We bought our car with 50 miles on it. It has almost 800 miles now...so practically 'new'.

Every now and then, usually when driving for a short period of time, turning the car off, and returning shortly after while the car is still 'warm', we experience a hard start.

You turn the key, and the car cranks for 3-8 seconds before it finally fires. THEN, it will stumble a bit like it isn't hitting on all cylinders. It snaps out of the stumble quickly, especially with a quick and light hit of the throttle.

Typically when cold, the car fires right up. But, it will sometimes have a shake/stumble, similar to what I would expect out of my 5.0 Mustang with an aftermarket (high lift) cam. I don't expect the stumbles out of a mercedes.

Has anyone experienced and fixed it? I'm hesitant to take it to a dealer (how sad is that?)...

The car sat for 2 years before we bought it. I'm thinking it is a sensor of some sort that is likely fouled up a bit. Do these cars have IAC Motors?
I'm extremely un-familiar with the 3.2...just going off of my common knowledge of american products.

Thought I'd ask...haven't seen it posted before.

SQ

 

You are still under warranty. Take it to a dealership that has an SRT6 trained tech. They will find the problem quickly since it's reproducible. Sounds initially like a vacuum problem after hoses and such heat up.

 

That's the thing - it doesn't happen every time. Sometimes it starts just fine, others it will take 5-7 seconds.

As far as warranty - a warranty is only as good as the dealership network, and it seems that there are very few knowledgeable dealers when it comes to this car. I'll have to go by and ask if they have any SRT techs although I'm sure they dont

SQ

 

Sounds like it sat too long and now it needs to have all the "bad carbon" blown out with a few high speed runs. Dang, I hate when I have to do that.

 

It might be the Crankshaft Position Sensor. I had hard starts even after the car was running for a while. I was having similar problems that grew worse and it turned out that sensor was bad. See this post: https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...94&postcount=3

 

Thanks Daniel, I'll keep that in mind.

SQ

 

That description fits mine perfectly...sometimes starts great...sometimes it takes a few seconds.

 

Mine willl do a hard start if I don't wait for the beeping to stop before I fire it up. Otherwise, it works perfect every time. Maybe it has to do with fuel pressure...

 

I have not experienced this. I'll keep an eye on it though.

 

Wade,

I typically drive a Cummins Diesel powered dodge ram - so, out of habit, I always wait a few seconds for the heater grids to 'warm' prior to cranking. I find myself doing this in the Crossfire as well - so I don't think it is because the fuel system is not yet pressurized.

Anyone else? I wish I could mimic the problem...I guess I need to just keep my digi cam with me and film it every time I start it, and hope to catch it when it happens.

Although, I took Roy's advice and ran the crap out of it the other day...and it hasn't happened since?

SQ

 

A few of the Central Texas Crossfire members got to witness the 'hard start', or 'elonged' starting process.

Any ideas?

It did it 3 times tonight...This time it was cold the whole time it did it. Usually only happens when it is warm.

SQ

 

Just get the CPS and change it out. It's easier than a spark plug. If it doesn't solve the problem return it to the dealer. It's an $80 part if you don't go to a Mercedes dealership.

 

I did notice that when i turn my key to the on position of my srt 6 even when i let go of the key the engine still cranks until the car starts up, anyone else notice this??

 

Antonio,

Mine does this as well. How long does yours take to start?

It freaked me out the first time...

SQ

 

Mine is a only a few weeks old and I got it with 200 miles on it. It did the very same thing, and wasn't all the time. It didn't have to do with anything that is posted. Took it to the dealer and they changed the fuel pump and bam that fixed it. The problem that I also had that was affiliated, was the consuming smell of gas. I literally couldn't park my car in the garage after the first night, because it stunk up the whole garage. This was after I spent 2 weeks cleaning out my garage so I could park this car in there. Talk about being mad. The dealer was very good about getting it fixed by the next day. In the meantime I brought it home and they ordered me new headlights (condensation) and a rod for my drivers door lock. The tip of the door lock wouldn't pop up all the way. The bad thing was the tech messed up my door handle fixing this issue. Now the door really doesn't open from the inside. You have to pull the lever very hard and hit the door with your shoulder. That's not going to cut it, especially that I loved the way these doors opened and closed so effortlessly. So back to the dealer it goes, maybe I can get them to replace my IC while it's there. I also have some wear on my disc brakes. There are grooves, and I wanted them turned. So far they say it's normal, but I compared it to a limited 06' with 8k miles, and they were smooth. I'm going back next week and throw down with the service manager. If that don't work, then I'll get a hold of the owners. By coincidence they were my clients about 4 yrs back. I do notice now that I have 600 miles that my exhaust is getting more throaty (if that's the right word). I could have said deeper, but it's the same insurance. Sorry for the long post, but it's the fuel pump. It's on the outside of the tank. Not sure if there is two, one inside and one outside. But they changed the one on the outside according to the service advisor and my paperwork. They also changed my wiper blades. It's 12,000 or 12 mos everything, then bumper to bumper.

Cruzinquick

 

Usually it cranks about 7 to 9 times before it starts. How about yours?

 

Same here, 7+ is not out of the norm when it happens...but it doesn't always happen. Weird!

Cruzin,

Thanks for the heads up - I'll have to get that looked at. Were you able to repeat the problem at the dealer, or did they just pull a code on the scanner?

I don't have any excessive exhaust smell or fuel smell.

SQ

 

I was fortunate that when I pulled into the service drive. I shut off my car and waited about 5 minutes. When I went to start it, it cranked and cranked until it times out. Usually about 3 times. It will stop cranking and start back cranking on it's own. You just turn the key and let go and the car will crank on its own. I did that and it didn't start, almost like it's flooding. It went through it's cycle, and then you have to shut off the key to start it again. Then it started. So they were able to observe the hard start. Here is the actual write on the invoice.

Long crank when starting - The failed part is - external electric fuel pump leak. Does not build pressure. Replaced fuel pump assembly . . . 145000103 (0.5) M/O 513 FP Number 5102594-AA Description Pump Fuel 14073001

Hope this helps.

Cruzinquick

 

I'm having this problem on my SRT-6. It's been doing it since day one, when it had 47 miles on it, and it seems like its getting a little worse now that it has 1,000 miles on it.

ShawnQ, did you get it fixed by your dealership? If so, what did it turn out to be? I had it in to the dealership for this problem twice, and since they didn't know what it was, they gave me the standard "cant reproduce the problem" excuse. Odd, since the already admitted to me that they had witnessed it once. Anyway, I've video taped it on my cell phone to take to another dealership, but I would like to give them a place to start looking. I suggested the fuel pump, and they did a leak-down test and it was within specs.

I really hate dealing with car dealers on warranty work. Its painfully clear that they HATE doing any warranty work.

On the same subject...anyone have a good dealership to suggest in the Denver area?

Eric

 

Eric,

I got the run-around from my dealer about it and I am just living with it for now. I can't reproduce it, but it seems like any time you drive it for a while - and then let it sit for 15 mins or so, it is hard to start.

I haven't been able to reproduce it at the dealer, but I'm planning to try again. I have a feeling they will give me the same run-around.

It's a shame that no one likes dealers. I spent $25 on what I think should've been a warranty part, just because I didn't want to mess with the dealership haggling with whether or not it was a warranty item. Sad.

SQ