Car not starting reliably

Thewanderer_ie

HI Everyone,

Have an 05 Nissan Primera, works well enough, but showing its age. Recently it occasionally won't start. Nothing wrong with the battery, it cranks just fine. Problem is worse when it is cold. Just cranks and cranks, no coughing or catching. In the old days I would say it was flooded or the spark plugs needed cleaning, but don't think it actually HAS spark plugs, certainly none I could see.

The problem has occurred on and off over the last couple months, but is getting progressively worse, as in happening more often.

This morning couldn't get it to start at all, then came home 30 min later and tried again, it started first time. Let it run for a few minutes, then turned it off and tried again, wouldn't start. Just now I tried it and it started 4 times in a row with no issues.

Any ideas? Anything I can try without taking it to somebody who would charge me an arm and a leg and then say they couldn't find the problem?

Thanks in advance for any help you give.

Borderfox

Might have coilpacks on top of the spark plugs, they went on my passat

Thewanderer_ie

It has been a long time since I worked on an engine, I seem to have forgotten everything

Google has showed me that the spark plugs are in deep below the coils. I don't have an extension bar long enough or a spark plug socket, so guess I won't be messing with them anyway. Not sure it is the spark plugs though, since when it starts it runs just fine, no coughing or revving as you would get with uneven sparks.
It is all or nothing- either starts up perfectly or doesn't even spark at all, so I am thinking it may be something else, back before the split to each cylinder, but I just don't know what...

Ubbquittious

No harm to buy the socket that will take out the spark plug. At least that way you'll be able to tell after it failing to start if it's been getting fuel

Prenderb

Some renault engines have a coolant temperature sensor which causes non-starting. Might be worth looking into?

punisher5112

Coil packs are separate and are on top of plugs.

When was a proper service last carried out and filters changed.

Could be a faulty sensor as mentioned above.

Stoolbend

Get it scanned for codes.

It could be a faulty camshaft or crankshaft sensor.

Thewanderer_ie

Thanks for all the replies. I was trying to avoid taking it to the shop if it was something simple I could take care of myself. I could replace the plugs or the coils or probably anything else I needed to, but I would need to know exactly what is was that needed replacing.

Full service 4 or 5 months ago.

From the comments, it would seem that it is not a simple call. I am leaning towards a sensor/switch problem, something that covers all cylinders.

I will just have to admit that I don't have the time, tools, or the knowledge to make that call for certain, and will just take it in to an expert. (I'll find some other DIY project to stroke my macho ego haha)

Thanks again.