Cold Start Hesitiation 04 DII

[braves6117]

Sequence is like this:

Key turn, good turn over, BIG hesitation (almost as if the engine won't be starting), engine starts.


This occurs only on a cold start when the vehicle sits over ~ 6 hrs.


Any ideas?

 

[pjkbrit]

due for plugs?
full of coolant right?...no leak down into a cylinder
crappy MAF?
how's the idle?

 

[Lake_Bueller]

Leaky injector? Fuel pump dying?

 

[braves6117]

My bad on the title mispell, should be hesitation....


Coolant is full, no leak into cylinder. There is an oil leak at the rocker cover, which has dripped onto a plug and wire...however, plugs are being changed this week as part of the 60k service, so yes, it is due for plugs.


Idle is high at start, 1300-1500 RPMS, but will chill down to 800-1000 after 30 secs or so.

Whats the best way to clean the MAF? I haven't given that a thought before.

Oh gosh, I hope its not the fuel pump

Its just wierd since I can't replicate the hesitant start unless the car sits overnight. I'm trying to record it via my camera.

 

[gmookher]

Mine does weird assed shit when the battery voltage is low; I has a weird code a few weeks ago upon startup; but after a battery charge from a wall charger all problems seem gone

 

[braves6117]

Interesting point there gm.....I should check standing voltage, that could be it. Thanks

 

[Thor28]

You may have a parasitic draw somewhere in the electrical that is draining your battery of amperage. If you have an ammeter you can check for amp draw when everything is turned off.

 

[gmookher]

I just dont drive it enough...and it gets cold at night, so while there is no draw, the AGM batts seem to discharge a bit more on their own ... they have great CCA but the voltage drops down to 11.4-11.6...

 

[roverMc]

Mine did that for a long time, changed the battery and no change. Eventually it turned out to be the starter. Put a new one in and it has no hesitation now.

 

[Dan B]

My 04 SE does exactly the same as this. 48k, has the 45k service done.

Did you find a fix in the end?

Battery, starter, plugs, MAF, fuel pump?

Personally, I'm thinking battery, as it is only a cold start problem. The brief high idle doesn't fit though, unless the ECU gives it a high idle to juice the battery up.

 

[Dan B]

Had a play with this last night. Battery is fine. I had also noticed that it ran way rich on a cold start, from the exhaust smell.

Not really any surprises here I guess, but....

Pulled open the air box housing (breaking off the locking latches to the MAF in the process, awesome) to find a shit-ton of sand in the box and filter. Spent a while banging the filter against a wall, then getting most of the crap out the box. This morning it starts way better, but not perfect. Will get a new filter and then clean out the MAF shoot up to the TB, just to be sure, but I think I have this problem spotted for the time being.

On further examination, there is fine sand all over the engine bay. I bought it from SC, and it was a cali and florida truck before that, so sand is no surprise I guess.

 

[specops1526]

I have a similar issue on one of my '04s. I just checked the battery with my multimeter with the car on and off and got all good numbers. i guess I could try a new battery since I have no idea how old the current one is. the plug wires don't look original thank god but I have no idea when the PO replaced those, so I guess that could be the next place to look. Mine only does this when cold. Anyone have a solution to this?

 

[specops1526]

Pulling up an old thread to see if anyone has any ideas on this? My coolant is fine, no milkyness on the oil filler cap, oil cap smells ok, and no funny smell from exhaust (it actually seems to be odorless). Found out my plug wires are 8mm Magnecors. Should I be looking at the starter?

Last nite I turned the car on for a second and then shut it down. When I started it up this morning, it was perfect. No hesitation at all. Could this be a fuel pressure/pump issue?

 

[gmookher]

doesnt sound like u have a problem then does it..

 

[gibson04]

about 5000 miles on the rebuild with crower cam, the truck was hard starting as well as a developing knock. My mechanic dug into it a little more and found that the camshaft endplay and was tapping the position sensor. Spaced sensor...no more hard starts and a lot less knocking.

 

[specops1526]

doesnt sound like u have a problem then does it..

Ha, you'd think. It starts fine, but still gives that half second hiccup/hesitation before it starts/catches. I only notice it because my other truck doesn't do it...but that truck is in for a new block now..

 

[specops1526]

about 5000 miles on the rebuild with crower cam, the truck was hard starting as well as a developing knock. My mechanic dug into it a little more and found that the camshaft endplay and was tapping the position sensor. Spaced sensor...no more hard starts and a lot less knocking.

What do you mean by hard starts? My truck runs great. No knock that I know of or can tell.