Startup Strangness
 

Ok, I tried searching for this, but couldn't find an answer. Here's my problem:
Very occassionally, I will goto start up my Pro and it will take extra long for the engine to start after I turn the key.
I start the car by just pushing the clutch and the brake in, and then I turn the key to start the car. Usually it takes about a second or two and then the car starts.

However, in these rare instances, I will turn the key and will have to keep it turned for more like 5-8 seconds before the car starts. Is this something I should be worried about? I don't think there's anything I'm doing differently than normal.

I know I can't take it to the dealer for this because it is so intermittent that they will just give me the "could not duplicate problem" BS. :mad:

Any ideas/suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

empty injectors?
 

Somebody posted something about this before.

They said it was because when your car sits for a long time, the fuel injectors drain, and when you go to start it, there's no gas for the engine to use. The solution is to turn your key part way (to the "accessories" setting) in the ignition. Don't turn it all the way. After a few seconds, your fuel pressure is up and you can star the car normally.

I don't know whether this is true or false.

However, I do know that I have experienced symptoms similar to yours sometimes. It *never* happens if I follow the recommended procedure, but then again, it rarely happens when I don't.

I have usually observed the problem when my car has sat parked outside all day in either fairly cold or fairly hot weather -- but like I said, only sometimes. I've never had this problem with any other fuel injected car.

Thanks for the info. But I don't get it. I park in the exact same spot everyday. There have been colder days and hotter days than the times that this has occurred.

Oh well...I'll try out your recommendation...but like you said...it rarely happens even if you don't follow that procedure. :(

mike same thing happens to my 00 ES once in a while. On those occasions I have to keep starting the car for a good few seconds before the engine starts up. Not sure why is that and it happens very rarely, so I'm not too worried about it, yet.... :rolleyes:

The problem you described is an inherent problem with newer OBDII-equipped Mazdas. I used to own a 99 Miata, which had the same problem, and many other 99+ Miata owners complained about it too. The answer from Mazda USA was that it is an inherent glitch in the ECU software, and that "they all do that" and there is no real fix. Sorry :( You just have to crank your car a little extra.

BTW the "injector draining" theory probably isn't correct. Loss of fuel pressure *can* cause the problem you describe, but the car will only lose fuel pressure if there's a leak. The fuel system in a 99+ Pro (and just about any other new vehicle) is designed to hold pressure indefinitely when the engine is shut off. If it is leaking and losing pressure, there should be other symptoms, including other driveability problems, the "Check Engine" light, and a persistent gas smell.

Re: empty injectors?
 

When the key is on the "accessories" position the fuel pump does not run, it only runs when the key is on the "on" position. When starting *any* car it is a good idea to turn the key to the "on" position, pause a couple of seconds for the fuel pump to prime itself, then turn the key to the start position.

I was taught to ALWAYS have your foot on the brake while starting the car, regardless if it's manual or auto.

Anyway, since I always start it the same way, why would it only take longer to start infrequently?

:withstupi ..we need a bash shield for replies like the one I am about to write (I am sure someone will say search)

About once in a blue moon (4 times in a month of ownership), my P 5 will simply crank and crank and not start. After about 3 tries it will start and run fine. Time of day, weather etc really are not similar.

All other times it starts immediately..like a second or 2 after cranking begins...is this the ECU thing again? :withstupi

I have the same problem. Its only happened about 5 times since i bought the car (oct). And I always thought it was because of the intake for some reason....

I can definitely say its not because my car was sitting or because it was cold.

This delayed starting also happens on my car from time to time. I also had a '91 Escort GT which had the Mazda BP series 1.8L. It would do the same thing from time to time.

For me, it seems to happen after I drive the car hard not let it idle for a about ten seconds before I turn it off. It's very rare when I don't let it idle a bit after driving it really hard, but it seems every time I do, it'll go through the delayed starting. I believe the theory on the ECU programming problem. Whenever it happens, it always seems to take the same amount of cranking (about 5 seconds) to start it.

My friend's '93 626 ES-V6 does this from time to time as well.

-Jerry

The 01 Honda Civic I used to own does this as well. But every time it happens the gas is below the 1/4 mark. It's a known Honda thing...even happens on cars w/o OBDII. A friend of mine's 96 Accord does it too. No real solution except to keep the tank above 1/4.

As for the P5, it happened to me once. But I have 3/4 in my tank.

1/2 to full tank everytime it happened.
First thing I thought...no gas

i've never had this problem with my pro yet....... then again with my car starter my car will idol until i close all my doors then it will turn off the car, lock the doors then arm the alarm, so that probably helps

Hmm...I noticed that my tank was just about 1/2 full when it happened this time....but it hasn't happend since it dropped below that. Could that mean something??

My cousin has a Se-R since October and he has had same problem that his car on occasion regardless of how much gas in his tank it would take longer than normal to start the car. I have experienced this with my MP5 as well. He took the car to his dealership this past week and they called up Nissan and confirmed the problem was due to his Fuel Pump and i believe he said they will be doing a recall on it. So that is one possibility for our same prob. I also had a Civic before my MP5 and like someone said earlier when i had under 1/4 tank it would sometimes take longer to start but that was the only time i would experience it in my Civic. - John -