[Robert]

I have a Jeep Cherokee. I just changed the spark plugs and wires. Every once in awhile, it is giving me a hard time when I go to start it. It turns over, so I know it is not the starter. Any idea what it might be?

[Miata_Matyr]

If the starter has an internal fault it might cause it to randomly make it hard to start. It could even be the alternator... Does the engine ever run rough or is it just intermittently not starting??

[Robert]

It just doesn't want to start every once in awhile. The engine runs fine. It turns over every time though. If it was the starter or alternator, it wouldn't turn over.

[Miata_Matyr]

Hmmm... Are you in a cold climate? If it's cold your spark plugs may need a lower heat range to start.

Are you on flat surface or a slight incline, because it could be your fuel pump packing up.

Are there any details that are the same every time it does it??

[Mustang37]

Could be the ignition. It could just not be catching to get the car started. You said it turns over but does not start up. Perhaps it's something to do with the gas too? My car did that every once in a while and the ignition went soon after that!

[Robert]

Mustang~ When your car did that, did you have to step on the gas to get it going?

I took it to the garage and they changed my O2 sensor. $100 later, I went out to start my car and it did it to me again.

There isn't any consistency to it. It just does it every once in awhile.

[Alex]

It sounds like it could be a bad connection some where along the fuel line, if you're pumping your foot on the gas. Just make sure you don't pump to much, you'll end up flooding it and then you'll be needing a tow truck.

[Robert]

They hitched my car up to the diagnostic tool. It didn't pick anything up in my fuel system. Actually, it didn't pick anything up at all, so we are at a loss for what it could be. It has never not started for the mechanic so he can't see what is going on.

[Alex]

Thats so annoying! You pay the money to take it to a professional and they can't even help ya. The best thing to do is to record all the stats of when it occurs. Engine temp, weather conditions etc.

[roller]

Alex is right. We should consider all the factors that might be affecting the engine from not starting. Recording all the things that might affect the starting of the engine is the best thing we can do so that the mechanic will have an idea on how to fix the problem.