Van starts right up with first try on cold start, but cranks hard when warm.

I recently purchased an 05 Honda Odyssey and I was meticulous about looking over everything inside and out. Anyway starting yesterday, it starts right up on the first try, but after driving 30 highway miles to work, I shut it off, clocked in and cane back out to park the van and it cranked really hard and wouldn't start. Tried a couple times and finally just acted like it was dead, wouldn't crank at all. About 15 minutes later, I was about to get a jump but I tried one more time and it started up the first time. I took it to Autozone today to check the charging system and they said ev
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This may be a sign of a faulty ignition coil. Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted repeatedly. The insulation develops small fractures that open when heated and close when cooled. When open, they allow shorting of coil windings and decrease or eliminate the coil’s ability to function. This type of temperature cycling happens because every time you shut the engine off, the fan stops running, the coolant stops flowing and the temperature under the hood rises. Every time you start the engine again the coolant flows, the fans turn on, and the temperature drops. When this heat dissipates and is absorbed under the hood, it is trapped causing this cycling effect. Other components that contain heat sensitive materials include parts like fuel injectors, igniters, and some sensors. Any of these may be potentially subject to this same kind of heat cycling problem which can be very difficult to trace. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.

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Cold temperatures affect the chemical process inside the battery and reduce its ability to hold a charge. It also thickens engine oil, increasing friction in the starter motor and forcing it to work harder.
That problem may suggest you need to clean the throttle body, replace fuel filter, replace air filter, replace spark plugs or have fuel injector problems (I had mine cleaned and balanced and it helped my start-ups alot).
A damaged fuel system is the most common reason an overheated engine may not start. A faulty system can cause the motor to get hot and produce heat and vapor, which creates difficulty for the fuel to circulate in the engine. Blown head gasket. A blown head gasket could also be a significant cause of overheating.
Failing Solenoid: A failing solenoid is a common issue with the starter system and if the solenoid is going bad, the car will be difficult to start. The starter will need to be inspected to determine if the problem is the starter motor itself or the solenoid. A failing solenoid will need to be replaced.
The cold start problem may be overcome by introducing an element of collaboration amongst agents assisting various users. This way, novel situations may be handled by requesting other agents to share what they have already learnt from their respective users.
Symptoms of a faulty cold start valve:

Engine stalling – After your engine starts, you may experience stalling while you drive. This will either occur at higher RPMs or when you take your foot off the pedal. Rough idle – Your engine may produce loud noises or even vibrations when you are idling.

The most common reasons why a car is hard to start when warm are due to a defective crankshaft or camshaft position sensor. It could also be caused by a clogged air filter, faulty battery connection, vapor lock, or a bad ground connection.
Start the engine and, using the procedure described in section 20, listen to the cold start injector (located on the air intake chamber). You should hear a clicking noise, meaning the injector is functioning. If a clicking sound is heard, let the engine reach operating temperature and repeat the check.
Hard start symptoms and starter failure may NOT be caused by the starter, but could actually be caused by the crankshaft position sensor. If your vehicle is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, the crankshaft sensor may be at fault.
Why your car struggles to start but runs fine. There are a number of reasons why your car might be slow to start but runs as-normal once it gets going. Causes can vary from weather conditions to battery health, wiring issues, starter motor concerns and fuel-pump health.
Having trouble starting your Honda? The problem could be that you aren`t getting enough fuel to the engine. Fuel injectors that are not working correctly, fuel filters that are full, or spark plugs that are worn out can cause this.
Various issues can cause your Honda Odyssey not to start, such as a dead battery, an overheating alternator, or a bad sorter. Get your vehicle inspected and repaired by a professional mechanic as soon as you notice any of the mentioned problems.
To test that the solenoid is working, disconnect the wire connecting it to the starter solenoid and run 12 volts to the cold-start solenoid from another source. If you do not disconnect the starter wire, the starter will engage while the engine is running.
Cold-start valve and thermo-time switch used to provide extra fuel for cold starting. On 1.8 liter 16-valve engines, the cold-start valve is located in the intake manifold and the thermo-time switch is mounted in the end of the cylinder head, as shown in Fig.
A leaky cold start injector may result in a reduction in engine performance and acceleration as a result of the disturbed air fuel ratio. In more severe cases, where a large amount of fuel is leaking into the manifold the vehicle may even experience stalling or misfires.
The most common cause of a slow hot crank is a bad starter. As the brushes and the armature in the starter wear they begin to bind then the starter is hot causing this slow start. It can also be from a failing positive battery cable that has a lot of internal resistance.
These are the exhaust gas oxygen (O2 sensors) and knock sensors. The wideband exhaust gas oxygen sensor(s) tell the ECU the actual running air-fuel ratio of the engine.
Leaking Injectors will cause:

Hard Starting. Poor Emissions. Oil thinning, which can lead to catastrophic engine failure. Hydro lock, which can lead to catastrophic engine failure.

