Why won't my car start if it is hot outside?

Tiny
TBURTON925
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
  • 100,000 MILES
My car won't start after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Every morning my car starts no problem. Runs perfectly when it does. It has driven from northern California to Las Vegas, San Diego and LA and back without overheating once. But on days that I drive to work and park the car at the end of my shift the car won't start and has taken various tines anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours to start. On occasion I have gotten frustrated and left the car to come back after sun down and it starts on the first try. I have had a few men say to me it sounds like a car with no gas but there has always been gas in it when it does this. So the first thought was the fuel filter changed that and it was still doing it. Second thought was the fuel pump changed that and the filter again still doing it. Checked all the fuses which also seem to be fine. I just don't know what it could be. And it is getting extremely frustrating. I don't always have an extra hour or more to sit and wait for the car to start and I can't always find a shaded place to park. Which by the way on cool days it doesn't do this and if it is in a very shaded area it doesn't do it then either. Please help this is a 2003 Oldsmobile aleo and I am just stuck literally and figuratively.
Friday, June 15th, 2012 AT 4:53 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Suspect crankshaft sensor behind crank pully. Check engine light coming on? Have had scanned?
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Friday, June 15th, 2012 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
SODBUSTERD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Have same problem. Threw one code. Left bank lean this is 03 silouette as well. Starts perfect when cold. Have to rev it up for a few minutes when hot. Almost gave up on restart last try
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Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 AT 8:14 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
What happened?
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-2
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
ZACHHARDESTY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Listen closely! I had the exact same issue you were having. I spent lots of money trying to resolve this issue, including a new fuel pump and a new Engine Control Module ( the computer ). I decided to check my voltages at the relay terminal under the hood, for the fuel pump. Voltages were fine. Factory replacement fuel pump relay ( AC Delco ) didn't work. However, I could jump the terminals with a piece of wire, and force the pump to turn on. Here is what you do.

Go to AutoZone and buy a replacement relay for the fuel pump. Do not buy AC Delco brand relays! Oddly enough, the AutoZone relay worked, and the AC Delco relay did not, even though I tested the AC Delco relay using a multimeter, and checked good.

Go to AutoZone, spend the $15 bucks for THEIR brand of relay. Try the $15 dollar solution before you go replacing fuel pumps, ecm's, and crank sensors. Good luck!
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Tuesday, August 14th, 2012 AT 3:26 AM

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