2003gtstang

my car back fires when i go to turn it over and wont start the first time. Then i do it again and it starts but struggles. What can be the problem.

bluepony4.6

Mine was doing the same thing (backfire through intake at startup) earlier this year. One of my timing chain tensioners went bad causing the timing chain guide to wear completely through along with the driver's side tensioner. The timing chain was seriously slack at startup and caused it to act exactly as you described. I changed out the chains, tensioners and guides and it hadn't backfired through the intake since. I recently had a problem with the IAC which caused the car to die quickly or run crappy at the first start up of the day. I changed the IAC and it hadn't happened since.

Both problems would only happen during the initial startup of the day or after the car had been sitting for 10 hours or more. I would start my car for it to die within two or three seconds. I knew I had a problem with timing when the backfiring through the intake started occurring.

Brute03

first of all, is your CEL on? if it is i'm guessing P0340

CyberCon

Check your spark plugs. Easily could just be miss firing. I dont know how many miles you have on your car.. but dont expect much over 120,000 miles on your factory spark plugs.
(sounds like it could be the problem, if it gets bad.. your car will sputter and little backfires while driving.) 50-60 bux and half and hour you could have new spark plugs. =)