Car will not start on cold days...

[urbanjoe]

Yesterday around 12 I went out to start my car and nothing happen so my first thought was my battery was gone. Which at first seemed to be the problem. So I took it out and went to Canadian tire and bought a new one. Starts fine in the warm garage, but as soon as it went outside again it struggles... Any ideas.. alternator?

Thanks for the help.

[Donutz]

Did you prime the fuel pump? Mine cranks slowly if it's really cold, but it always fires up.

[speedy123]

how long have you had the new battery in for? If you just put it in and its not turning on its probably not the alternator

[ST3ALTH]

Mine takes a bit longer to start in the cold but it always turns over.

[MistaChin]

Mine takes a bit longer to start in the cold but it always turns over.

+1

Especially with this -15 weather we've been having lately.

[mazdaskit]

Yesterday my car took a little longer then it dose.. also it reved up into 3500 rpms once it started or so i didnt see how high but its mostly at 2000 rpms like today

[Thrizzl3]

Yesterday my car took a little longer then it dose.. also it reved up into 3500 rpms once it started or so i didnt see how high but its mostly at 2000 rpms like today

3500?? u sure it wasn't 2500 unless you had your foot on the gas when you started it..

[mazdaskit]

3500?? u sure it wasn't 2500 unless you had your foot on the gas when you started it..

i don't think it was that high but it reved really high once it started maybe 2800's then lol it was early & cold and was like wtf

[ST3ALTH]

Yea my rpm's are at like 3000 when i start my car in this cold weather, after a couple of minutes it drops down to a normal number like 1900 and then when its warm it sits at about 800 rpm's

[TheMAN]

was the fuel pump relay ever replaced with the updated one?

[ST3ALTH]

never heard of that fuel pump relay? was this a recall or something?

[McGuyver_3]

first things first do you have any aftermarket accesories in the car?

[urbanjoe]

Wow, thanks for the quick relies!
Fuel pump relay? Never heard of it. Go on....
The only aftermarket accessory on the car is a AEM cold air intake.

[McGuyver_3]

I asked simply because it sounds like you have a draw. When you try and start it do all the dash lights come on and you don't hear any cranking? Or does it crank just slowly and not strong enough to tun ovr the motor?

[urbanjoe]

With the old battery that is exactly what would happen, but since I put the new one in, it cranks fine. It is just really slow. Almost like a struggle. Is that just due to the cold weather?

Thanks, Joe

[mazdabetty]

With the old battery that is exactly what would happen, but since I put the new one in, it cranks fine. It is just really slow. Almost like a struggle. Is that just due to the cold weather?

Thanks, Joe

Mine takes a while to get going on cold mornings as well, it's nothing to worry about. Takes me a FEW tries on those -20 degree mornings lol :complain

I found a little trick that helps a bit; Turn the key to accessory and wait a couple of seconds, make sure your defrost and everything is off, then start. I've heard it gets fuel in the pump before starting... whether or not that's true I'm not sure, but it tends to turn over easier when I do that :)

[wikdslo]

Turning the key to the "ON" position for a few seconds allows the fuel pump to run for those first 2 or 3 seconds and prime the lines. This helps ensure that as soon as it starts to crank there is fuel at the injectors spraying out.

Even if you leave your fan, radio, etc on, there is a load reduction relay that will kill all of those things while cranking since the starter draws a lot of amperage and usually requires all of the juice you can get.

Take a look at the battery post connectors. Do you see any corrossion or buildup of anything?

You can also try cleaning off the post connectors. Sandpaper, or a $5 tool from CT will do just fine.
Poor grounds can lead to a significant voltage drop which will result in poor starter performance among other things.

[Donutz]

ITurn the key to accessory and wait a couple of seconds, make sure your defrost and everything is off, then start. I've heard it gets fuel in the pump before starting... whether or not that's true I'm not sure, but it tends to turn over easier when I do that :)

= primes the fuel pump. But I think you mean turn the key to "ON".

[mazdabetty]

= primes the fuel pump. But I think you mean turn the key to "ON".

haha yeah probably :chuckle the LAST notch before the crank. oopsie!

