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Hard to start


mkvapil
08-16-2007, 08:38 AM
My wife 2000 300M is having trouble starting and it has a brand new battery. Once you put the key in the ignition and turn it on(not cranking), normal routine lights comes on(no chk engine light), cranki it and nothing happen. It takes about 10-20 key turning to get it cranked up and running. Sometimes in the middle of trying to start, the engine would get cranked up and running but it was very weak and it would die(last about 2 seconds Kinda like trying to start a lawnmower that sputter and die after pulling the cord so many times) Does it sounds like it needs a new starter? Ignition coil? fuel pump? Turning the key on and off 3 times will not show the codes in the dash like my 2003 Jeep Limited. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

tinmanwpk
08-16-2007, 11:07 AM
My wife 2000 300M is having trouble starting and it has a brand new battery. Once you put the key in the ignition and turn it on(not cranking), normal routine lights comes on(no chk engine light), cranki it and nothing happen. It takes about 10-20 key turning to get it cranked up and running. Sometimes in the middle of trying to start, the engine would get cranked up and running but it was very weak and it would die(last about 2 seconds Kinda like trying to start a lawnmower that sputter and die after pulling the cord so many times) Does it sounds like it needs a new starter? Ignition coil? fuel pump? Turning the key on and off 3 times will not show the codes in the dash like my 2003 Jeep Limited. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Might be the fuel rail is leaking down. It could be either a leaking fuel pump check valve or a leaking injector. The fuel rail when it sits leaks out its fuel. When you hit the ignition the pump doesn't have enough time to pressurize the rail and won't start. Try turning on the key to start but don't engage the starter. Do this a couple of times to allow pressure to build in the fuel rail. If your car starts then this is the problem - the leaking injector or pump check valve. If it starts up and runs rough for a while then smooths out, then it is the leaking injector. Also, try some fuel injector cleaner like Techron or something reliable. Run those thru a couple of tanks of gas.
That may help.

You don't have a coil - the M has coil packs for each spark plug. It's not the starter because your car cranks. Mayabe the fuel pump.

When you say "nothing happens" do you mean it doesn't crank? It turns over but doesn't start? What exactly happens when you hit the ignition? Maybe I jumped the gun trying to describe your symptoms when they haven't been fully explained. Please give us a little additional info and we will try to help.

mkvapil
08-16-2007, 10:23 PM
It just make some clicking noise. I don't know if the engine turned over while trying to start. What i just noticed that the red secuirty light on the dashboard get lit after tryingto start. I don't know if that is normal or not.

Fuel rail leaking? Would I be able to smell gasoline?

tinmanwpk
08-17-2007, 12:01 PM
So, what you are saying is you turn the key to start it and it just clicks. After a while it "catches" and does start, correct? It sounds like a battery. The battery is suspect, but you said it is new. Still, it may be defective. Most probably it is the connection to the battery OR the posts where you can hook up the jumper cables. Many times all of those connections either get loose or corroded. You need to check them out.

If those easier options fail you, it may be your starter. After this I would check out www.300mclub.org (http://www.300mclub.org). I have made my best guesses and have run out of options. The 300m club has way more knowledge collectively and may be your best option after trying what I suggested.

As for the fuel rail leaking down, no, you won't be able to smell the gas. It just leaks down back into the system or the one injector and that is what makes for a slow start and rough start. It won't be the cause for your engine not cranking.

mkvapil
08-17-2007, 04:45 PM
How about this? Sometimes it would start right away with no problem and sometimes it doesn't and it takes many key turning to get it to start. It's like the car has its own :screwy: attitude

JBRONCFAN
08-21-2007, 09:25 PM
Here we go with tinman you can't post one post without mentioning the other 300m forum. Search all of his posts......EVERY single post he HAS to mention that club. LET IT GO MAN.....LET IT GO!!!!

ANYWAY..............I would say if your battery is original your problem is definitely your battery.

Easiest way to check is inside the passsenger front wheel well is a door built into it. Pop it off and check. I guarentee if it's original the battery will be overloaded with corrosion. You're probably gonna need new connections and if it's been too long a new battery.

It's probably your cheapest and easiest fix though among the other things it could be so.......good luck and let us know.

mkvapil
08-24-2007, 08:23 AM
Just keeping you guys updated.....not having any problems starting right now. My wife says she is not having any trouble starting. I drove around yesterday and no problem starting. Like I said, this car has an attitude of it's own. Maybe it doesn't like this 100+ degree weather we've been suffering in the last 3 weeks.

mkvapil
08-25-2007, 06:39 PM
Jeeezus louie! The car is totally flopped now. It will not start again even with a brand new battery. The only light that comes on is a red oil light(the one that look like a geenie lamp). I jump started the car and it started but when i killed the engine after 15 of driving it will not start again. Defective battery? Starter coil? Fuse?

mkvapil
09-08-2007, 08:49 AM
THe problem was.....the starter. Didn't know that the starter can do something that weird to the car. Strange.....

tinmanwpk
09-10-2007, 07:21 AM
THe problem was.....the starter. Didn't know that the starter can do something that weird to the car. Strange.....

Glad you got her fixed.

mkvapil
09-18-2007, 09:12 PM
Awwww jeeeez.....louie! :banghead: It's doing it again. My wife couldn't get the car to start again. She said the battery is fine; head lights comes on, radio, alarm, etc is on. No sign of power drainage. I asked her what does it do after turning the key and she said it makes clicking noise. New battery and new starter...what now? What is the culprit? Fuel pump? clogged fuel filter? selenoid? Oxygen sensor? it gotta be something.

RealityChek1956
09-21-2007, 06:06 AM
New starter..? or rebuilt..? and from where..? most likely..the problem was the starter. But....not the starter itself.....the solenoid contacts are the likely culprit. Being a 2000 model..this starter has cycled off and on a thousand times etc. The contacts in the solenoid are copper...they will wear down where they contact the ring. Simple to fix..and alot cheaper than a starter.These starters are durable..and built well. Getting the starter off the vehicle....is another matter.The 2000 i worked on a few days ago...with the exact same problem involves removal of the left engine mount (two bolts mounted thru the frame and three on the engine block itself) raising the engine several inches and simply making enough room to clear removal of the starter. The starter itself is mounted on the engine with 3 bolts all the same length and size.One is up high and a little hard to get to.There are two wires to remove on the starter...one is bolted on....the other press a tab on the connector..and slip it off. Once off, take 3 small screws off the solenoid cover (dont misplace the rubber gasket behind the cover). One each side of the solenoid is a nut that actually holds the contacts in place. Do one at a time..both contacts are different. One side has a paper shim...dont misplace anything..and remember inwhat order you took them off. The contacts are available on Ebay...for about 4 dollars. I can tell you an item number..if you want to e-mail me..or post a request here. I can also give you some more details on the replacement of these if needed. I will tell you that this is a common problem with these starters...and this fix works 95% of the time.

wayneo69
09-21-2007, 06:32 PM
you just had the starter and battery replaced i would double check the connections to the starter and the battery

mkvapil
09-22-2007, 07:45 AM
This time...it was a loose battery connection. :shakehead No charge from the dealership.

RealityChek1956
09-23-2007, 06:26 AM
Good to hear you got it fixed. Too bad the garage didnt have that problem taken care of when the starter was replaced. Just makes you think something else could be wrong in addition to all the parts replaced the first time around. Regards.

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