2008 Automatic xD Won't Start
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Senior Member
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 124
From: DQN 163 @ 26 DME
2008 Automatic xD Won't Start
Well... I figured I'd add to the 'won't start' problems around here.
It all started last week, I'm an airline pilot, so my car will sit for 3-6 days, drive a normal amount for 2-4 days and repeat. I've been doing this for the life of the car with no issues. (60,000mi). Not sure if that is a contributing factor or not, but anyway...
I got in my car last week, started up and began driving. I got the ABS caution light and BRAKE warning light. Drove to my destination and back home, ~3 miles total, and shut the car down for the night. I looked at the usual stuff, brake fluid is below the MAX line but well above the MIN line, etc. Everything seemed fine at this point... not sure what's tripping that light combo... (doubt this is related to the starting issue, but it's quite a coincidence).
The next morning, I got in my car and went to start it, cranks just fine, even catches a time or two, lumbers for a second or so (very rough BTW) and dies. I had a plug test bad at an oil change in November, so perhaps that's what's going on, but I remain suspect that something like that could cause this... I'm changing the plugs tonight to see if that will correct the problem, so we'll see.
The car is still covered under my extended warranty, so if all the quick fixes fail, I'm going to have it towed to the dealer... but in the mean time, does anyone have any ideas??? Thanks.
It all started last week, I'm an airline pilot, so my car will sit for 3-6 days, drive a normal amount for 2-4 days and repeat. I've been doing this for the life of the car with no issues. (60,000mi). Not sure if that is a contributing factor or not, but anyway...
I got in my car last week, started up and began driving. I got the ABS caution light and BRAKE warning light. Drove to my destination and back home, ~3 miles total, and shut the car down for the night. I looked at the usual stuff, brake fluid is below the MAX line but well above the MIN line, etc. Everything seemed fine at this point... not sure what's tripping that light combo... (doubt this is related to the starting issue, but it's quite a coincidence).
The next morning, I got in my car and went to start it, cranks just fine, even catches a time or two, lumbers for a second or so (very rough BTW) and dies. I had a plug test bad at an oil change in November, so perhaps that's what's going on, but I remain suspect that something like that could cause this... I'm changing the plugs tonight to see if that will correct the problem, so we'll see.
The car is still covered under my extended warranty, so if all the quick fixes fail, I'm going to have it towed to the dealer... but in the mean time, does anyone have any ideas??? Thanks.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 124
From: DQN 163 @ 26 DME
Update: Car is running again.
Changed the spark plugs, still wouldn't start. During a lot of cranking trying to start the thing, the battery dies. It is the original battery and was on its way out, so we went to Pep Boys and bought a new battery.
Once installed, I cranked and cranked the engine until it caught and began to run, added fuel when it began to catch and nursed it to idle. Once I got it to idle, I kept the throttle down a bit for a while until it seemed to run fine. Drove to the auto parts store and got some Drygas to pour into the tank. It's been running fine ever since.
To top it all off, changing the battery reset the ECU and cleared my ABS/BRAKE caution/warning lights and they have not returned.
One of the spark plugs was fouled up pretty bad, so I guess it was a combo of a bad plug, almost dead battery and possible water contamination in the gas tank from a previous fill-up.
Changed the spark plugs, still wouldn't start. During a lot of cranking trying to start the thing, the battery dies. It is the original battery and was on its way out, so we went to Pep Boys and bought a new battery.
Once installed, I cranked and cranked the engine until it caught and began to run, added fuel when it began to catch and nursed it to idle. Once I got it to idle, I kept the throttle down a bit for a while until it seemed to run fine. Drove to the auto parts store and got some Drygas to pour into the tank. It's been running fine ever since.
To top it all off, changing the battery reset the ECU and cleared my ABS/BRAKE caution/warning lights and they have not returned.
One of the spark plugs was fouled up pretty bad, so I guess it was a combo of a bad plug, almost dead battery and possible water contamination in the gas tank from a previous fill-up.
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