Issues with starting

[Turbogst]

My wife has been driving my pathfinder here lately. We got in the car the other day and when she turned the key it didn't fire right up it took 3-4 seconds and she says its been doing it a lot here lately. I don't have a check engine light on or anything. And from what she says it only really does it when it's been sitting for a few hours. She said she can run into a store come right out and it fires right up.. other then that it runs perfect..

[Innovazn]

My wife has been driving my pathfinder here lately. We got in the car the other day and when she turned the key it didn't fire right up it took 3-4 seconds and she says its been doing it a lot here lately. I don't have a check engine light on or anything. And from what she says it only really does it when it's been sitting for a few hours. She said she can run into a store come right out and it fires right up.. other then that it runs perfect..

battery ?

i had it before... full charged and it solved it

[lovedan73]

Might be vapor lock. I am having the same issues with my 01 Pathfinder. Just started last week with these consistent 90+ degree days. Shut it down a few minutes, it starts right up. Shut it down 30 mins - hour and it will crank and crank and not fire. Never had this problem until now and I have 153000 miles. Also, we have not had a summer this hot in Indiana since I've owned it.

[miamiheat3332]

on a hot day after i shut it down and go in store for like 20-35 min and i come back out it like has to catch to start, starts a little later than normal. On like a morning start or when its not used for a couple hrs, fires right up, im thinking just the heat, because if i recall heat lessens your cranking amps, same with cold.

[ARKQX33V6]

Next time the car is driven under the conditions you explain, try this:
As you go to start press down the accelerator pedal no more than 1/2 way just once hold it there and try starting. Do not pump
What happens?

[Densetsu]

I've been having the same issue. When the Pathy has been sitting for a few hours, often it'll take a couple of seconds to start. If it doesn't start within 3 seconds, I'll just let go of the key for a half-second and crank it again and it'll start easily. The starter sounds fine and the battery is 6 months old; the engine just takes a while to fire. When the engine is warm, it starts immediately.

I'll have to give your pedal trick a try, ARK; are you thinking it could be a fuel supply issue?

[ARKQX33V6]

So what are the results?
Often the gasoline line with a one way back flow preventer valve leaks, other words for check valve.
If that is the case simply turn key to on, wait a couple of seconds and try the starter.
If it works, then gas in liquid form has escaped then you fill up the gas line and it starts.
But you need to test for this, the check valve is in the inle gas side of the rail.

Other problem, Battery low, less than 12.9 VDC, causes a higher amperage for the starter and less voltage for the ignition system. The battery in today's cars rarely sees float charge. So Charge that battery off an independent charger, if still no good an equalization charge may be in your future

A rare condition may exist with the timing, it may be stuck in a slight advance state.

[Densetsu]

Well, when I did it at lunch today; the Pathy started easily and was almost immediately at 4k RPM before I had a chance to let go of the pedal. It was only sitting for 2, maybe 3 hours though, so the engine wasn't too cold. Nothing like letting it sit overnight. I'll have to report back tomorrow morning after it's sat for a good 8 - 10 hours, if I remember to do it.

[ARKQX33V6]

Pop the hood, and squeeze the fuel rail both sides and remember what it felt like, now start it up, get it to run then go and feel those rail fuel lines again.

On the second squeeze did they feel harder, like a bit higher fuel pressure. If yes, the fuel is escaping the lines and if the check valve is not working fuel is bleeding back to tank...a possibility! Cracked fuel lines, dirty fuel filter, leaks, check throttle body for wet spots.

By the way when was the last time you checked spray patterns of the injectors, plug gaps, ignition wires and spark?

[Densetsu]

I was just on a camping trip and haven't got around to checking the fuel lines. The 10 times or so I've started it, I've been turning the key to the ON position for a couple seconds before starting and it hasn't given me problems.

Plugs were changed with new pre-gapped ones in the spring; I checked the gap on one and it was spot-on, so I didn't bother checking the others. Haven't done anything with the coils, nor have I checked the injectors yet. To be honest I don't know how to check the injector spray pattern.

[ARKQX33V6]

If you are waiting to start with ignition on for a few seconds the fuel pump is on until pressure builds, thus the fuel rail inlet is full. With the starter vacuum sucks that fuel that is there and she fires up. After sitting the fuel is supposed to remain in the line via the check valve, but if the fuel leaks down the next start has to wait until the fuel pump returns the liquid fuel to the intake chamber. This takes time.

The fact that all is well with you waiting just a bit could be:
Check valve
Fuel filter
or even
idle air control
ECU not shifting the injectors

The injectors can be examined with a noid light but that will tell you whether they are firing. The spray pattern is governed by their cleanliness and there time. The timing of the injectors is to be long or short, more or less fuel/air by the ECU.

They can be taken out of their holes, place the wires then hold them close to a bucket and run the engine doing 1 injector at a time out of the engine, watch the spray pattern.

The spray is an upside down V or the mid section of a W. It should not dribble or have wet drops, should be a mist because of atomization. Each cylinder can be tested and you may have to reset the MIL light.