Hello Scotty and crew! My dad has a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country with 250,000 miles or so. it has a check engine light, but we don't have a scan tool. Anyways, when starting dead-cold, it starts just fine. When it warms up, it has trouble starting, but once it starts, it runs and idles just fine. When he went to move it out of the way to move some walnuts, he turned off the car. We removed the walnuts, and when he tried to start it up again, it took a couple of tries to get it started.
We already replaced the fuel system. I don't know if it has something to do with clogged injectors, but it runs just fine at highway speeds and idling. I don't know if it's a low compression symptom or a bad ignition system or what.
I've tried searching online but to no avail. I think it's a bad ignition coil and/or system, bad spark plugs, or bad wires. I don't know what the problem could be. My dad is already stressing out about my operation on my ear, and I don't need him stressing me out about the van not running.
My dad has seen your videos Scotty, and he wants to know what the problem could be.
Could it be a simple bad spark plugs, or could it be devastating engine failure? Remember. Let me tell you the symptoms.
When Cold ---> Starts Fine, idles Fine, runs fine
When Warm ---> Tough starts, idles fine and runs fine.
Today ---> Started fine when it was cold, but when my dad moved the van and shut it off and went to start it again after we removed the walnuts, it took a couple of tries to get it started.
Fuel pump is humming, so there isn't anything wrong with the fuel pump. What could it be?
it has a check engine light, but we don't have a scan tool.
Just want to add if you have AutoZone or O'reilly near you drive your car there and you can borrow a scan tool from them and scan it for codes right there yourself. Once you have the codes it'll be much easier to help figure out what's going on with the car.
it has a check engine light, but we don't have a scan tool.
First off you need to find out what kind of codes you have, and check data for suspicious items. Either pick up an inexpensive scan tool or have a parts store check for codes.
Posted by: @lucario950
We already replaced the fuel system.
What exactly was done when you "replaced the fuel system"? Were fuel injectors replaced? If not, you may have dribbling fuel injectors making the mixture too rich on warm starts.
Fuel pump is humming, so there isn't anything wrong with the fuel pump.
What leads you to the conclusion that the pump is good? Have you checked fuel pressure at the fuel rail?
How old are the spark plugs?
Given the age and mileage it would not be a bad idea to check compression to make sure you're not fighting against a worn-out engine.
We replaced the fuel pressure regulator, pump, and filter. I don't know the difference between a no spark and no fuel problem.
New parts are not necessarily good parts. (Were the replacement pump and regulator OEM?) However since you're saying the engine runs OK after it finally starts, the pump is probably not the problem. More diagnosis is needed.