The O2 sensor will not cause the no start. The no start can be caused by the fuel pump or the ignition system. You should check the engine for spark and fuel pressure, when it is not turning on to help narrow the problem down. The ignition system may be the coil, module, or pick up in the distributor.
A bad coolant temperature sensor may result in a lean fuel-air mixture, causing a difficult cold start.
One sign that your crankshaft sensor might be failing is if you find it hard to start your vehicle. The sensor keeps track of the speed and location of the crankshaft. If it`s failing, your vehicle might be difficult to start up.
Typically when your electrical accessories are working well, but it takes a few cranks for the engine to start, the issue is with the fuel or ignition system. In most cases, clogged or dirty fuel injectors, throttle body or mass air flow sensor will be the root source of this problem.
The most common reason cars don`t start is a dead or faulty battery. Even though most cars run on gasoline, they all require electrical power to function. The starter that cranks your engine to start requires an electrical signal to fire. If something`s wrong with your battery, your car engine won`t turn over.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Van starts right up with first try on cold start, but cranks hard when warm.
ANSWER : This may be a sign of a faulty ignition coil. Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted repeatedly. The insulation develops small fractures that open when heated and close when cooled. When open, they allow shorting of coil windings and decrease or eliminate the coil’s ability to function. This type of temperature cycling happens because every time you shut the engine off, the fan stops running, the coolant stops flowing and the temperature under the hood rises. Every time you start the engine again the coolant flows, the fans turn on, and the temperature drops. When this heat dissipates and is absorbed under the hood, it is trapped causing this cycling effect. Other components that contain heat sensitive materials include parts like fuel injectors, igniters, and some sensors. Any of these may be potentially subject to this same kind of heat cycling problem which can be very difficult to trace. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.

Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.

Car won’t crank when it’s cold and now won’t start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:

Usually this issue is cased by low cranking amps inside the battery. If you’ve recently had the battery replaced, it’s possible that an electrical component that makes up the charging system might be damaged or faulty. It’s also quite possible that the main electrical relay or the starter relay is giving you fits. To know for certain what the exact issue might be on your 1989 Toyota Camry, you should have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection, so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend the right repairs.

Start issues
ANSWER : It really depends on what type, year, make, and model of van you have. In many cases with vans newer than 1996, if the throttle position sensor was faulty and triggered a Check Engine Light, the error codes stored in the ECM need to be cleared before the vehicle is restarted; otherwise, it may cause difficulty starting.

The best option for you is to contact a local mechanic and have them reset the Check Engine Light or error codes to see if that clears up your issue.

The car is having trouble starting up ,70 percent of the time it starts right up. the other 30 percent, it randomly won’t start its
ANSWER : Hey there thanks for writing in about your 1998 Honda Accord. This could be a few things. A faulty ignition switch, a failing crank sensor, or possibly other faulty sensors could be the cause. To have this taken care of, consider having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair the hard start issue.

When I try to start it, it cranks slowly as in cranks like dead battery but then cranks just fine but won’t start
ANSWER : Hello, and thank you for writing in. To begin there may be issues with the wiring, position of the starter, a faulty starter, or an issue with the timing. However start with the simplest options and work you way up in complication. With replacement starters, it is often required to add a shim to the mount in order to align the starter correctly. If the gears are misaligned, or not making good contact, then the starter motor will bind or move slower. This may even result in a grinding. Secondly with a voltmeter you can test the voltage available to the starter and see if it is receiving the full 12 volts. If it is not, then you may have a bad wire, a loose connection, a dirty connection, an issue with the starting system, or a bad ground. If it is, then you want to look deeper into the alignment of the starter, and check if it was a re-manufactured replacement part. After you rule out a faulty starter you can then resort to the timing and other sensors. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

Car was sometimes not starting, not even cranking when i turned the key then after a few times itd start. Now it ont start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:

Without being there to inspect your vehicle, or having information about what type of car, truck or SUV you own, it’s very hard for us to give you some advice. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can come to your location and determine why your vehicle is having these issues.

My truck has problems turning over when I crank the engine (it won’t start), and my battery keeps draining.
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in. It sounds like your vehicle may be having a couple of problems. For the first problem, regarding the battery being drained and not charging back up, you will need to have the charging system checked to see if the alternator is faulty and/or needs to be replaced. For the second problem of no turning when cranking it, the issue may be that the starter is going bad from trying to crank it with a weak low battery, and may need to be replaced. If you would like help with having these inspections performed, consider having one of our expert automotive technicians come to your home or office to look at and diagnose these issues for you, and make any repairs as needed. Hope this helps and good luck!