I would appreciate any input about some start up problems that my car has been having in recent weeks.
When the car is warm (recently been run for a short time like to the gym) it will not start. It's not the battery because the starter turns without any hesitation. It just seems like the engine won't fire. This usually lasts about 2-3 minutes of repeatedly turning the key. It will then finally start but with a big cloud of smoke and a strong smell of unburned gas. It then sputters and idles high (maybe 1500 rpm) for about a minute. Then it runs normally, with no noticeable loss of power, etc.
On several occasions of this a CEL has come on. Sometimes it does not. This only seems to occur in warm weather, not in the winter and it never happens when the engine is cold like first thing in the morinng or when I start it on the way back from work.
I am taking it to the dealer on Monday but I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas about what the problem might be so that I can decide if the dealer knows what they are taking about or not.
Thanks!
When the car is warm (recently been run for a short time like to the gym) it will not start. It's not the battery because the starter turns without any hesitation. It just seems like the engine won't fire. This usually lasts about 2-3 minutes of repeatedly turning the key. It will then finally start but with a big cloud of smoke and a strong smell of unburned gas. It then sputters and idles high (maybe 1500 rpm) for about a minute. Then it runs normally, with no noticeable loss of power, etc.
On several occasions of this a CEL has come on. Sometimes it does not. This only seems to occur in warm weather, not in the winter and it never happens when the engine is cold like first thing in the morinng or when I start it on the way back from work.
I am taking it to the dealer on Monday but I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas about what the problem might be so that I can decide if the dealer knows what they are taking about or not.
Thanks!