[Stoked]

ive basically gone through the exact same thing, dont really know what it is, i think the car just doesnt like the cold

last year, i didnt start my car for a few days and my battery died i guess but it was going slowly cause it would start really slow and like every other time, then it just wouldnt start anymore, replaced the battery then it was good

then this year, especially like the past week or so since the weather has dropped and actually been below zero, ive noticed that my car has like a really bad delay, sometimes i dont even think its gonna turn over, and my rpm's prly jump to around 3k as well


im just try the fuel pump thing next time though, definately, hopefully it helps, if not ill just keep hoping for good weather and for winter to end

[urbanjoe]

Turning the key to the "ON" position for a few seconds allows the fuel pump to run for those first 2 or 3 seconds and prime the lines. This helps ensure that as soon as it starts to crank there is fuel at the injectors spraying out.

Even if you leave your fan, radio, etc on, there is a load reduction relay that will kill all of those things while cranking since the starter draws a lot of amperage and usually requires all of the juice you can get.

Take a look at the battery post connectors. Do you see any corrossion or buildup of anything?

You can also try cleaning off the post connectors. Sandpaper, or a $5 tool from CT will do just fine.
Poor grounds can lead to a significant voltage drop which will result in poor starter performance among other things.

Alright I'll give this a try tomorrow morning. I kinda think my car just hates the cold... Just like me lol. I think its a sign, I need to move somewhere warm and away from all this salt and crap.

[Stoked]

Alright I'll give this a try tomorrow morning. I kinda think my car just hates the cold... Just like me lol. I think its a sign, I need to move somewhere warm and away from all this salt and crap.

we all should move somewhere warm where salt doesnt ruin everything from your car to your lawn... fortunately this years winter hasnt been that bad, but then again, although we didnt have a harsh winter, we didnt really have a summer... yea we should all move.

[mazdabetty]

we all should move somewhere warm where salt doesnt ruin everything from your car to your lawn... fortunately this years winter hasnt been that bad, but then again, although we didnt have a harsh winter, we didnt really have a summer... yea we should all move.

If larger cities would switch to sand people would be much happier. I'd pay more taxes just to lose the salt! I think Barrie still uses sand if I'm not mistaken, I know they did years ago... it was always a blessing for car owners :chuckle

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I think sand messes up the sewers or something.

[mazdaskit]

when i was growing up in kitchener they used sand for years that i can remember but now its all salt... the sand didnt do anything when it was on the ice

[urbanjoe]

when i was growing up in kitchener they used sand for years that i can remember but now its all salt... the sand didnt do anything when it was on the ice

Its the same in Peterborough. They use sand, unless its icy. Makes the snow look like crap, but I would rather be driving down roads with sand rather than salt.

[urbanjoe]

I tried turning the key to the "on" position for a few seconds and then starting the car and it seems to work. Car doesn't struggle like it use too.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

[mazdabetty]

I tried turning the key to the "on" position for a few seconds and then starting the car and it seems to work. Car doesn't struggle like it use too.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

HAH! MB = genious. :winner:chuckle jkjk Glad it helps!

Getting a remote starter installed today, I wonder if they can wire it so it turns to ON for a few seconds before cranking? Gonna be useless otherwise :/

[McGuyver_3]

My compustar on my older Mazda 3 turned the key on to prime and the. Cranked but due to such a short cranking time and In winter it taking longer to crank it took 3 or 4 attempts to start the car. But other the that ya it primes it

[Donutz]

^^ Yep. My Compustar Pro primes the pump before the starter kicks in.

[mazdabetty]

Ohh ok nice, good to know... I have a nustart which is supposedly compustar with a different label, hopefully it's the same! :)

[Donutz]

Stand near the front of your car and use the autostart feature. You should hear a click, then you should hear your fuel pump whine/hum; then the car will begin to crank. If it just cranks when you use the autostart then I don't think it is priming the fuel pump.

[alho]

is it just me or does the engine run a lot rougher, as in the engine sounds rougher esp when it's revved, and you hear a lot more tapping now that the cold has set in...

