Hard start after 3 week sit.

[dhe]

I KNOW my tracker - 2001, likes to be driven once a week. I've let it sit before more than two weeks, and had a heck of a time getting it started.

Well, with the covid, I did it again. I go to turn over and instead of starting instantly, I get kind of a wheezing sound.

I WAS able to get it going, by using a trick I read here, one pump of the accelerator, turn the key and hold the accelerator half way down.

-- Once it turned over, it idled a little rough, so I gave it some gas, after running it 30 miles, all is good again. Just kind of curious as to guesses as to what this might be? I'm guess something with a vacuum or fuel pump?

I do always turn the key to the first click and wait at least 45 seconds for all sounds to stop, before trying to turn it over.

Thanks for any guesses. Wouldn't it be nice if fixing the problem was as easy as replacing the gas cap?

Thanks,
dhe

[fixkick]

I KNOW my tracker - 2001, likes to be driven once a week. I've let it sit before more than two weeks, and had a heck of a time getting it started.

Well, with the covid, I did it again. I go to turn over and instead of starting instantly, I get kind of a wheezing sound.

I WAS able to get it going, by using a trick I read here, one pump of the accelerator, turn the key and hold the accelerator half way down.

-- Once it turned over, it idled a little rough, so I gave it some gas, after running it 30 miles, all is good again. Just kind of curious as to guesses as to what this might be? I'm guess something with a vacuum or fuel pump?

I do always turn the key to the first click and wait at least 45 seconds for all sounds to stop, before trying to turn it over.

Thanks for any guesses. Wouldn't it be nice if fixing the problem was as easy as replacing the gas cap?

Thanks,
dhe

2001 what engine? what transmission stick or auto trans/
G16, J20, or H25 (v6?)

no starts.
but first it must crank , and cranks fast and robustly does it?

you turn the key and hear the fuel pump spin for 3 seconds (some 2001 not)
that primes the fuel lines and then you crank and injection happens fast, no delay and no delayed starts.
ever put new spark plugs in the engine, (tune up stuff)

that hold gas pedal does nothing at all pumped key off.
zero, after all there is NO ECU online like that to do anything.

yes if an engine is flooded, the manual on all these cars tells you
to crank with right foot held to floor this is magic secret cut fuel  mode to clear out any flooded engine.

all those engine above have 4 or 6 injectors.
all can leak and make flooding happen. parked. but most times will dry out,  after 2 weeks for sure. so there is no fuel now.
so only cranking foot off the gas pedal works here, this insures the fuel is injected correctly, ( is the air cleaner clean or packed up in dirt or  even mouse nets>)

sure with the wrong gas cap , i can not want to start. if the vacuum breaker in it bad or clogged, sure.  but you can remove the cap
and crank all day, that way to prove not the cap.

my guess, is car not tuned up, with new spark wires and spark plugs.
try running Chevron Techron fuel clean in the fuel tank,  i'm not additive person but this can clean injectors this one brand.

next time do not wait 45second all that does is invent leaking injectors to flood a dry engine.
only 3 seconds, or keyon  3times and crank with futher delay and foot of the gas pedal.

start the car normally , no tricks unless sure it is flooding.

For sure a tune up and try some injector cleaner.
is the fuel  old over 1 year old>? or 1/8th of tank many months old if not driving  car keep it full.  
full tanks do not rust or go bad fuel fast.

is the fuel filter 19years old.?
if seen outside fuel tank that is. (some are not there outside, )

wish I knew what engine is there.?

[fixkick]

oops your read , about 1/2 throttle starts. (yes)
sure, this is the case only on engine with a bad IAC, valve.
the engine has dead thermal IAC and there is no cold starting air now, and to start the car it floods , and sure 1/2 throttle or even 1/4 adds this missing air and avoids the flood, just one of many types of failure.
The ECU does not know the iAC is dead so inject fuel based on the lie, with full IAC AIR but there is no air so it must flood and stall.

so that is what you read Im sure.
if it only starts with 1/4" throttle even 1/8" the IAC may be dead. (cold start fresh air valve)

wish i knew what engine is there.
my 2004 had a v6 .

[dhe]

It's a 2001, Chevy Tacker, with the ZX package, two door, so I think that makes it a (2.0 L J20A I4 130 hp).

As far as maintenance, it's one owner, has always been serviced at the dealer. All pre-scribed maintenance has always been done. Unfortunately the manual runs out, at like 60 thousand miles. So I started over, and had the dealership do 20 thousand (or what ever number it was) at 80 thousand.

It's a one day a week drive for me, so I go ahead and take it in twice a year which takes me almost to the 3000 mile mark.