My car seems to be having problems starting again. About 2 months ago my car would at random times, not start. So I got the injectors cleaned and everything was fine. Now 2 months later im having the same problem. I drive my car to work, and everything is fine with the car. I go to take the car home for lunch and it wont start. I wait a couple hours, try again, and its starts. The when this happens and it finally starts its a very rough start, sputtering, and high idle. After letting it sit for a couple mins the car sounds perfect. I cant figure out whats going on. Im taking the car to a shop at the end of the week but thought I would check to see if anyone had any ideas that might fix it so i dont have to pay someone else to do it for me. PLEASE HELP.

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Does it crank over when you try and start it? If it does, but doesn't fire up, you'll need to check fuel and spark.

Fuel can be checked by removing the return line on the FPR off the rear fuel rail line. Hook up a temporary hose with the other end going to a container. Crank the car over and see if fuel shoots out the hose into the container. If it does, you have fuel. if it doesn't, you need to trace backwards to determine why not (fuel filter, fuel pump, mfi relay, etc.)

Spark can be checked by pulling the plug wires from the coils. You should see sparks shooting in there when the car is cranked over. If you don't see sparks when cranking over, you're ignition system has a problem. Coils, Power transistor unit, ecu, etc.

UPDATE: I posted the original message a little after 11am and I just got back from lunch. I started the car at about 1pm. So something is happening in those couple of hours thats letting me turn on the car. Yes, the car cranks but wont fire when this happens. But my question is why would it not start at 11 and then be fine at 1? And if its any help, once the car actually starts, the exhaust smoke is white for about a minute and then goes away.

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Sounds like the tell tail signs of a dieing ECU. Do you know how to check it?

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06 Blue EVO 9

No, but if its the ECU any help would be good, because thats something i dont what to have to replace.

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Jeff does a good job of explaining removal/checking it.

http://www.stealth316.com/2-ecmremoval.htm

Well, the car runs fine. All i did was get gas and top off the coolant. Nothing that would have been a big factor (I still had a quarter tank). But hey, im not complaining. But thanks for the ecu info, alot of guys on the 3si forum were looking for something like that.

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The motor's still going to run with or without coolant so I doubt that's the issue.

If your car has issues starting next time you get below 1/4 tank, let us know.