[mazdabetty]

Stand near the front of your car and use the autostart feature. You should hear a click, then you should hear your fuel pump whine/hum; then the car will begin to crank. If it just cranks when you use the autostart then I don't think it is priming the fuel pump.
Yes, I just got home from getting it installed and it turns it on for about 3 seconds then cranks. Hopefully good enough on those -25 days :chuckle Thanks for the help! :)



is it just me or does the engine run a lot rougher, as in the engine sounds rougher esp when it's revved, and you hear a lot more tapping now that the cold has set in...
Yes. There's a thread on this somewhere. Just granny drive it for 10 minutes or so if you can, it goes away.

[TheMAN]

is it just me or does the engine run a lot rougher, as in the engine sounds rougher esp when it's revved, and you hear a lot more tapping now that the cold has set in...
it's not you
what you're hearing is a combination of piston slap and the intake manifold's TSCV valves

really, let your car warm up until the temperature gauge starts moving before going in this cold!

[TheMAN]

if you all have to prime your fuel before starting, then your fuel pump is weak/on the way out.... mazda issued TSBs for 04-05s regarding this issue... I wouldn't worry about it until it becomes constant in whatever weather though because it's such a pain and expensive to replace it

[wikdslo]

it's not you
what you're hearing is a combination of piston slap and the intake manifold's TSCV valves

really, let your car warm up until the temperature gauge starts moving before going in this cold!



You should not sit around and let the car warm up, nor should you really use a remote starter for this purpose. Both methods promote extra wear on your engine.

The idea behind it is that the engines maximum efficiency is reached when it is at operating temperature.
Letting it idle up to temperature takes far longer than driving the car in a reserved fashion.

I turn on the car and let it sit between 30 seconds to 1 minute then begin driving it, gently.

[mazdabetty]

You should not sit around and let the car warm up, nor should you really use a remote starter for this purpose. Both methods promote extra wear on your engine.

The idea behind it is that the engines maximum efficiency is reached when it is at operating temperature.
Letting it idle up to temperature takes far longer than driving the car in a reserved fashion.

I turn on the car and let it sit between 30 seconds to 1 minute then begin driving it, gently.

Yeah that's a whole other can of beans over here:

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=39489&highlight=30+seconds (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=39489&highlight=30+seconds)

I, on the other hand, intend on letting my car run for at least 2.5 hours before setting off, thanks to my new remote starter :chuckle :gone

[urbanjoe]

I have the Compustar remote starter as well, but have never used the autostart function. Mostly because I forget the process to use the autostart. Can anyone give a short explanation?


Thanks

[Donutz]

Do you have manual or auto? If it's manual, you set the 'reservation mode' when you turn off the car; if it's auto you don't have to worry about this. Then, when you're ready to start your car, just hold down button 2 until it beeps. If you are using the 2-way remote, it will sound out a series of beeps and the picture on the remote will show exhaust gases coming out of the tailpipe. [/of explanation]

[urbanjoe]

Do you have manual or auto? If it's manual, you set the 'reservation mode' when you turn off the car; if it's auto you don't have to worry about this. Then, when you're ready to start your car, just hold down button 2 until it beeps. If you are using the 2-way remote, it will sound out a series of beeps and the picture on the remote will show exhaust gases coming out of the tailpipe. [/of explanation]

I have manual.. Ok, thanks a lot. Ill go give it a try now.

[Donutz]

To clarify, if you don't already know, you set reservation mode when you park; hold the foot brake down, set the hand brake, and release the foot brake. You should hear a very distinct click from somewhere in your dash. When you remove the key the car will continue to run; after you close the door the car will shut down and lock the doors. On the remote you will see a little key indicating your car can be remote started.

[aris]

To clarify, if you don't already know, you set reservation mode when you park; hold the foot brake down, set the hand brake, and release the foot brake. You should hear a very distinct click from somewhere in your dash. When you remove the key the car will continue to run; after you close the door the car will shut down and lock the doors. On the remote you will see a little key indicating your car can be remote started.

+1

[urbanjoe]

To clarify, if you don't already know, you set reservation mode when you park; hold the foot brake down, set the hand brake, and release the foot brake. You should hear a very distinct click from somewhere in your dash. When you remove the key the car will continue to run; after you close the door the car will shut down and lock the doors. On the remote you will see a little key indicating your car can be remote started.

This was going to be my next question. thank you.