Starting the car too long before starting is an ugly experience that most car owners have received their full share of. In most cases, the vehicle will eventually start and run fine. However, you should not ignore it if this happens repeatedly.
Indicates that something is wrong with the system. Diagnose and rectify the root cause before it escalates and drops expensive repair bills on the table. Here you will learn the possible causes, diagnostic procedures and how to solve the underlying problems. But first, let’s look at the possible causes.
What is the possible cause of the car cranking too hard before starting?
When you turn the ignition key, the starter receives an electrical signal to turn the flywheel. And the flywheel turns the crankshaft, which keeps the engine running when all is well.
However, this predefined procedure will be interrupted every time there is a problem. This can manifest itself in a number of ways such as the car not starting, the car taking a long time to start when the engine is cold, or long before starting whether the engine is cold, warm or hot.
In order for your vehicle to perform as defined by the manufacturer, several components, such as the spark plugs, fuel flow, and engine compression, must be in good condition. If any of these don’t work as expected, it will affect how the car starts.
These are the possible causes to look into if you are wondering why my car starts long before it starts.
spark problems
Various components of the ignition system work in harmony to produce sparks during the combustion process. These components include the spark plug wires, ignition coils, distributor, spark plugs, ignition switch, ignition module, and crankshaft position sensor. These components must be in good condition to produce the spark needed to start the engine without cranking it repeatedly.
A problem with any of these system components will disrupt the spark needed to start the vehicle on the first crank.
low fuel flow
Proper fuel flow plays an important role in keeping an engine running optimally. Problems with the fuel supply can cause the car to start too long before starting when hot. Fuel flow problems can come from a bad or weak fuel pump, clogged fuel injectors, clogged fuel filters, contaminated fuel, or low gas in the tank. (Note that the fuel gauge is not always correct.)
Your vehicle needs adequate fuel pressure to start and run, especially gas-injected engines.
low compression
Every internal combustion engine requires strong compression to start and run. A compression ratio in an internal combustion engine is the ratio of the volume of the cylinder with the piston in the lowest position compared to the volume of the cylinder with the piston in the highest position.
Power supply problems
Like the ignition, various components work in harmony to provide the power needed to start your vehicle. If the engine spins too slowly to start, the problem may be caused by a weak starter, bad battery terminals, or a low battery. The starter motor requires high amperage to crank and start the vehicle. If the battery is weak, it will not provide the electrical power needed for the motor to turn the flywheel.
If a weak starter is to blame, you’ll notice an unusual noise when you turn the ignition key. Sometimes it may not start until you touch the starter. Other power supply problems are corroded or weak battery cables, blown fuses, and shorted or open cables.
How is a long crank diagnosed?
When you notice the symptoms of a hard start, which is a long cranking before starting, you probably have spark issues, power supply issues, low compression, or fuel delivery issues. Without a proper diagnosis, you cannot pinpoint any of these potential causes. These are proven ways to diagnose a car that starts for a long time before starting.
If there is low compression in one or more cylinders, air will leak through the piston rings, invariably limiting the work the cylinders have to do to turn the crankshaft.
Broken or loose timing chains, belts, belt tensioners, and overhead camshafts cause low compression.
Check fuel supply.
The first thing to check is the fuel supply. First of all, check if the fuel pump works. To do this, turn the vehicle to the ON position and listen for the gas tank. A running gas tank should hum when you start the engine.
If there is no hum, the fuel pump is probably dead and not sending gasoline to the engine for combustion. A faulty fuel pump can cause a long cranking time when hot.
However, you should be aware that the fuel pump on some cars only works when the engine is running. Therefore, you should consult your owner’s manual to see how your pump works.
If the fuel is pumping, check the fuel pressure to see if it is enough to start the vehicle. Also, check the fuel filter to see if it is blocked. A clogged fuel filter can make starting difficult. If you are involved in a collision, check your vehicle’s inertia switch.
An inertia switch is a safety feature that automatically shuts off the flow of gas after a collision.
But not all vehicles have inertia switches. Therefore, you should check your manual to see if your vehicle has this feature. Your service manual should tell you how to light it to allow fuel flow.
Check the power supply.
If you suspect you have power problems, check the battery terminal and make sure it is properly tightened and free of corrosion. If the terminals are corroded, clean them properly. After that, check the battery and make sure it is fully recharged. Please refer to this article which explains the car battery testing process in detail for proper guidance.
If the vehicle hums when cranking, check the starter motor and make sure it is in good condition. First, try touching the starter and see if that fixes the problems. If so, you have a weak engine that needs repair or replacement.
