'03 Neon SXT, SOHC Automatic, purchased November 2011, approx. 75,000 miles


Frequent Hard Start problem - Please see video->

http://www.youtube.com/user/GraphicM.../0/aR_RyAw_kJc

Car was purchased in November, ran good, occasionally it would start like it was on 2 cylinders, and stumble until revved, rpm's would come down, idle would be fine. This happened maybe once a week, mostly on the first start of the day, sometimes after it had already ran for a bit.
Approx. 2,000 miles have been put on the car since.
2 weeks ago, Mid Dec. it did basically the same thing as the video. I cleaned the throttle body & IAC. Checked T.P. senor & MAP. Read with OBD2 scanner, No codes. Reassembled everything, started it and it ran fine.
Next day, no start at all. Engine cranked but no ignition, not even a bump. Tried and tried, nothing. Checked fuel pressure, 60psi, leak down to 52psi, fuel pump relay worked. Checked spark, spark at all cylinders. Replaced MAP & IAC with parts yard units, still no start, no codes. Disconnected battery for 30 min. No start.


Day 2 of no start: key dance, no code, check engine light on, blinks 10 times. No start. Replaced crankshaft sensor, camshaft sensor, coolant temp sensor, fuel pressure regulator (checked fuel pressure after new regulator- 62-64psi, leak down 58psi) & charcoal canister for fuel tank (parts yard unit). Still no start.
Checked compression on all cylinders, good compression on all. Pulled injectors, left attached to fuel rail and cranked engine over (with help) all injectors sprayed evenly. Replaced injectors with new o-rings. Didnt bother to start...


Day 3: Towed to mechanic - couple hours later, mechanic calls, car started fine!
Car runs fine, starts fine for two weeks until today. Same problem as weeks ago.. It started like this in the morning, I had to move the car out of the driveway. Tried to move the car back into the driveway, still really hard to start. That when the video was taken.



*Note about the video, during the first 15 seconds of the video when I'm just cranking it, I put the pedal to the floor a couple of times (its my understanding that flooring it during a hard start condition clears it from flooding) Also, the loud squeal when it eventually starts up, is new and has never done that.






Thanks,

 

What condition are the spark plugs in? Have the wires ever been changed? What did the mechanic do exactly?

 

The squeak is from the belt. Wonder is one of the accessory is locking up. Try remove the Serp belt and see if it starts? or maybe crank the engine by hand and see if it turns easily.

Wiggle CAM and Crank sensor connector, sometimes the failure is in the connector and not the sensor. Since you have scanner, look into Coolant temp sensor and Intake air temp sensor data, see if they look normal.

 

The plugs were just changed while this problem was going on with new platinum plugs.

The wires appear to have been replaced recently, they are aftermarket and are in good shape.

The mechanic did nothing. I didnt attempt to try and start it that morning, it was towed to the shop. It started for them with no issues, they drove it and let it idle, no issues, so they didn't follow through with anything else.

 

plugged cat. remove the upstream O2 sensor, just had the same problem.

 

Suppose it's a possibility at this point. Just making sure they weren't 75,000 mile old wires (and possibly plugs). Though, Neons don't particularly like platinum plugs.