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355 Starting Problem

Discussion in '348/355' started by dwbic, Jul 9, 2014.

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  1. dwbic

    dwbic Rookie

    Jun 19, 2013
    16
    Peru, IL
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    Don
    #1 dwbic, Jul 9, 2014
    Tonight I was going to take my 355 out for a drive. Car started perfectly, as usual, backed out of the garage and turned it off to wait for my neighbor to ride along. 3 minutes or so later my neighbor is ready, car cranks but doesn't fire or start. All fuses checked OK. What should I try next?
     
  2. gmbjr

    gmbjr Karting

    Dec 18, 2013
    67
    Austin, TX
    #2 gmbjr, Jul 9, 2014
    I'm assuming you hit the alarm button again after letting it sit for 3 minutes and then tried to start it, correct?
     
  3. dwbic

    dwbic Rookie

    Jun 19, 2013
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    Peru, IL
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    Don
    #3 dwbic, Jul 10, 2014
    Yes, and after the car sat awhile as we checked fuses - same result. I was wondering if the fuel pump relay or injector ECU relay could be the culprit?
     
  4. Big Lebowski

    Big Lebowski Formula Junior

    Jan 24, 2013
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    Peach state
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    Brownie
    #4 Big Lebowski, Jul 10, 2014
    Having been in your shoes I would bet on a failed fuel pump.
     
  5. dwbic

    dwbic Rookie

    Jun 19, 2013
    16
    Peru, IL
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    Don
    #5 dwbic, Jul 10, 2014
    Here is a new twist - this morning I tried starting the car and it started perfectly. Shut it off, tried starting it again - started perfectly. Shut it off again, started it a third time perfectly.

    The good news - the car is working now. The bad news - I'm not sure what happened last night and when it may happen again (like at a fuel stop rather than in my driveway).

    Could this be alarm/anti-theft related somehow? If so, why did the same sequence of events this morning not cause a problem like last night?
     
  6. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
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    Clyde E. McMurdy
    #6 ClydeM, Jul 10, 2014
    If the car cranks, then it boils down to Fuel or spark.
    If you didn't note, check for smell of fuel next time it wont start.
    I would think the alarm would disable not one, but both.
     
  7. emailben

    emailben Karting

    Feb 10, 2012
    195
    San Jose, CA
    #7 emailben, Jul 10, 2014
    Battery about to go bad?
     
  8. dwbic

    dwbic Rookie

    Jun 19, 2013
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    Peru, IL
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    Don
    #8 dwbic, Jul 10, 2014
    I agree that it comes down to fuel or spark since it cranked - didn't smell any fuel - it just seems that the symptoms point to something electrical, which is why I was looking at fuses and relays that control the fuel pump, injectors, etc. Last night I would have included a fuel pump failure as possible, but since it works today that doesn't appear to be the culprit. Would normal operation of the anti-theft let it crank but not deliver fuel or spark, or would it not even crank? If you don't hit the button on the key fob it won't crank. Puzzling... I hate unexplained and potentially intermittent problems!
     
  9. st4rk

    st4rk Formula Junior
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    Dec 7, 2011
    447
    #9 st4rk, Jul 17, 2014
    Not sure about anyone else, but anytime any car sits and is stuck cranking, I immediately hook it up to another car's battery to rule out the battery.

    I've had a car that didn't crank even when hooked up. I kept trying and it eventually cranked just a bit then immediately died. Turned out to be from the car sitting for several weeks, low on fuel, and crap being settled in the fuel tank. Once it finally started all I had to do was drive it aggressively a bit to burn up some fuel, then stop at a gas station for carb cleaner and new gas.
     
  10. gmbjr

    gmbjr Karting

    Dec 18, 2013
    67
    Austin, TX
    #10 gmbjr, Jul 17, 2014
    Mine cranks when the immobilizer is on, it just won't start. Not sure what the immobilizer is shutting off but, I'm guessing it's the fuel pump since as soon as you start the process over and push the alarm button, she fires right off.
     
  11. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
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    #11 Dave rocks, Jul 17, 2014
    My 98 will crank with immobilizer armed. Others (97) won't crank with immobilizer armed.
     
  12. delbert01

    delbert01 Rookie

    Jul 18, 2014
    1
    #12 delbert01, Jul 18, 2014
    Not had this problem on my 355 but did have it recently on my BMW. Turned out to be the fuel pump. Apparently they can work intermittently before finally failing! I had a week of the problem you are describing and the new pump fixed it instantly! Good luck
     
  13. dwbic

    dwbic Rookie

    Jun 19, 2013
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    #13 dwbic, Jul 19, 2014
    My 355 is a '97 - maybe this rules out the immobilizer since it cranked.

    Don
     
  14. dwbic

    dwbic Rookie

    Jun 19, 2013
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    #14 dwbic, Jul 19, 2014
    To save me the time of researching it, what type of pump is the 355 fuel pump? Depending on the mechanism of the pump may give some insight as to whether the fuel pump could work intermittently while failing.

    Don
     

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