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Hello Everyone, Eric… I have a 2003 Jeep Liberty V6, 3.7. Car starts right up and your off to work, but after some much needed rush hour traffic, you stop for a coffee and shut the engine off, You return 5 mins later and car wont start. Engine turns over, but nothing. If I then let it cool down 45 mins or so, It starts right up. Engine is not over heating, Temp gage is Normal. Something, Fuel Pump? Sensor while hot doesn’t work…
any clues?
Thank you all in Advance,
Steel
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Is the check engine light on?Scan for trouble codes.Could be a cam or a crank sensor that is bad.The crank sensor can be a bastard to get out of the block which is in the outside of the engine block on the right side.Another thing is you don’t use aftermarket keys in Chrysler products,the aftermarket keys are junk for these.Have seen no starts in Chrysler products all because of the aftermarket keys used.Could be your key too if an aftermarket key.
This might sound odd to you, but it could be your fuel tank cap. There is a rubber gasket in the cap that gets brittle and cracks over time. This gasket is critical to the proper operation of the evaporative emissions system. Once this gasket goes bad it can cause no-starts when the engine is warm.
The obvious solution would be to not stop for coffee on the way to work. Brew it at home and take it with you.
But seriously, what you describe sounds like classic “vapor lock”. I was under the impression that vapor lock is supposed to be far less common with fuel injected systems, as opposed to old carburetted fuel systems, but I suppose it can still happen.
From what I’ve seen, manufacturers often rely on (cheap and chintzy) heat shields to deflect radiant heat away from fuel lines in the engine bay; and I’ve also seen these heat shields rot and fall off in surprisingly short order, especially in rust belt cars. A quick look under the hood will tell you if this is your issue.
Another thing to look at is your cooling fan(s) and associated wiring, connectors and sensors. Quite often, they are supposed to run, even with the engine off, if underhood temperatures above a certain programmed threshold are detected. If that isn’t happening in your case, it’s possible that accumulating engine bay heat (heat soak) is causing some fuel to vaporize after the vehicle is shut down and parked.
I had an ’02 Libby 3.7L Limited, loved that thing. 150000 KM (85000 Miles) Towed a 4000Lb travel trailer with it and it never skipped a beat. It ran so hot (synthetic oil, aux trans cooler, premium fuel), unbelievable. I’d be suspect of the fuel pump more than vapor lock based on that experience.
Thank you all for the input. So here is the update, I took all of your suggestions and worked them thru.
I replaced the Cam Position Sensor, and so far that did the trick… I have driven all over town after the replacement and it has started every time.
So, Great job to you all for the help.
and Yes, I checked Fuel cap just in case…
Thanks again
:woohoo:
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