This is the third time we have had this problem. Drive the car, get the engine nice and warm. Park the car and come back less than an hour later and start the car. The engine starts normally, then stalls out within 10 seconds. Key to off and try again, engine cranks over, but doesn't catch. Shut off and repeat.

Only fix has been to let the car sit in with the key removed or off for 2 minutes or more and try again. This process may take 2 or 3 times.

Once the engine is running again, no problems.

First time, they replaced the fuel injectors under warrenty. Second time they couldn't reproduce the problem. Second time, they pulled codes and didn't find any, or any that were related, I'm not clear which.

The battery is in good shape. I've charged it and checked the cells with a hydrometer. The left most cell, near the positive post, is weaker, but still in the fair range, almost good, while the others are in the middle of the good range.

Any ideas. suggestions, miracle fixes?

Thanks!

JGT

This does not sound like a battery problem. It sounds like an ECM problem. The engine control module thinks the car is too hot and is probably giving it the wrong fuel and air mixture. There may be a thermostat problem or a cooling fan problem that is sending the wrong temp to the ECM but it would seem that it's not getting enough fuel. If the ECM thinks the engine is too hot it won't go through a cold bypass start up cycle to start the car. BTW, you might take the key completely out of the ignition switch. Simply leaving the key in the switch opens a variety of circuits that do bleed the battery down.