[MADMANx511]

Hey all,

Today I drove to work, and there was no issues. My Vitara started fine and ran fine.

But when I went out to it on my lunch break, it would not start. It would try to, and there was a distinct aroma of fuel, so fuel was reaching the engine. The battery was fine too as all the lights lit up, and my CD player worked.

Initially I thought it was my aftermarket immobiliser f#cking me over. I spoke to one of my work mates and he suggested I try starting the engine with my foot flat on the accelerator - This worked (thankfully, as I don't currently have roadside assistance and nor can I afford it ATM, and would have had to walk home).

When I went to start the engine after work just now, it sputtered and took a little right-foot encouragement to kick into life.

I only had her serviced about 2-ish weeks ago, and have had no issues until now. Any ideas as to what the problem might be?

Thanks guys.

[johnmath]

When you say there was a distinct aroma of fuel, it sounds like you had flooding. The fix for that is to start it with you foot flat on the accelerator, which worked, probably confirms the flooding. When you start it from warm, be careful not to press the accelerator, because the accelerator pump squirts fuel into the carburettor throat and causes too rich a mixture (flooding). Only press the accelerator once or twice for a cold start. BTW you should not smell fuel under normal circumstances.

[MADMANx511]

I meant to say that there was an aroma of fuel in the engine bay, which was probably from me originally pumping the throttle in a desperate attempt to get the engine to tick over.

Before this happened I never pumped the throttle before starting, and I never smell fuel in normal circumstances.

I just want to know why it started in the first place, or what caused it.

[johnmath]

Sorry if I misunderstood. I occasionally indadvertedly give my accelerator a tap when the engine is hot, and then it doesn't want to start and I have the fuel smell and need to crank it with the throttle flat. So it make me think that Suzukis (or at least my Sierra) can be a bit sensitive to flooding when hot.

[MADMANx511]

It just happened again. I'm now thinking its a fuel or air filter issue. Fixed again with accelerator pressed as I turn on the engine.

Expecting a large pay this week, so I'll get the filters done an maybe even the timing belt.

Cheers mate.