Check for blown fuses by removing and inspecting them visually or using a test light or multimeter. You may have a blown fuse for the starter circuit. For a complete guide, check out this article which explains the smart ways to easily find a blown fuse.
check the spark
Sparks are one of the common reasons why cars spin up and eventually ignite after a long start. Sparking problems can also prevent cars from starting.
To diagnose if you’re having spark problems, start by looking at the spark plug wires and distributor cap for damage (if your vehicle uses a distributor). If you have a newer model car, check the ignition coils. These ignition components can get lousy over time. Check for an arc of spark at the spark plug wire or ignition coils with a spark tester and replace faulty ones as necessary.
Remove or replace and clean spark plugs. In the meantime, check the spark plugs to see if the engine has flooded after several attempts to start it. Remove the spark plugs if the engine has flooded and allow it to dry. After that, reinstall them and try again.
Check engine compression.
If none of the diagnostics above were able to pinpoint the root cause of the long crankshaft before starting, check the compression with a compression tester or gauge. You can also perform a leak test to see if the cylinders are leaking. You can contact an experienced mechanic for testing if you are not a DIYer.
After running these diagnostics, you should be able to trace the root cause of the problem. However, if you can’t spot the culprit, have a mechanic do a full diagnosis. After which, it should be able to trace the cause and advise you what to do or offer solutions to the underlying problem.
How do I fix if my car turns too much before starting?
As explained above, several factors can cause a car to spin long before starting. If you’re asking how to fix a car that spins too hard before starting, you need to diagnose the vehicle to track down the root cause. You need one or more of the following repairs to fix a car that is spinning too much.
Replace faulty ignition coil or spark plug wires
Reprogram and clean or replace faulty plugs
Clean or replace faulty distributor
Manually activate the inertia switch
recharge low battery
Clean corroded battery terminal
Replace or repair a weak starter
Clean or replace a clogged fuel filter
Replace weak fuel pump
Replace faulty fuel injectors
Fix low compression issues.
Frequently Asked Questions – Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a car is on for too long?
Idling your car for a long time will inevitably lead to some adverse effects such as high gas mileage as you use more fuel at a stationary point. And if you’re idling with electronics running, like your car’s radio, air conditioner, or heater, your battery will gradually drain, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere. You could overheat your engine if you let it idle too long.
Also, if there are metal shavings in the engine, it could wear out the bearings and damage the lifter and valve inside the engine.
How long must a car spin before starting?
Usually cars should take 2-3 seconds to start. If it takes longer than that, there is a chance that something is wrong with your car.
However, there is an exception to this rule. For example, if you parked your car for a long time or worked on the fuel delivery system or spark, the engine could go several laps before igniting. But after the first few starts, it should start showing up within 2-3 seconds max. Otherwise, have a service technician diagnose and fix the problem.
How long can a car stay on?
While cars should start in 2-3 seconds, some take much longer than that. Also, cars take longer or even slow to start several times after working on the engine. But whatever you do, don’t crank the engine for more than 15 seconds. If you start a car for up to 15 seconds and it refuses to start, return the key, give it a 20-30 second break, and try again. Holding the key for more than 15 seconds will likely wear out the fan in the starter.
What Causes Excessive Crankshaft Play?
Possible causes of excessive crankshaft play in a newly rebuilt engine could be that the crankshaft and block are not properly grounded or faced in the thrust area, a bent main bearing journal or thrust cap, or that the crankshaft is bent. Always have your engine checked by an experienced mechanic to avoid these costly mistakes. And if you choose to do it yourself, make sure you install everything correctly and double check before moving on to the next component.
How long can a car start before the battery dies?
This usually depends on the condition of the engine and the health of the battery. For example, if the engine cranks well with a fully charged 75 amp battery, it will take up to 1 hour of cranking before the battery dies. And if the motor is rubbing or not turning as it should, it can kill a fully charged 75 amp battery in 30 minutes.
to finish
This article describes why the car spins too hard before starting, diagnostic procedures, and how to fix them.
However, if your car takes too long to start after sitting, remove the hose from the throttle body, spray some starting fluid on it, and try again. If the problem starts to appear after sitting for a long time, it could mean that the vehicle is not having a problem, but the engine needs assistance. If starting fluid does not fix the problem, you should follow the diagnostic procedures above.
In either case, if you don’t understand the inner workings of your car, contact an experienced mechanic to trace the root cause and correct the problem.
