My 2003 with 86k seems to be starting weak. It takes 2-3 cranks before it starts up. This happens whether it's cold or warm, but seems a little worse when warm. I've started waiting 10 sec before turning on the car with key in the ignition "ON". I also turn off the radio and turn down the fan. This seems to help it a bit. I stopped off at autozone and had the battery check and everything was fine. 100% charge. It has yet to not start at all.

Engine is all stock. No intake, turbo, header. Compression test at 185-190 across all cylinders.

I've looked at the various other threads on weak starts when warm, weak starts in general, but have yet to really find a solution. Checked the ground wire by the battery and everything looks good. Terminals are on nice and tight at the battery nodes.

I'm looking for suggestions on what to check.

I've heard that disconnecting the battery can reset the ECU and that people have replaced the battery thinking it was the problem, only to have the issue come back down the road. Should I try disconnecting the battery, reconnecting and then starting and idling for 5-10 minutes to reset the ECU and let it learn a good idel again? (I have no issues with the idle, nice and smooth no stuttering).

 

How old is the battery?

 

Several years, not sure of exact age.

 

the cold cranking amprage is probly lower then others.... even though the battery is 100% you may want to replace it with a higher cca one...if the car starts and runs fine i wouldnt worry about it till a little later on..(a couple months)

 

I doubt this is it, but if you're waiting 10 seconds and that seems to help, maybe it's related to your fuel pump, and the extra time is allowing the pump to prime. Not as likely as the battery (which I would replace first, especially if yours is many years old)..but you never know.

 

Checked to make sure the air filter isn't clogged?

 

Air filter is clean.

I don't think it's the fuel pump as i think waiting 5 sec. vs. 10 sec. wouldn't make much of a difference. It's really that waiting vs. instantly starting there is a difference. I would think that I would see other signs of a faulty fuel pump other than just a weak start....

 

My only two other suggestions would be the ignition switch and the starter itself.

 

Isn't 180 to 190 psi low compression for the S?

ROD

 

not us made engines.. its not good but its fair