Mine just flat out would not crank after like 2 hours of highway driving i stopped to get gas and no crank. so i let it sit while my friend was coming to pick me up and decide to crank it once more and fired rite up. I do think that its the weather because it never did this before.
Hard Start in Cold Weather
- Thread starter markus3
- Start date
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- Hemi Ram, 71 Plymth Scamp, 71 Plymth Duster 340, 69 Dart 340/4sp
markus3 said:
Mazda tech/ enthusiast.
MightyMouse
Member
SIBalla23 said:
This is the Mazda3 forum. All of our cars use 5W20.
MidnightSpeeder
Member
I sort of have this problem - it happens on the really cold days. Like this morning it did that but I thought it was normal to have a slow start - especially when it was so cold.
goldwing2000
Turd in the punch bowl
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- 2004 Mazda3s Hatch; 269,000 miles
It is normal for the engine to crank slower when it's cold. The battery is working harder, the starter is drawing more amperage and the fluids are more viscous.
Slow cranking isn't really the issue at hand, though. It's... weird cranking. It's hard to describe.
Slow cranking isn't really the issue at hand, though. It's... weird cranking. It's hard to describe.
mobomelter
Member
- :
- 2004 Civic Si
i agree with goldwing. it is wierd starting like the other day my car almost didn't start because it was going so slow. and it doesn't get THAT cold in MD.
MightyMouse
Member
mobomelter said:
I get the hard to start as well. It is nothing major, just the fuel system is depressurizing overnight, prob faster than it should. I just cycle the key 2 or 3 times when it is really cold to let the fuel pressure build back up again. Then it always starts no problem.
Not to bring this thread back from the dead, but my car started doing this lately and it got worse this morning. It took about 15 minutes to get it started. Probably about 10 or 11 tries before it started. I'll be taking my car to the dealer with the TSB in hand and see what they can find and do for me.
MightyMouse
Member
GrayZoom said:
That is very excessive. I really doubt they won't do anything for you. TSB or not.
MightyMouse said:
Yeah, I'm sure they would do something for me, but I don't want to get the whole line of we couldn't recreate the problem thing. What is funny is that my car has been fine today, but...I was also a bit warmer than it was yesterday. Dunno. I'll have to take it in Friday. I've got school and work all week.
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- Hemi Ram, 71 Plymth Scamp, 71 Plymth Duster 340, 69 Dart 340/4sp
There is a TSB on it. If it's any like the ones I have done the fuel pressure drops like a rock after the vehicle is shut off. If that is the case then a fuel pressure test will make it so they don't need to duplicate it.
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- Hemi Ram, 71 Plymth Scamp, 71 Plymth Duster 340, 69 Dart 340/4sp
The fuel pump.
Wow, thats a long crank. Sounds like our mazda tech is right about the pump. Mine still does it, but it is different. It fires up just fine, but sputters a bit, and then clears up, all within about 2 seconds. Babavoomvooooom! Hard to explain. Any other news on those hotter plugs? Is it a known fix?
GrayZoom said:
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- Hemi Ram, 71 Plymth Scamp, 71 Plymth Duster 340, 69 Dart 340/4sp
GrayZoom said:
Yes. The check valve gets stuck open allowing the fuel to drain back in the tank.
From what I have seen the plugs help out alot. Of course I only get 2-3 cold starts before the customer gets the car back. Haven't had any complaints as of yet.
Sounds to me like a fuel pressure drop (as BlkZoomZoom said). The "whine" you hear when turning the key halfway (to the on position, not start) is the fuel pump starting up. If the pressure drops a shitload, it will take a sec for the pump to build up fuel pressure to the fuel rail again. The cold weather could just be exacerbating the problem (further lowering the pressure, and putting added strain on the fuel pump, if it's really slow). I dont think it's the plugs, guys (and gals.
-Brook
-Brook
MightyMouse
Member
SIBalla23 said:
Well, I hope he is using the required 5W20 for all seasons, this is the Mazda3 forum afterall.
