Cold Start Fails twice at cool temps

[grunze]

96 Q, 150k

2nd time that we have had a no start at cooler temps first thing in the morning(45--49 degrees, humidity less than 20%). After waiting for temp to warm up, it starts normally.

Starter sounds normal and just keeps spinning. But no firing. Battery replaced and charging system checked out after first event. After 2nd event this morning and subsequent warmup with normal start, still nothing found. Mechanic made a comment about the fuel pump, controller, and ground but the temp variation didn't seem to fit.

Thanks for any help.

[King Ranzo]

Temperature could affect the fuel, but I don't think it would really stop you from starting. Hmm. Does it crank or is it just dead nothing? I'm thinking starter or the starter solenoid acting up.

[Q451990]

Tell me about the previous drive before the car was shut down... the reason I ask is because we tend to see a situation where someone starts the car for a short period of time in cold temperatures (e.g. to move it from behind one car in the driveway to another parking space) and turns it off - only to have a hard start the next time they start it. The reason is that the ECU sends an especially hard hit of fuel to the cylinders during a start during in cold ambient temperatures to keep the car from choking down. It's the equivalent of the old choke on a carburated system except that the fuel mixture is enriched by increasing the fuel instead of decreasing air.

Anyhow, if the car isn't allowed to warm up and burn off all of the fuel from this heavy hit - the next start can be a hard one because the oil will be washed off of the piston rings and your engine has low compression. If you ever think the engine is flooded, you can try starting the car with the gas pedal fully depressed to the floor... this tells the ECU to try starting without sending fuel to the cylinders.

Heath

[BCC93QT]

My Q was a CHAMP last year and all years prior starting in the cold. It cranked over first try when it was around -30F.