. Next time, try to turn the key to on(engine off) for three second, then off for another three then back on and then start, if it's started easier/normally, your losing fuel pressure when it's parked, it could be bad pressure regulator/pump and or leaking fuel injectors.

 

Ut does not matter if its cold or warm, and I had the fuel pump and regulator checked, tested Ok...If I crank it 3 times and it doesnt start, I shut it off. then hit the key and it usually will start right up.

 

would double check fuel pressure specifically when starting or when the vehicle acts up and also check to see if it hold pressure should hold pressure in the rail for several minutes with no pressure drop after engine has been shut off could have injectors leaking causing a flooding condition and a longer crank time you might also try holding the gas down aways to see if it will start quicker.

 

Thats makes sense. I have successfully started it by holding down the pedal all the way (we used to do that in the old days to clear flooding) Its probably the only thing it could be (leaking injectors)

 

leaking injectors or maybe a failing throttle position sensor.

 

Do you have this Recall done?, if not, give your local Dealer a call.

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Safety Recall No. 790
Fuel Rail O-Rings and Reinforcements

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Models

1993-1997 (LH) Dodge Intrepid; Chrysler Concorde, New Yorker and LHS; and Eagle Vision
1997 (PR) Plymouth Prowler


NOTE: This recall applies only to the above vehicles equipped with a 3.5L engine ("F" in the 8th VIN Position)

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Do you know the approximate date of this recall? We are the only owners of the car, but its been a long time since Ive been to the dealer for anything.

 

There's no expiration date on any recalls, if your VIN # falls in it, it's applied to yours, doesn't matter how long or who owned it. Give your dealer a call and have your VIN # ready, they'll be able to tell if it is or not.

 

Got it. Ill make the call

Thanks!

 

The Intrepid I have posted before failed to start until about 2 and one half hours after the initial no start. When it did it fired right up just like it should. My mechanic now thinks it might be a fuel pump relay, and is going to replace it. Where is that located? Is that common?



++MOD NOTE: I merged your other post into this one. Create one post for the same problem or else it confuses people.++

 

My previous post concerning the above turned out to be a bad fuel pump. (tested ok the first time) The second test showed that it wouldnt hold pressure. The replacement pump fixed the problem.


+++Merged post into existing thread+++

 

Glad to see you fixed the problem!!

 

You guys had it pegged in one of the previous posts. We kept working our way back to the pump as it was cheaper that way. Its too bad they cant figure a trouble code for THAT failure!

I hate intermittent failures!