Starting Troubles

[Smashed]

Hey everyone..I have a 2000 Mazda Protege DX. I have a problem cranking it sometimes after driving for a while. When I leave the house in the morning it cranks right up, but if I drive to McDonalds or somewhere to eat like that ill stop and turn it off and go in. I go in for like 15 to 20 min. and then come out and try to crank it and it wont. If I let it just sit there for about 30min or longer it cranks right up. If sit there and try to crank it, It dosent want to fire off, but if i do it long enough it cranks and begins to spit and spuder. If I try to take off it goes a little way then dies. When I crank it up right after it dies it runs like nothing ever happened, but the check engine light comes for a while. If i go through a drive through and idle for a good while it will begin to spit and sputter then die. This problem did not occur until after my mom took the car to work and a 18 wheeler fliped over on the interstate and she had to stop and the car idled for like an hour straight and shut off by itself , but it cranked right back up. I talked to a mechanic and they looked at the car and cannot find anything wrong with it. They have checked all the codes and they were all good. So if anyones knows what the problem is PLEASE HELP!


Thank You

[IukekiniProtege]

does the CEL flash when it come on showing a mis-fire? or does it just come on and stay on for a little bit? if its flashing, you may want to check your ignition coil. Also, a cheaper thing to do would be to go through your engine bay and check to make sure no vaccum lines have popped off anywhere(this would explain the weird idle), and next time the CEL comes on, run to your local Autozone, Advance Auto, or anywhere that can give you a print out of the error code being sent, that would help me and anyone else that could help

[peajay]

fuel pump. It sounds like in short trips it is getting hot and when you try to crank it under a hot soak it cannot overcome and cant push any fuel....that would be my first guess anyway

[Smashed]

does the CEL flash when it come on showing a mis-fire? or does it just come on and stay on for a little bit? if its flashing, you may want to check your ignition coil. Also, a cheaper thing to do would be to go through your engine bay and check to make sure no vaccum lines have popped off anywhere(this would explain the weird idle), and next time the CEL comes on, run to your local Autozone, Advance Auto, or anywhere that can give you a print out of the error code being sent, that would help me and anyone else that could help

It doesnt flash. It will come on and stay on until i turn the car off. When I turn it back on after being home for a while it wot come on. Im out of town right now, but when I get back home and if it does it ill go to autozone and do that.

peajay I thought it was the fuel pump when it first started doing it, but i havent ruled that out yet.

I greatly appreciate the help guys....any more suggestions would great guys