Q: Crank but no start on occasion

asked by on September 16, 2016

a few weeks ago I noticed my car was running rough when I would start it and in idle. Well one day it finally happened, the car won't start back up after i pumped gas into it. (I don't let it get to the point where the gas light comes on). Well in order to get it stated you would have to step on the gas and feather it until it came back to life. I took it to a local shop who I trust and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, so we just did the normal oil change. Well about two weeks went by now and I recently went to work and worked for about an hour and found out that gas prices will skyrocket over the weekend. So I took a break and went to go get gas. (The gas station was a 30 second drive from one side of the parking lot to the other). I fill up and get back in. I tried to start it, but it didn't work. IT will crank but it wouldn't start, as did the first time it happened. I then had to step on the peddle to get it to start up.

My car has 139800 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Why is my car dropping out of gear
I have seen this issue before on vehicles with your same drive train. First I would check the transmission fluid level. Do this by starting the engine, letting it warm up to operating temperature, and with the vehicle in PARK,...
Car misfires
Hi there. Though misfires can be caused by a number of reasons, a misfire that is present only when the vehicle is first started only has a few common causes. Most of the time this is caused by oil or...
Replaced the fuel pump and still having problems starting
If your car will not start, but the fuel pump is new, then it is likely a problem with something else; perhaps the ignition, or induction system. As this type of condition is sometimes difficult to diagnose, I would recommend...
Brake pedal goes 3/4 way to floor
Hello there. This is a more unusual problem, especially given the amount of parts you have replaced. In most cases, the pedal travel is due to either the master cylinder or the brake booster, sometimes both. Given that these have...
Low coolant light on, coolant level fine
The level sensor may be at fault giving off a false reading and having the car turn on the warning light (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/warning-light-is-on-inspection). This is an electrical problem in the case that an electrical component has failed. I suggest hiring an...
Need a way to drain out 1 year old gasoline sitting in an otherwise good car.
Hi there. If the fuel is only a year old, then it should be fine to drive off and fill up with fresh gas as it runs out. If you really want to get the fuel out of the tank,...
Multiple warning lights due to electronic control module - 2009 Kia Borrego
As the problem is fairly uncommon, it is likely the engine ecu did experience a processing failure and caused many warning lights to illuminate once the computer lost communication with the other systems. All of the systems where warnings came...
Car won't start in the morning, but it starts perfectly throughout the day. 2005 Ford Focus
It sounds like your engine does not have fuel pressure held up to the injectors overnight. The fuel pressure is leaking down due to a bad fuel pump check valve, or the fuel pressure regulator is leaking down the pressure....
My vehicle is leaking anti-freeze like crazy and I have no heater
It sounds like you may have some coolant that is leaking out, causing the motor to overheat. Or, you could have a bad thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement) or a faulty cooling fan relay (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/cooling-fan-relay-replacement) that is causing the motor to overheat which...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Cadillac CTS
The The 2012 Cadillac CTS comes with high tech features and a large amount of standard equipment when compared to its Japanese and European counterparts. The CTS is available in wagon, coupe, and sedan models to fit the needs of...
What is MPGe: electric car fuel economy ratings explained
When When you tell your friends and family that you bought a new car, inevitably the first question you’ll get is, “What kind of gas mileage does it get?” The question assumes that you’ve purchased an internal combustion vehicle, not...
Understanding the Cadillac Oil Life Monitor and Service Indicator Lights
Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. The Cadillac Oil Life Monitor system indicates when and what service your car needs.