I bought my 05 WK about 2 months ago from a shady little hole in the wall dealer, since less than stellar credit limited my choices of who would finance me. About a week after purchase, it developed a strange problem. Whenever I drove around town (between college classes, errands, etc) and would try to start the car while the engine was warm/hot, the car would struggle, shudder, and the engine would turn but nothing happened. After a few attempts at forcing it it would finally take. I'm not sure what is causing this, although from what I've looked up online, it seems like it might be a failing fuel pump issue? Here are a few notes about the situation:
• It only happens when the temp gauge is at half. If the engine is cold, the car starts up like a champ every time.
• It has been getting progressively worse. At first it would struggle once or twice, then run like normal. Now it struggles so much that if I continue to try it, the battery eventually gives out too.
• The car has ~ 147,600 miles on it. It is a 3.7L V6.
• The car has never stalled while driving, but it does lag and feel underpowered when accelerating hard (such as to pass someone, or pick up speed rapidly on the freeway) and when going up hill.
• When the car initially starts it will either idle at 1,500rpm or 500rpm. It's usually one or the other, and I can experience both in the same day (start it once, it idles at 1,500, start it an hour later, it idles at 500)
• Trying to start the car with the gas pedal depressed doesn't do anything to make the situation better. Likewise, turning the car on/off without trying to start the engine to engage the fuel pump also doesn't make the engine start if it's warm. Essentially, when it's warm I have a giant paperweight on wheels and have no choice but to sit in my car for 30-45 minutes and wait.
Does anyone know what is causing this? It's very frustrating and before I start throwing money left and right at my car for repairs, I'd like an idea of what this could be and if anyone else experienced this. I shot a video of it using my iPhone and have uploaded that on youtube since I think that will give everyone a good idea as to how it is behaving. You can view that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpMY2cd5KYk&feature=youtu.be
Also, outside of the check engine light coming on when the engine cranks but fails to start, there are no lights that come on while driving. The CEL goes away once the engine actually turns on. Two mechanics looked at it and neither was able to pull any codes. I know the fuel pump itself won't throw a code if it is failing, but I felt that I should put that out there since it may rule out other defects which could cause similar behavior but would throw a code.
Thanks in advance! Hopefully it's something annoying/small and nothing too expensive.
• It only happens when the temp gauge is at half. If the engine is cold, the car starts up like a champ every time.
• It has been getting progressively worse. At first it would struggle once or twice, then run like normal. Now it struggles so much that if I continue to try it, the battery eventually gives out too.
• The car has ~ 147,600 miles on it. It is a 3.7L V6.
• The car has never stalled while driving, but it does lag and feel underpowered when accelerating hard (such as to pass someone, or pick up speed rapidly on the freeway) and when going up hill.
• When the car initially starts it will either idle at 1,500rpm or 500rpm. It's usually one or the other, and I can experience both in the same day (start it once, it idles at 1,500, start it an hour later, it idles at 500)
• Trying to start the car with the gas pedal depressed doesn't do anything to make the situation better. Likewise, turning the car on/off without trying to start the engine to engage the fuel pump also doesn't make the engine start if it's warm. Essentially, when it's warm I have a giant paperweight on wheels and have no choice but to sit in my car for 30-45 minutes and wait.
Does anyone know what is causing this? It's very frustrating and before I start throwing money left and right at my car for repairs, I'd like an idea of what this could be and if anyone else experienced this. I shot a video of it using my iPhone and have uploaded that on youtube since I think that will give everyone a good idea as to how it is behaving. You can view that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpMY2cd5KYk&feature=youtu.be
Also, outside of the check engine light coming on when the engine cranks but fails to start, there are no lights that come on while driving. The CEL goes away once the engine actually turns on. Two mechanics looked at it and neither was able to pull any codes. I know the fuel pump itself won't throw a code if it is failing, but I felt that I should put that out there since it may rule out other defects which could cause similar behavior but would throw a code.
Thanks in advance! Hopefully it's something annoying/small and nothing too expensive.