Help diagnose intermittent hard start
 

Hi guys,

My teg is developing an increasingly bad starting issue. When I first got it it wouldn't even crank sometimes, until it wouldn't crank at all. I replaced the starter and all has been good for about 8 months. My wife has told me a few times that it would not start for her. One time she stalled it pulling out of a parking space and it wouldn't start for like half an hour, then started and ran like nothing happened. Other times it's on the initial start - it cranks and fires, then dies and then doesn't start for a few attempts.

It has started happening to me too every now and then. I give the dash a good whack (my solution to most things) and that seems to make it go. It almost seems like the ignition switch is bad - because it starts easily like a healthy car should, but then dies after a second. Sometimes just cranks with no start. Then out of nowhere starts and runs just fine and there are no issues once it stays running.

Can an ignition switch cause this? What's throwing me off is the fact that it does crank. Can a failing ignition switch cause it to crank but not start? All the accessories come on, then the unloader relay does its job, the engine cranks and usually starts but then it's like I turned the key back to off. I also sometimes hear a crunching sound from around the glovebox area, like a seizing electric motor or something, dunno if that's related.

Thanks in advance for any input!!
D

when its not starting you have to check if you have spark and fuel. go from there

a faulty ignition switch will still have the car crank over so that is a possibility

also a grinding sound near the glovebox would be the heater blower motor

if you had your electrical system checked (battery, alternator) and they're in good condition my guesses:

do you have a lot of keys on your car keychain? separate your other keys, and try starting it with just the car key. (the weight of the other keys might cause premature wear on the ignition). if it works with just the car key, then most likely an ignition related contact, or even the wiring harness for that (small wire harness that can be replaced). forgot the actual part name.

is your car manual? if it is, another thing to check is the clutch switch (an electronic switch above the clutch pedal that gives tells the car the clutch is engaged to start the car), wear and tear might cause that to go faulty too. the switch can be replaced.

these are just my guesses, hope things work out.