sporadic hard starting

[tstick14]

My wife is the primary driver of our 04 vibe and she has reported that every so often the vibe would be hard to start, I've never experienced this. She turns the key and it just keeps cycling but doesn't turn over. She steps on the pedal a few times while turning it over then it will catch and run, doesn't seems specific to weather or first start in the morning. What could this be? Clogged fuel filter, fuel pump...? Thanks for the help.

[scherry2]

1.does this happen on hot days?2.when starting the car and it just cranks and cranks, do you turn the key off and try to start it again. then does it start right up?

[tstick14]

It has only happened a few times, once in the morning first start and cool. A few times after driving around going to stores then getting in and having a hard start. Wife says she cranks it, it doesn't go. Turns it off then cranks it again while pumping the gas pedal then it will start. I've never noticed rough idle or poor engine performance so I have no other symptoms to give.

[mswvibe]

tstick. i have the same problem. i have an 05 and i thought it might of been the battery, so i bought a new one and it still sometimes does it. hot or cold its like it has a mind of its own.

[BrettZ]

Likewise on my 2005 base. Exactly how you describe it. usually turns over after a few seconds without pressing the gas. But those few seconds seem like an hour when it happens.

[star_deceiver]

When you turn the key to ON (not trying to start it) can you hear the fuel pump whirr?