hard starts

steve505gt · October 21st, 2007, 05:27 PM

I've got an 04 gt with just 34,000 miles, and sometimes it starts really rough...... 3 or 4 seconds. And occasionally it chokes up a bit like its not gonna start.

Are there any simple checks I can do before I take it in?

04gtvert · October 21st, 2007, 07:14 PM

I have an 04 with 45,000 that does the exact same thing. It seems to be totally random.

HMUSN · October 21st, 2007, 07:16 PM

welcome to the forums.

when was your last tune up?

brianm · October 21st, 2007, 08:56 PM

mine was doing the same thing mostly when it warmed up and i gave it a tune up(gas filter,plugs and sea foam) and i haven't had a problem since.

neckbonekat · October 21st, 2007, 10:45 PM

Where do you buy your gas? You may be putting cheap gas in your car. ry changing stations for a full tank and see if it stops. Also if left over night gas separates in colder weather. Try some dry gas and some Seafoam. If it's still there look into a tune up.

04GTAMPA · October 22nd, 2007, 09:09 AM

Sounds like dirty filter, clogged injectors, old plugs.

04GTAMPA · October 22nd, 2007, 09:10 AM

Amazingly, for under $30 YOU can do it all, or give the dealer $200+ to do it for you.

JASonic · October 22nd, 2007, 03:23 PM

I have an 04 with 50k miles. I just chages the fuel filter, cleaned the air filter and ran seafoam. It seems to have gotten worse before the alternator died. I changed the alternator and the sucker still starts hard on occasion. After the alternator change, I thought the battery guage would go back to center but ti hasnt. It stays just to the side of "over charged". thought that might have something to do with it.

I think maybe it might be Citgo gas for me. I cant pinpoint it though. Fortunatley, it always starts.

steve505gt · October 22nd, 2007, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by HMUSN

welcome to the forums.

when was your last tune up?

Thanks man. I just got this stang last month so I'm not too sure.

Its had a can of seafoam through the tank and I ran about 1/4 can in the oil for 100 miles or so before I changed it.

And I've only given it chevron supreme or whatever.

Whats a spark plug job like on these 4.6s? I had an LT1 awhile back and it made paying a couple hundred $$ for plugs seem like a deal.

Its still on warranty so I could possibly have it done at no charge, I was just hoping for some direction to get started on it myself.

Thanks guys

RyanGT · October 22nd, 2007, 08:50 PM

Mine has done this since i bought it too. Worse on cold days... To the point of not starting. Not sure how this winter will be though, have a totally new engine with a kb on top, and everything changed out besides the coils... I now have to pump gas pedal a few times to get it started in the mornings (cold). Will see if things clear up with my new fuel pump and ud pulleys changed to stock size (i know it was bad on supercharged car but didnt have stock ones).

Curious what it is for you!

WildWill · October 23rd, 2007, 11:54 AM

my 02 gt started doing this too.. after it had sat for a while.. it was randomly doing exactly what you described until one day it simply died and wouldn't start up again... it was a bad fuel pump.

i would try changing your filter first, and if that doesn't do it, i'll bet it's your fuel pump going bad.

G.T. Rags · October 23rd, 2007, 12:18 PM

mine does that right now and i can actually hear my fuel pump all the time.....

weems · October 23rd, 2007, 12:54 PM

clean your iac..

steve505gt · October 23rd, 2007, 07:56 PM

Ok I'll start with the fuel filter and move to the pump and if I find anything I'll let ya know. Thanks guys

And weems I just cleaned the IAC last weekend...... thats actually how I found this site

I was looking around online because my idle was rising and falling (my girl said the car was "purrrring" haha) and I found the guide about the IAC. Worked like a charm on that problem.

October 21st, 2007, 05:27 PM	#1
steve505gt Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 reviews	hard starts I've got an 04 gt with just 34,000 miles, and sometimes it starts really rough...... 3 or 4 seconds. And occasionally it chokes up a bit like its not gonna start. Are there any simple checks I can do before I take it in?

