For those running the 626 intake mani

[bamflee84]

Ok here is my new dilemma. I changed to the 626 intake mani that has the vics/vtcs removed and the egr valved block that was put on a while ago. I've been having bad cold starts in which I have to turn the key twice in order to get the car started. The first time the car will just about turn on and kick over and then stop. The second time it will finally kick over. I read from TheMAN's thread FP-DE/FS-DE alternate OEM spark plug recommendation: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123631485&highlight=vtcs

Half way down he mentions that "my cold start emissions are crappy anyway because I don't have VTCS"

I initially thought it might be the battery in which I was about to buy a red top, but I usually get about 14-14.4 volts based on my turbo timer and my capacitor readings. I am not sure if it might be the plugs if they need to be cleaned or changed that might be causing the problem.

I wanted to know if anyone else who is running the 626 intake mani with the vics/vtcs removed have had the same issues. Right now I am ruling out the battery but am not a hundred percent sure. Any help or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

[2.0t03speed]

ummmm make sure you dont have any vacume leaks that could cause it. Since you swapped out the intake mani maybe you dont have a good seal between that and the head.

[Rush]

The only issues I have are that on very cold mornings, I HAVE to give my MSP at least 10 minutes to warm up before driving it. If I don't, the car will try to stall out between shifts until the engine has warmed sufficiently.

But it has no difficulty actually starting. The only time it did, my battery was completely dead.

[Mutmatt]

i had to let it crank maybe one or two more times and REAL cold mornings... but the car doesn't like to start when the wild chill is -30 anyway even stock. Any other mods?

[bamflee84]

yeah see the starting issue is not even when its really cold, but also recently and the weather in Jersey is reaching upwards between 45-55 now. So yeah my initial thought was the battery to get it swapped out and put a red top in and maybe that will fix it but again its not just cold starts. Mod? yeah theres quite a few but none effected the start of the car until after the trans was redone with an exedy stage 1/ findanza combo, welded up diff, the 626 intake mani went on, upgraded to the mp nick turbo, and a thermal r&d exhaust at the same time. Again the intake mani has the egr valve port blocked off so there is no piping and the vics/vtcs is removed and blocked. My vacuum is at -22 so there is no leaks. So my conclusion is to either get a new battery, or spark plugs, or just both.