upon starting, engine backfires and then engine won't start

[surfingfreeman]

Hello All
So I get in the car after work to head home and turn the key in the ignition and engine turns over and i give it a bit of gas and there is a backfire and the engine stalls, so i turn the engine over again and it stalls again, i do this like 5-times and then start to think about how many miles my roadside service will tow me, i have the premium service which is 100 or 200 miles so i am covered, i should mention i have never had the problem before but then again have only had the car about 9-months. So i pop the hood to take a look at the AFM as my radar suggests something is going on there, i pop off 3 of the springs but then notice that the air-hose leading to the AFM is not attached so i reconnect by hand but the fit feels loose so i tighten the hose clamp with a screwdriver and turn the engine over and it starts right up idles fine and i drive the 13 or so miles home no problemo. So i am a bit concerned as this is a new problem i have never had and am wondering what caused the "backfire" and if the backfire caused the airhose to be blown off the AFM, i have heard of the flap in the AFM getting hung up might that be what caused the backfire? Thanks for any ideas.
Mike

[majicwrench]

Backfire can be caused by any number of issues. And yes, backfire can certainly blow off hose.
No need to get too worried. Hook hose back up securely. Everything has to be air tight between AFM and intake. Now enjoy your car. If it continues to backfire on starting, then there is work to do. If not, then enjoy your car.
I doubt if the flap getting hung up would cause a backfire.

[So Cal Mark]

a backfire can warp the flap in the afm, causing it to stick

[courtenay]

I had the same problem with the connection to the AFM and also had a backfire. After tightening the connection the problem went away and I've had no problems since.

[surfingfreeman]

thanks all for the feedback, engine performed fine on the way in to work today, car is probably due for a tune-up so will mention the incident to my mechanic and see what he thinks.