I started having a problem when my husband told me to turn off the air conditioning before starting the car. It always started until I would sometimes forget to turn off the air before turning it off. So, before I would start it, I would turn the ignition on and turn off the air. Seemed like it didn't want to start sometimes. But then, it wouldn't start at all. It turns over but seems like it isn't getting fuel. After a few minutes, it has always started. I quit fiddling with the AC switch, didn't bother turning it off (as I always had) and haven't had a problem until today. We flew to Indy for a week, came back and called the parking attendant to pick us up at the airport. He pulled the car out, turnd the AC on high to cool it off, then turned it off and shut off the car. Now it won't start. I am stranded in Tampa until the morning. I am hoping it will start in the AM. This has happened four or five times, but it has always started after a few minutes but up to four hours later. Any thoughts? Thanks,

 

Is sounds like a bad battery (hopefully) but could be a whole heap of things none of which are particularly easy to diagnose or fix if you're stranded miles from home. The aircon will put an extra drain on the battery - I can't think of any other reason it should affect starting.
Do you know how old the battery is?
If it is an OEM battery the date is stamped in WW/YY format on the top of the negative terminal.
Obviously if you can start it today don't turn it off until you get home!

 

+1 and good luck!

 

+1

I'll add my vote to the battery as the most likely cause, even more so if it's the original.

Graham

 

+1 on the battery. Not that it's of great importance right now, but there's no need to switch off the A/C when starting or stopping the engine. This is an old old habit from many years ago that has no real benefit on modern cars. It's got nothing to do with your present difficulties, just a co-inkydink.

 

+5 on battery!

 

We stayed overnight and got a ride home. Car still wouldn't start on Wednesday morning. I told the husband all agreed to get a new battery. Since it cranked but wasn't getting gas, he disagrees. I am having it towed from Tampa to Port Charlotte to a good mechanic. If it is the battery, we can tell him "I told you so". He thinks it is the fuel pump.
Thanks and I'll keep you posted,

 

Your hubby might be right on the fuel pump - but what would be a cheaper and easier option to rule out first... the battery. Please keep us posted...