Hard to Start

Tiny
PJZONA
  • MEMBER
  • DODGE CARAVAN
I have a 2002 3.3L engine with 120,000 miles. After the car sits for twenty minutes or longer it will not start. The only way I can get it to start is by turning the key off and on several times and then it will attempt to start. If I keep turning the key off and on it will finally start. Once running, no problems at all. The battery is hot and the starter is good. I have spark at the plugs and no leaks. I can hear the fuel pump come on when the key is turned on. I think it is fuel related but not sure if it is the fuel pump or the pressure regulator. Thanks for any help you can give me.
Saturday, November 17th, 2007 AT 2:00 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Have a pressure test done on it, also pull the vacuum line off the regulator, if there is any fuel in it, change it. If you can find the return line try clamping it off and see if this increases the pressure enough to star the van, if yes, the pump is weak...How about the fuel filter, changed yet? And how about that last tune up? Bad plugs are a prime cause of hard starting...sorry your model has it built on to the fuel pump, you need the dogge scan tool and a pressure tester to test this one...

This guide should help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, November 17th, 2007 AT 2:53 PM
Tiny
PJZONA
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Are you referring to the vacuum line on the fuel pressure regulator located on the fuel pump assembly? Thats is the only regulator I know of. If there is another one, where is it. Thanks for your advice, at least I have a starting point!
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Saturday, November 17th, 2007 AT 5:04 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Yes try pulling that off to check for gas, ther should not be any.
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Saturday, November 17th, 2007 AT 5:08 PM
Tiny
PJZONA
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Sorry not quite sure what you mean follow up post I am new to this. I checked the fuel line before attempting to start the car and found no fuel pressure. After starting the car and running for a couple of minutes turned it off and again no fuel pressure in the line. The line should hold pressure right?
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Saturday, November 17th, 2007 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Yes, either the regulator or the pump is bad, if the regulator can be bought seperatly go with that first.
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Sunday, November 18th, 2007 AT 8:02 AM
Tiny
WMJOYNER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
10 days ago it quit running had to have it two home. It use to start as soon as soon as u turn key now it takes 3 or 4 times. Have code 10 & p0601 any help will be welcome.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,380 POSTS
Code p0010 is the "A" side camshaft which is the intake or the front camshaft. The code is for the position sensor actuator which could give you some timing issues which would keep it from running. The other code p0601 is for the Internal Control Module which is for the engine itself. I am attaching a general overview of the complaint and the needed repairs involved. Let me know if you need anything else.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OLDCRAPPY1
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2002 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 155,000 MILES
My 2002 Dodge Caravan is hard to start when engine is cold but it is hot outside 96 or hotter acts like it is not getting fuel. Engin has to turn over several times before it fires. It has 155,000 miles on it.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,737 POSTS
Sounds like fuel pressure might be dropping. To prove it, turn the ignition switch to "run", wait a few seconds, turn it off, wait a few seconds, turn it to run again and wait a little, then try to start it. Each time you turn it to run the fuel pump will run for one second to build up pressure. If that helps, the most likely cause is a leaking injector that lets the pressure bleed off. Very often you can overcome that by simply pausing with the switch in the run position for one or two seconds before you turn it all the way to the "crank" position.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OLDCRAPPY1
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks Doc will give it a try, but if it is a leaky injector it would be hard to start all the time if it sat for a while. This only happens at work after sitting out in the sun for 8 hrs.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,737 POSTS
The drop in pressure can produce misleading symptoms. Mine will start instantly after sitting overnight or less than 15 minutes after stopping the engine. It has a long crank time, (up to five seconds), after the engine has been off more than around 15 - 20 minutes.

Besides waiting for fuel pressure to build up, it may be necessary to clear a flooded condition from leaking fuel before the engine will start. That would be aggravated in higher temperatures. When that fuel is cooler, it will condense and puddle in the intake manifold and will be burned off after the engine starts. In warmer temperatures, it is more likely to vaporize and cause that flooded condition and hard starting.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OLDCRAPPY1
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hey Doc the van starts great now with the turn and wait and turn and wait then start procedure. Thanks for the great tip.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,737 POSTS
Glad I could help, but that isn't a fix, just a clue if finding the real cause.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HOTTOPGIRL2
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
Have to turn key on then off then on again to start eng.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
When the problem occurs, are you saying it won't even crank? Or it cranks good but won't start? If it is the latter, I'd use a gage and check fuel pressure, cycling the key can help the fuel system prime.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HOTTOPGIRL2
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Cranks and starts runs good and sometimes cranks and starts the frist time other times no
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Intermittent issues, you have to test when the problem is ongoing.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOJO1447
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 163,000 MILES
I have a 2001 dodge caravan 3.3 g-flex. Recently I've been having a hard time starting the van. I will have to push down on the pedal for a few seconds until it starts then runs fine. I smell gas coming out the tailpipe, and am going through the gas mileage. My obd 2 code says a speed control circuit. My uncle said it probably is the Idle control valve. I would like your opinion if you don't mind!
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
What code is it giving you? Speed control circuit is the idle air control circuit, A bad IAC will give hard starting problem, but so will an out of range TPS(throttle possition sensor).
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOJO1447
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Its giving me a P1595 code. I did put a brand new TPS in just two days ago, I forgot to mention that, Sorry! No change.
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Friday, November 22nd, 2019 AT 7:06 PM (Merged)

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