Car not starting after sitting overnight

Hi Raymond,

To help us understand what is going on, can you explain a bit more? It's obvious it's not starting properly and you see white smoke from the exhaust when it does run, but how well is it running when it starts (engine miss?)? Has it been overheating? When you say that it stopped cranking, do you mean the engine suddenly stop turning over when you attempted to start it?
It does appear that there could be battery/charging system issues if you had to get a jump start, so I recommend that you start with having the battery fully charged and do a charging system check. Also, with the engine cold, check the water level for the radiator to see if you are losing water.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-charge-your-car-battery
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-radiator-works

Thanks for using 2CarPros.. Glenn

Hi, thanks. but I think I have got you a bit confused. Car starts but has trouble if the car has sat over night and started the next day seems that it has trouble idling on its own with out my applying pressure to acceleration. There is no overheating, drives well. Maybe be a fuel pump relay or fuel pump itself. could that be the cause of fuel not delivering to engine correctly without it stalling? When cars running but turned off and left for a hour or so cars fine its start no problem.

Okay. well, is it stalling on acceleration, especially when cold? Fuel pump relay isn't likely a cause, because if that was an issue, it likely wouldn't start at all.
Are there any codes??
It sounds like it could be a problem with the Idle Air Control Valve, but waiting for any potential codes.
As far as the "white smoke", condensation of water in the exhaust comes out with an appearance of "white smoke". That is typically normal on start-up and for a short period until the engine and exhaust pipes have warmed up. A concern would be if it is continuous and check engine water level regularly.
Oh, and for reference, you are in our data base as a Nissan Sentra (US Version of the Almera Tino which has many names world wide)
Glenn...

Ok... well... Is it stalling on acceleration, especially when cold?? Fuel pump relay isn't likely a cause, because if that was an issue, it likely wouldn't start at all.
Are there any codes??
It sounds like it could be a problem with the Idle Air Control Valve... but waiting for any potential codes.
As far as the "white smoke", condensation of water in the exhaust comes out with an appearance of "white smoke". That is typically normal on start-up and for a short period until the engine and exhaust pipes have warmed up. A concern would be if it is continuous... and check engine water level regularly.
Ohhh... and for reference, you are in our data base as a Nissan Sentra (US Version of the Almera Tino... which has many names world wide)
Glenn...

Hi, thanks for your reply. It seems that when I go to start car up on a cold start and turn key ignition it feels that the car wont start without me putting foot down on acceleration and giving it some gas to help it get running smoothly but just turning key on without giving it some gas it then has trouble and starts to stall. it should be able to start without having to apply gas pedal for revs to idle, but when started it drives smoothly no miss or stalling when driving. checked water that's fine. have not checked for codes yet as I don't have a reading mechanism. any other ideas? please help.

Hi,

If I understand, you have to depress the throttle for the vehicle to start. If that is the case, there is a chance the fuel pressure regulator is allowing too much pressure to build. On many vehicles, depressing the throttle on the fuel-injected vehicle, it shuts down the injectors to clear a flooding issue. You may want to consider checking fuel pressure.

Next, a bad coolant temperature sensor can cause this as well. If the sensor is bad, it could be sending the wrong info to the computer. As a result, the computer mixes the air to fuel ration too rich or too lean. (too much or little fuel).

If you haven't, confirm the fuel pressure is within the manufacturer's specs. Here is a link that shows in general how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Let us know what you find.

Joe

Hi Joe, thanks for the reply and some useful information. I'm leaning towards the option of maybe what you said about the coolant temperature sensor. I happen to have checked my coolant and radiator and it seemed very low in both coolant reservoir and radiator and I have noticed a increase of fuel consumption. When driving but no engine light or high reading of temperature gauge. But like you said this problem sends false readings to computer and can give idling problems. I have had a car scanning but no codes come up to tell me of any problems I have clean throttle body still no difference. But will take your advice and try replacing to temperature sensor. Then a fuel pressure check as I do not have a fuel pressure checking gauge. Thanks for your useful info will let you no the outcome in new future.

Thanks, Ray

Hi Ray,

The interesting thing about the coolant temperature sensor is this: It can be sending the wrong signal and the computer doesn't know it's wrong so no code gets set.

However, before spending the money, you may want to get your hands on a live data scan tool to see if the signal (temperature) being sent is wrong. For example, if it's 50°F outside and the sensor indicates it 0°F, you know it's wrong.

Regardless, let me know what you find.

Take care,
Joe

Hi Joe, just wondering if the fuel pressure is low does that mean it could be the fuel pump that could be failing? I have put a coolant temperature sensor in and it seems to still stall and flood at times. Any ideas please?

Hi,

In most cases, low pressure will not cause flooding. Actually, it will do the opposite. On the other hand, high pressure can. What pressure do you have?

Joe

Hi, I changed the throttle position sensor now the car starts first pop. But acceleration is slow and seems to surge when driving but idle seems okay. What's going on? I'm lost for words and very tired of trying to get this right. could this be the relearned process that I have failed in doing to make these problems occur? Please help.

Hi,

Often times a relearn is required. However, usually, it will happen automatically. Is there anything out of the ordinary that you have noticed other than the power issue?

Joe

Hi, surging when driving idle higher than usual high consumption of coolant. Using more gas than usual. Still have to apply gas pedal for it to start after cranking a few times checked for vacuum leaks all okay. any more ideas?

How much coolant is being used? If there is no obvious leak, that is usually an indication of a bad head gasket. Take a look through this link and let me know if you can check what is suggested.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test


Joe

Hi there,

No, i don't have any of those indications of a blown head gasket in the video. I'm starting to think maybe a mass air flow sensor because I'm not losing coolant dramatically. And the indications of the idle and surging and cranking it over whilst giving it gas makes me think it could be a air flow sensor problem. what do you think about that? does any of those symptoms go towards the diagnostic?

I don't have the technical info on this model, but I'm not sure how a mass airflow sensor can cause a coolant leak. If you are losing a lot of coolant, are there puddles under the vehicle? Have you identified where the leak is located?

Is it possible for you to record it when trying to start so I can hear it?

Let me know.
Joe