Sometimes when trying to start my car the engine will crank but then quickly die out. I've noticed that IMMEDIATELY after this when I try to start again, the engine will keep on cranking even if I let go of the key but won't catch the ignition until I press on the accelerator a bit. I just bought this car a little over a month ago and it only has 25000 miles on it. Any help or ideas on what could be the problem would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

If you are letting go of the key and the engine keeps cranking, the starter solenoid is stuck. This, or your starter motor, could be the problem. The solenoid is definitely the cheaper part to replace first, then you could move on to the starter motor if the solenoid doesn't fix the problem.

 

I had a vacuum leak which caused a similar problem for me. I had to change several of the small vacuum hoses.

 

thanks for the responses guys! Another problem I had just once was that the key kept turning the ignition round and round, meaning the place where i put my key came loose somehow and wouldn't let me turn on or start the car. Finally, I heard something snap into place and then I was able to turn the car on....any ideas??? I've never seen something like that before!

 

no good on the key coming loose. How many times did it turn? I have heard it can be expensive to have a locksmith to fix it or a dealership to fix the lock. Has the lock remained in place now?

 

sounds like there is a broken part inside your ignition switch itself....maybe there is nothing wrong with the solonoid and starter motor and just the switch is all sorts of broken

take it to the shop and explain what happened in your second post because i feel like thats the major issue at hand because that could cuase the extra cranking you here (if you turned the key to ignition and it stayed there when u tried to put it back to ON position)

 

The lock hasn't given me any issues after that day but I'm still taking it to the dealership for them to check it out. The car is still under warranty and I will make sure it gets fixed by them without paying a cent. These kinds of problems should have been checked out when they did the so called "certfication process". It really is a hassle to deal with these people! Thanks for all your responses, well appreciated!

 

Good luck at the dealership, make them fix it while it is under warranty.