Kdog2112

Hi all: this is my first post for this forum...However, I have been doing quite a bit of researching as to what the problem could be with my '04 Gt.

Every so often the car has a hard start issue. It does howeverturn over once gas is applied while turning the key (wouldnt start if didnt apply gas).

I am new to the Mustang world and have never driven one previously to buying this vehicle.

Is this normal to have to apply gas to start the car, or should just turning the key turn the engine over properly?

How should I progress from here and what actions should I take?

- Give the car some Fuel Injector Cleaner
- Clean the MAF
- Check/Replace Air Filter
- Fuel Filter?

Any other suggestions or insight would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance to all.

Sxynerd

Dont' put your foot on the gas, it's not carburated. I doubt it's your MAF unless you go nuts while re oiling a K&N filter. How many miles are on your car? Well taken care of or poorly? Does it do this when When at normal operation Temps or just on initial morning start ups?

It can never hurt to change you fuel filter but unless it's cloged it doesn't have naything to do with your problem.

My vote goes to something electrical related or intake related check these things, alternator, COP, and Vacumm leaks

Sidewayz6.0

My vote would have to be a faulty throttle position sensor. Is the check engine light on while the car is running?

98SN95

even though its not a carb, opening the throttle blade and turning the tps sensor a bit does make it easier to start, however, you should not have to do that, i would first clean the m.a.f., sounds like its probly got some junk on it, how many miles??

Kdog2112

Car has only 33k on it. Seemed to have been well taken care of previously to me owning the car.

I'll check for leaks.

The car runs and starts fine initially in the morning (when engine is cold - crappy NJ climate). The problem start is usually 3 or 4 starts into the day under normal operation.
Except for this morning it was the second start of the car. I drove to a work site, got out and did what I had to do, then about an hour later I got into my car in the parking garage and this is when the hard start occurred.

Kdog2112

No check engine light.

cdrew217

My 03 GT does the same thing. I've searched high and low for an answer but never found one. Been doing it since mile 5000and is at about 30000 now. Doesn't do it very often. It seems to only ever happen when it is has been turned off for a few minutes and I try to start it again. IE at the grocery store,fueling up,or something. Near as I can tell, it's almost as if it floods a little. Hence the need to open the throttle to get it to start.

cliffyk

[/align][/align]My '03 has done this once or twice a month since I got it at 30k miles (68k now). Same situations as you describe, stop to buy a 6-pack and try to start it a few minutes later. It has always started right up with just a bit of throttle. [/align][/align]I have found that turning the key on a waiting 10 to 20 seconds before cranking makes it more likely to start right up.It might be a heat soak issue raising the fuel rail pressure and flooding it a bit when you first crank it.[/align]

98SN95

heat soak is definitly a issue with these motors, now that i think about it my 98 was doing that before i blew the motor!

STANG0446

i think changing your fuel filter will help at 30000 its about time anyway. my 2cents