Will not start when cold

JEREMIAH8325

MEMBER
1991 DODGE STEALTH
3.0L
V6
2WD
MANUAL
14,000 MILES

My car will run and drive completely fine and normal once started and will start fine as long as it hasn't sat more than six to right hours. But if it sits all night it will not start unless I crank it a minute turn key off and on a few times crank. Again then turn key off and on and I have to repeat about twenty times then starts roughly but if I spray starting fluid in my intake through PCV valve hose (toward) intake it will fire right up immediately. What could possibly be causing this? I'm not completely car illiterate lol. I have a few guesses but I just can't exactly narrow it down and can't afford to be replacing unnecessary parts. Just need a second be opinion desperately. Please help.

6 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

There are a number of things that could be causing this problem. So, like you said, to keep from throwing parts at it, until an educated guess hits the spot. I have included for you in the diagrams down below a factory flow chart for you to follow that will lead you right to the part or system that is causing this condition. Please go through this flowchart and get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 AT 1:33 PM

SEVAG P

MECHANIC
405 POSTS

Hello thanks for using 2CarPros.

The problem as you describe hard starting at cold, but with starting fluid engine starts instantly. then it seems your engine has very lean mixture at cold start. it can be auxiliary air valve stuck open or injectors are not spraying enough fuel to make rich mixture at cold.
As a first step read the fault codes by using scanner for fast trouble shooting.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Use our guide for engine hard to start:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

also coolant temperature can cause cold start problem at cold state it sends wrong signal to control unit that injectors cant spray enough fuel. fig 1 for you car parts location. fig 2 for temperature sensor location.fig 3 for crank sensor location.fig 4 for coolant temperature sensor test values.
Send us feed back what happens with you.
thank you

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Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 AT 2:00 PM

JEREMIAH8325

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I don't know if this helps that I was just out messing with the car and while running I unplug the TPS sensor and there is no effects even when rubbing the motor it doesn't matter whether the TPS sensor is plugged in or not it runs the same. Also there's a sensor on the opposite side of the intake I'm not sure of the name I think it controls the internal butterflies on the intake. When I unplug it as well no effect on the motor when running runs the same whether it's plugged in or not. Which is fine it runs fine whether they're plugged in or not. Could this be anything to do with the problem?

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Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 AT 2:57 PM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

There are a couple of factory troubleshooting tests I would like you to run please. I have included them in the diagrams down below. They will require you to use a altimeter. I have included a link below if you are not familiar with how to use one.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Please go through these tests and get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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