Hey there,

I'm new to the forum, and I'm not a huge car buff, but I'm looking for some advice regarding a starting problem.

Last night I tried to start my car and it wouldn't start. It's a manual transmission. The battery was replaced maybe a month ago or so. Some dashboard lights came on though; I believe they were the battery, seatbelt, and e-brake, but I might be missing one. No engine light though.

The car turned over but struggled, and I guess you could say a whining sound?
That was in first, I tried it in second and the same, and I tried it in reverse and it seemed to progress more so but not start. I tried all while pumping the gas, and it started in reverse, however, in all attempts it smelled like burning gas if that makes sense.

I've not had any major problems with the car besides replacing the muffler, brakes, and CV joints a few years back.

It has about 258 000 KMs; so about 160 000 Miles.

Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

 

Is it turning over steadily, or is it, I guess stuttering for lack of a better word?

 

To give a little update: about an hour or so ago I gave it a regular start in first and it started without problems.

Last night it sounds like a normal start but doesn't start up. You could say it seemed to be stuttering I suppose. It's really hard to articulate. I should take a video of it.

 

Check to see if you hear the fuel pump come on for about 15-30 secs and shut off while looking at the dash to see if the check engine light is coming on

 

Ok so I did what you said and I heard a whirring for about 3-5 seconds only and the amber engine light came on but turned off. I felt vibration under the floor where my feet rest and noise from behind the glovebox.

the car is running but there's obviously something there.
any ideas?

thanks.

 

That is good, fuel pump only primes for a few seconds corresponding to CEL coming on and off. With an intermittent problem, when the car is running properly you can't tell anything. You have to wait until it malfunctions.

Battery connections may be loose. That will cause intermittent non-starting due to loss of power to the whole system.