Engine Won't Start After Running for a bit

**DesertFox** · 04-14-2011

Okay so I thought I was done with this problem but I guess the cold weather only disguised it. When I run my car for a little bit or for a long time I will turn it off and then when I want to start it up again it won't start. I always have to end up waiting about 30 to 45 minutes depending on how much it was run until it cools down and then it will start again.

I don't really know what this is and what is causing this.

So far, I know it can't be any of these because I barely changed them;
- Spark plugs
- fuel filter

What I am thinking is that it may be any of these or something else I don't know;
- fuel pump
- spark plug wires

Anyone have any input on this? Anyone with a similar problem or has dealt with a similar problem? When my car is cool it will start up really fast and like a champ.

**dpzelenak** · 04-14-2011

it sounds like more of an electal problem..like a sensor or a bad wire..do you have access to a scan tool
sorry for my spelling

**t24moore** · 04-14-2011

Might be a bad oxygen sensor. Seems like your car stays running when in open loop mode but stops in closed loop mode (operating temps). If you know someone with a scanner I would see what your 02s are doing when the car warms up.

**dpzelenak** · 04-14-2011

^yup
thats why i said something like a sensor
an input to the pcm that helps it switch for open to closed loop
is you MIL light on?

**DesertFox** · 04-14-2011

Nah, no lights are on except for the low coolant level but it's full and the car does run at normal and steady temp.

What kind of scan tool would I need? Would an OBD II do the job or would I need a Tech II scanner to diagnose the O2 sensor?

**dpzelenak** · 04-14-2011

anyone will work as long as it has pids

**DesertFox** · 04-14-2011

Aight cool, any other possible issues that this could be?

Hmm, now I remember about a year or more ago I was stuck in a gas station with this issue. A mechanic came and he took off one of the spark plug wires, it began to spark (don't remember if it wasn't sparking before he took it off or not) and then the car worked.

**dpzelenak** · 04-14-2011

did you check the plug wires?
salt water and a spray bottle and see if it arc's to the block
and if you have a dmm check the ohms across the wires and see if one is messed up

**DesertFox** · 04-14-2011

That sounds dangerous, how exactly is that done?

**dpzelenak** · 04-14-2011

just spary the wires with the salt water while the car is running and if theres like a pin hole in one of the wires the salt will act like an conductor and arc to the closest ground and thats normal the block, just dont hold the wires and u'll be fine, oh and if it happens it will cause a misfire and the motor will bog down and then you'll know that you have a bad plug wire, or if you dont want to do that then you can get a dmm and do a resistance test on the wires and see if there still in spec, thats another way to check the wires with the car off

**gtx3800** · 04-14-2011

Heat soaked coils or even your ECM could be the culprit.. Start unpluggin sensors to eliminate them as the problem. It will trip a light but if it doesnt get a reading from a sensor it will revert to a default setting in the ECM. If you unplug it and it stops acting up, replace it.