Starting Problem

[TimQX4]

I have a 2002 qx4 that has had a problem starting for a few months now. I bought the car from a friend and after replacing the battery it started fine. After a few days with the new battery I tried to start it and it failed to start, accompanied by a grinding noise (sounds like a tooth missing on a flywheel). After cranking a few times it always starts. I replaced the starter and I was still experiencing the same issues; if I let it crank for several seconds it won't start but it will eventually start if I stop cranking and turn the key again (usually have to do this 5-10 times). About 25% of the time it starts fine. I noticed that when I have to crank multiple times, when it does eventually start I get white smoke from the exhaust that smells like fuel.

I've replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel pressure regulator, fuel pressure damper, MAF sensor, coil packs and plugs.

I have noticed that when it does start the engine seems to crank at a faster pace. This seems to be the only constant in all of this.

I am getting some EVAP codes but no other codes

I am really getting frustrated at this point and any help would be greatly appreciated!

[macgiver]

Flooring the pedal , held down ,turn starter to crankstart ( called "clear flood mode") is for starting a flooded , or what you THINK is a flooded motor . That holds the fuel to injectors to "fire" the sh!1T-ton of fuel you got in there. Of course you Let UP , as you have motor running & as she pick'sup rpm's.

You may disconnect a plug wire OR pull a coilpack and observe a well GROUNDED spark plug's strenghts as it sits - Firing in the open - on top of engine ( you don't HAVE to remove cyl's plug -use a substitute) . SEE the kind of spark your getting , while YA got the problem-starting going on , LIVE and IN COLOR ! Is it healthy , crack'lin HIGH VOLTAGE ??
There's more "checks" ,but take it from there , and other's suggestions.

p.s. Must definitely ground the FRAME of COIL PACK ( if used , and sitting "free") , along with groundng body of plug your observing.

[TimQX4]

Clear flood mode. Never heard of it. Thanks! I'll let you know what happens when I try to start the car tomorrow.

[TimQX4]

So I tried starting it last night and it didn't start after cranking for a few seconds. I tried the clear flood mode and it started right up.

I started it again this morning and it started right up, without using clear flood mode (it does start fine once in awhile).

I think I have to try it a few more times to confirm that flooding is the problem but it seems likely especially considering the white smoke that smells like fuel.

Any ideas on what might be causing it to flood?

[macgiver]

No, but now you owe "mac" $100 No you don't .

[mdmellott]

Those EVAP codes may be a clue. If your friend, or you, are a "top it off" when you fill up your tank kind, after the pump automatically shuts off, then your carbon canister may have been flooded. A canister hose connection to the fuel tank is a couple of inches just inside the tank fill line past the gas cap. The carbon canister absorbs vapor from your tank and throttle body when the car is not running. When running, these vapors are fed to your engine. If the canister is flooded, it will dump liquid fuel, not vapors, to the intake. There are also one way check valves in the EVAP system lines that, if faulty, would give you fault codes as well. The white smoke is excess fuel not burned so my first check would be on the canister.

[TimQX4]

Thank you. The EVAP codes were present before I started encountering the starting problem and I assumed they were unrelated. However, your explanation makes sense. I'll check the canister this weekend.