Hi,

I have been noticing that if i reverse the car out the driveway or similar, so a very short maneouvre without using the accelerator much, i find that the car is difficult to start. It really struggles to crank over. And its rather concerning as my car needs to be reliable - as it is for all of us.

I leave early in the morning in cold weather and she cranks and starts fine. It definitely isnt the battery as i have change to a higher CCA rated battery. It doesnt seem like its the starter motor or alternator given that it only happens after ignition and not driving it anywhere and attempting to restart the motor later on.

Im thinking that its the fuel or oils in the motor or somehow affecting the spark plugs?

Does this happen tk anyone else?
Whats the fix?

I have taken the car to my trusted mechanic and he cant find any electrical leaks or faults.
Im hoping someone here might know what the diagnosis and treatment is.

Thanks in advance,
Wes

 

I don't quite understand your scenario. The title suggests you are turning the car off, waiting a short period and having difficulty turning it back on. While your narrative suggests the car knows that you are going to perform a short maneuver without pressing the accelerator and refuses to start easily.

What year and miles?

 

2009 and 13k miles.
So i i back the car out so my brother can take his car out. Switch the car off. Then try start it up say 10 minutes later, it can sometimes be difficult to start.

 

Even though you've upgraded the battery with a higher CCA, how old is the battery? I've seen something like this on my 2010 Mazda3 and to a lesser extent on my 2012 TSX wagon, especially when parking attendants are starting and stopping cars to shuffle them around.

One guess is that an older battery needs more time to recover between cranks.

My other guess is the fuel line drains between starts with no driving, and needs to be primed for the next crank.

 

I would check the starter.

 

I honestly dont think its the battery as there are no other symptoms to suggest the batter is weak. I have changed the battery twice the past 2 years to see if it fixed the issue.

I also think its a fuel issue. Either fuel pump, fuel lines or something along the lines which almost stalls the engine when the fluid/petrol doesnt move through from idle.

I managed to find on another forum that a few others also had similar issues with their cars.
So they would do a quick reverse from high idle and not using any gas pedal, switch the motor off, then to start it soon afterwards it would also be difficult to crank. They were suggesting that the fuel hasnt moved through the engine from the high idle thus affecting the second attempt at ignition.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Cheers
Wes

 

Yeah but it only happens when i turn the engine off from a idle and only if i dont put my foot on the accelerator, nor let the motor warm up prior to turning it off.

I was hoping that others know if it happens to the second gen tsx's or have i got a problematic car lol

I have a really high suspicion that it has to be frlm the fuel pressure or lines or something along that phase for ignition.

 

I believe I had this happen once a while back. My car was cold and had to move it just a short distance real fast. Started it, put it in gear, pulled forward like 20ft, turned it off. Later when I went to start it, it had trouble firing up. Had to crank it over for a "while" before it fired up. The starter was doing its job, just not enough fuel/spark/air or something. Shrugged it off since it's only happened once in 3 years.

I figure I need to let the car run a little longer next time, you probably should too. Not sure on what the specific cause was.

 

I am going with the battery. At idle, there is very little charging going on. Batteries wear out and if yours is old (or been drained a few times) it may not be able to recover for the next start. A battery load test is needed.

Fuel issues are unlikely, I assume there are no other running problems.

 

Yeah i also think it has to be oil or fuel issue since i only moved it a very short distance before turning it off.
I will keep in mind and make sure i do let it idle a bit.
It happens especially when i back the car out of the garage to wash, then when i try to start the car again, it almost struggles to fire and crank over.

Im glad im not the only person and its not a major fault or concern. I just want to know what the cause is and hope others find this useful if they run into simar circumstances.

 

Yeah alot of members have suggested the battery also. I will keep it in mind.
What i will make sure is i keep the idle a bit longer and see if it helps.

Hope this thread is useful for others further down the track
I have changed the batteries twice the past 18 months but it still happens on those intermittent ocassions.

 

You should have your charging system checked too then. Did you swap them out for this problem?

 

You are all wrong. It is a software update that needs to be performed. If it's not an update, it something that they need to adjust with their software.

 

It is either battery or his fuel system didn't properly prime?

 

Mine sometimes does this. I bet its the crappy little OEM battery.

 

Had this issue, was battery related. Would start there first. It's the easiest fix. Then move on from there. Heizenberg would approve of this method.