October 21st, 2007, 07:16 PM	#3
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	welcome to the forums. when was your last tune up? __________________

October 21st, 2007, 08:56 PM	#4
brianm Hardcore Enthusiast 2011 ram 1500 hemi Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sylvan lake, alberta Posts: 1,336 iTrader: 0 reviews	mine was doing the same thing mostly when it warmed up and i gave it a tune up(gas filter,plugs and sea foam) and i haven't had a problem since. __________________ vmp500 hp. jba lts. powerhouse d/s Sold

October 21st, 2007, 10:45 PM	#5
neckbonekat I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2005 Cadillac STS V8 ???????????????? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 6,344 iTrader: 3 reviews	Where do you buy your gas? You may be putting cheap gas in your car. ry changing stations for a full tank and see if it stops. Also if left over night gas separates in colder weather. Try some dry gas and some Seafoam. If it's still there look into a tune up. __________________ ITEMS FOR SALE! 4.10 GEARS + BEARING KIT

October 22nd, 2007, 09:09 AM	#6
04GTAMPA Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Mustang SVT Cobra Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,742 iTrader: 1 reviews	Sounds like dirty filter, clogged injectors, old plugs. __________________ Slow, really slow Cobra. Wanna see? MM Cobra Club Member #81 "TAMPA BAY AREA CREW"

October 21st, 2007, 07:14 PM	#2
04gtvert Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 532 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have an 04 with 45,000 that does the exact same thing. It seems to be totally random.

October 22nd, 2007, 09:10 AM	#7
04GTAMPA Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Mustang SVT Cobra Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,742 iTrader: 1 reviews	Amazingly, for under $30 YOU can do it all, or give the dealer $200+ to do it for you. __________________ Slow, really slow Cobra. Wanna see? MM Cobra Club Member #81 "TAMPA BAY AREA CREW"

October 22nd, 2007, 03:23 PM	#8
JASonic The George Forman of Keepers Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,385 iTrader: 20 reviews	I have an 04 with 50k miles. I just chages the fuel filter, cleaned the air filter and ran seafoam. It seems to have gotten worse before the alternator died. I changed the alternator and the sucker still starts hard on occasion. After the alternator change, I thought the battery guage would go back to center but ti hasnt. It stays just to the side of "over charged". thought that might have something to do with it. I think maybe it might be Citgo gas for me. I cant pinpoint it though. Fortunatley, it always starts.

October 22nd, 2007, 08:50 PM	#10
RyanGT MM Fanatic 2000 GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 4,258 iTrader: 4 reviews	Mine has done this since i bought it too. Worse on cold days... To the point of not starting. Not sure how this winter will be though, have a totally new engine with a kb on top, and everything changed out besides the coils... I now have to pump gas pedal a few times to get it started in the mornings (cold). Will see if things clear up with my new fuel pump and ud pulleys changed to stock size (i know it was bad on supercharged car but didnt have stock ones). Curious what it is for you!

October 23rd, 2007, 11:54 AM	#11
WildWill Hardcore Enthusiast 1995 Mustang GT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Solomons, MD Posts: 1,112 iTrader: 0 reviews	my 02 gt started doing this too.. after it had sat for a while.. it was randomly doing exactly what you described until one day it simply died and wouldn't start up again... it was a bad fuel pump. i would try changing your filter first, and if that doesn't do it, i'll bet it's your fuel pump going bad. __________________ GT40p heads, 1.7 crane RR's, GT40 u/l, MAC LTs, MAC o/r h-pipe, Flowmaster 40s, 65mm t/b, '03 Cobra Bilstein Struts, Tokico Bullitt Shocks, MM c/c plates, Eibach Sportlines, B&M shifter, 255lph f/p, RAM p/g clutch, Fidanza alum fly, rebuilt t-5

October 23rd, 2007, 12:54 PM	#13
weems Tech Exchange Head Honcho 2003 SVT Cobra 11.70 @ 121 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Forsyth/Statesboro, GA Posts: 9,176 iTrader: 3 reviews	clean your iac..

October 23rd, 2007, 07:56 PM	#14
steve505gt Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok I'll start with the fuel filter and move to the pump and if I find anything I'll let ya know. Thanks guys And weems I just cleaned the IAC last weekend...... thats actually how I found this site I was looking around online because my idle was rising and falling (my girl said the car was "purrrring" haha) and I found the guide about the IAC. Worked like a charm on that problem.

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