Q: My car hesitate slightly during start up. What could be the problem?

asked by on October 03, 2016

My car hesitate during start up. What could be the problem?

My car has 63235 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Idle Control Valve Replacement $162.54 - $1028.01 Get a Quote
Car is stalling Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
Car is hard to start Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

This may be caused by many things as there are a number of systems at work when your car’s engine first starts up. This may likely be an air/fuel flow issue since the car does in fact start.

Typically, the car upon startup will search for an equilibrium point and eventually settle into an idle depending on the ambient temperature outside.

There is a unit called an idle air control valve which helps with this process which can sometimes fail. When this happens the engine will struggle to idle properly and may even stall.

I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose your starting issue and repair.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How much air pressure should be in the tires?
The right tire pressure is crucial for a lot of things, including fuel economy, handling, preventing premature tire wear and more. The key to keeping your tires aired up properly is to know how much they should have. Here’s what...
Van door not unlocking or opening.
The rear door lock actuator can fail in two ways electrically or mechanically. If it fails electrically you will not hear the actuator try to operate when you try to lock/unlock the door. If it fails mechanically like the gear...
Crack in oil pan
Hi there. A crack in the oil pan will definitely cause a substantial leak on any engine. The most common leaks on this engine are the front and rear seals, but those are not typically too bad. If an oil...
Car gets hot
This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/top-off-coolant), a faulty thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement), or a failing coolant fan switch. As you may know the coolant fan switch helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature...
Car ran hot and now it will crank, but will not start.
Hi there. From the description you have provided, your vehicle will crank, but will not start, needs to be properly diagnosed. Replacing parts without diagnosing, can be costly and time consuming. The fact you got the engine to start after...
Oil light goes off and on.
This light will usually come on when one of two things are happening. Either the motor is in fact low on oil or the oil pressure sending unit (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-pressure-sensor-replacement) is not working properly and may be producing a faulty reading....
I have a 2007 ford f150 I need an alternator without taking it out how do I know if it's a D plug in or an oval
If you send your VIN number, I can look up the exact Ford part number and visually look at the plug. Ford part number GLV-8704-RM appears to have an oval plug. The GL-974-RM appears to have a D plug. If...
My trunk wont close on my 2004 hyundai accent
Hi My. Trunks are one of the simpler components of a vehicle, but just like any other mechanical part, they can malfunction. Some of the common causes would include a trunk latch that is stuck and will not engage, the...
low beams keep going out
You may have a low voltage condition getting to the low beam circuit of the headlights and causing them to burn out early. Check the low beam relay to see if it is giving battery voltage at each headlight socket...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Porsche Boxster
From From the base Boxster to the more powerful Spyder and Black versions, this little drop-top has been a beloved classic in Porsche’s popular high-end sports car line since its inception in 1996. The combination of style, fun, and performance...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Lincoln Navigator
The The Lincoln Navigator was the flagship luxury SUV which laid the roadmap for its followers such as the Cadillac Escalade and the Lexus LX. Lincoln truly adhered to a philosophy of “go big or go home” on this 8-passenger...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Fuel Meter Assembly
Common signs include the fuel gauge behaving erratically and getting stuck on full or empty.