intermittent starting problem

[Neil - UK]

sometimes the car starts and idles ok, recently on a couple of occassions it starts doesnt idle and cuts out straight away, but then starts ok on the next attempt.

when visiting Nadine last weekend I had one failed start where the engine cut off straight away, then I turned the engine over twice for around 6 seconds each before it fired then had to rev it slightly to stop it from cutting out (for around 10 seconds). I left the car running for a couple of minutes then turned off. 10 mins laters it restarted first time and idled correctly.

*** pulled a drivers spark plug it looked ok, didnt have time to go any further as I had to leave. Any ideas ? knackered battery ? Seems to happen more when the engine is cold

 

[99 R/T 10]

Batt? If not, next time it doesn't start cycle the key twice to build fuel pressure. Is the problem occurring after a long period sitting?

 

[Neil - UK]

The viper does sit un-used for weeks at a time, even before winter, always with a battery tender plugged in. It was doing it back in the summer every now and then. I had driven briskly 200 miles to **** the day before.

 

[Joseph Houss]

I agree. Could be the battery, as the idle control sensor (or something like that) is controled, and needs, a certain amount of steady voltage. If the battery is weak, even if it's on a tender, it could present itself this way.

 

[Magicboy2]

Keep in mind that if the car starts but immediately shuts off, it could be the alarm circuitry. I had a similar problem with mine, it behaved as if the alarm was on, even though I know I had disengaged it.

I took the car to a local dealer last time this happened, and it exhibited the behavior for them- would die immediately. Then the next day when they went to work on it, it started up on the first try.

They agreed with the alarm theory, but by then the problem had magically gone away and they could do no further diagnosis under warranty.

So, who knows if and when it will happen again... let me know what you find out.

 

[Neil - UK]

it's probably is the original battery and no doubt it will need swapping soon regardless of this fault, first noticed this problem 7 months ago surely the battery wouldnt hang on that long if it was failing ?

Nadine is going to use SR Ease software through the laptop in 3 weeks, to see if there are any trouble codes, hopefully something will show up