Struggling to turn over sometimes?

-Nighthawk- · Post by **-Nighthawk-** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:38 pm

Hey guys,
had this problem the last few months where the engine seems like it's struggling to turn over after not driving for a few days.

The starter motor appears to start it over fine, however when it hits the initial revs it goes up to about 500 then drops really low to 50 or so and chugs for a second then going back to normal.

Any idea on what the issue could be?
Thanks

Sahin · Post by **Sahin** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:42 pm

How long since you changed plugs and leads?

fraz91 · Post by **fraz91** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:45 pm

Sounds like fuel starvation on start-up if it goes back to normal after a couple of seconds. Possible fuel pump or fuel system blockage? Plugs and leads would have created a consistent issue across the rev-range I would have thought.

Sahin · Post by **Sahin** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:45 pm

My next guess would have been fuel related too

fraz91 · Post by **fraz91** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:55 pm

When was the fuel filter last changed out? From what we've seen in the fuel filter wall of shame, it's not hard for a blockage to form. Next guess would be fuel pump, possibly injectors after that?

I'm an oiler man, you petrol-heads confuse me with your "spark plugs"

-Nighthawk- · Post by **-Nighthawk-** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:07 pm

I've actually got a spare fuel filter I need to change over. The spark plugs and leads were changed over around 15000km ago so they are fine. Would the fuel injectors also be a culprit?

Post by **vipfto** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:40 pm

have you considered checking battery?

-Nighthawk- · Post by **-Nighthawk-** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:25 pm

The battery is only a few months old and it feels like the starter motor is turning over it's just the engine itself struggles to get the initial revs. I think you guys might be right that it's a filter / injector problem as they can be a bit clogged up at first.

Kustom · Post by **Kustom** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:32 pm

Sounds like battery to me

silverGPX · Post by **silverGPX** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:24 pm

BATTERY BATTERY BATTERY.

Check your terminals and a mates battery before you go on a fail expedition spending lots of fail money.

-Nighthawk- · Post by **-Nighthawk-** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:30 pm

But the battery has been fine, it's quite new :\ How come it starts up fine after the initial starting for that day? Surely if it was the battery it would do it every time?

Shane001 · Post by **Shane001** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:48 am

If it's not struggling to turn over the starter than it's not the battery.

Do as suggested, start with the fuel filter. Cheap and probably needs replacing anyway.

fraz91 · Post by **fraz91** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:52 am

-Nighthawk- wrote:The starter motor appears to start it over fine

Followed by

vipfto wrote:have you considered checking battery?

Then

-Nighthawk- wrote:The battery is only a few months old and it feels like the starter motor is turning over it's just the engine itself struggles to get the initial revs.

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:09 pm

If the starter is kicking over fine, then I reckon it's either injector leak or your isc is getting slightly stuck from no activity.

kermut · Post by **kermut** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:39 pm

its your crank angle sensor its on its way out had the same issue not long ago

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Thu May 10, 2012 12:32 am

Fuel pressure regular is my tuppenceworth (two cents in your money)

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Fri May 11, 2012 9:30 pm

Guys low RPM means only one thing on the FTO when cold. Idle speed controller! It's getting jammed as it's not being used for a few days!

Bennoz back me up!!!

Astron_Boy · Post by **Astron_Boy** » Fri May 11, 2012 9:34 pm

payaya wrote:Guys low RPM means only one thing on the FTO when cold. Idle speed controller! It's getting jammed as it's not being used for a few days!

Bennoz back me up!!!

I'll back you up.
Experienced the same thing, changed ours for AJs spare and the car turns over first go no problems.

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Fri May 11, 2012 9:49 pm

Astron_Boy wrote:
payaya wrote:Guys low RPM means only one thing on the FTO when cold. Idle speed controller! It's getting jammed as it's not being used for a few days!

Bennoz back me up!!!
I'll back you up.
Experienced the same thing, changed ours for AJs spare and the car turns over first go no problems.

Yep it's more than common on FTO's and a lot of Mitsubishi's.

If it was an ECOTEC 4 Cylinder Holden then I will say it's a fuel related issue. Fuel issues just aren't a common issue on Mitsubishis.

Astron_Boy · Post by **Astron_Boy** » Fri May 11, 2012 9:52 pm

Yeah, I do find Mitsu ISCs aren't that great.
Same issue on my old Sedan. (Granted that car was from the 80s)

FTO AUSTRALIA