Hard Start; Not Battery Related...

[rico05]

I have noticed that when my car is cold, it starts VERY hard. BUT it is not the battery (new Optima yellow top). It almost seems like the starter is working harder than it has to. I thought that it was the fact that my p/s rack is leaking so bad that I am pretty much running straight Lucas Stop Leak and it is so thick that it is gumming up the pump that it is hard to turn, but I unhooked the pump yesterday and it still did it. It will crank really slow then start, and unless I gun it, it will die.

It only does it when VERY cold (<40 ambient). Above that, it starts like a champ (no cold start issues). The starter spins fine (I can hear it), but the motor takes many cranks to spin. I am stumped.

[DALAZ_68]

I have noticed that when my car is cold, it starts VERY hard. BUT it is not the battery (new Optima yellow top). It almost seems like the starter is working harder than it has to. I thought that it was the fact that my p/s rack is leaking so bad that I am pretty much running straight Lucas Stop Leak and it is so thick that it is gumming up the pump that it is hard to turn, but I unhooked the pump yesterday and it still did it. It will crank really slow then start, and unless I gun it, it will die.

It only does it when VERY cold (<40 ambient). Above that, it starts like a champ (no cold start issues). The starter spins fine (I can hear it), but the motor takes many cranks to spin. I am stumped.

i have the same issue...summer spring and even fall one crank and boom

when it comes to winter morning starts, first crank, it starts but then dies, second crank it last longer, i have to rev to 2k (lights get brighter) and then it stays on

[ca18detgabby]

maybe your alternator is going? thus it is putting undue stress on the battery to start the motor?

maybe the cold is making the starter stick?

there are always the basics

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/...r.htm

[DALAZ_68]

maybe your alternator is going? thus it is putting undue stress on the battery to start the motor?

maybe the cold is making the starter stick?

there are always the basics

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/...r.htm

yeah, maybe, ima do my battery relocation and use my normal sixe battery, currently running a civic battery (space in engine bay is not so great lol)so i hope it solve it

[rico05]

Haha. Thanks Gabby. But as stated, the alt output is good (~14v), the battery tested good and the starter is good. At this point in my career, I only post when I am actually stumped.

It almost feels like the motor is heavier. It is quite hard to describe.

[ca18detgabby]

Haha. Thanks Gabby. But as stated, the alt output is good (~14v), the battery tested good and the starter is good. At this point in my career, I only post when I am actually stumped.

It almost feels like the motor is heavier. It is quite hard to describe.

heavier?

maybe the oil is gumming up?

granted it is the coldest day we have had all year and it is 45 degrees out right now, so maybe Im a little less suited to understand.

[Ca_Silvia]

heavier?

maybe the oil is gumming up?

granted it is the coldest day we have had all year and it is 45 degrees out right now, so maybe Im a little less suited to understand.

That kind of what i was thinking, you use 15W40 don't you Rico?

[bradt]

Switch to 5W-30 in the winter. Also, I had the same issue, but it was a sensor issue. The warmup enrichment was all haywire.

[Liquid_Neon]

arnt yellow tops a gel battery? im pretty sure the extreme cold would affect them more... but i could be totally wrong.

[rico05]

No, they are better for the cold. I have always run Mobil1 15W-50, but this last change I switched to RedLine in the same weight. Also, my negative cable was loose. I just bought some Royal Purple 10W-30 and tested my alt. It's good.

Also, this is not a standard CA "cold start issue". I had that. Fixed it. The motor just cranks very slow. Battery is good. Alt is good.

[ca18detgabby]

arnt yellow tops a gel battery? im pretty sure the extreme cold would affect them more... but i could be totally wrong.

optima batteries are AGM IIRC

[ca18detgabby]

maybe post a video?

[bradt]

Change out the royal purple after 2 months or 2,000. It's great for a race motor, but basically turns to water after a while. I have seen many spun bearings due to this stuff....

[float_6969]

I had this exact same problem for years and never could figure it out. One day my wife had the car and it died on her in a parking lot. I went to go help her and saw that the ground wire had melted. There was a bad connection to the chassis ground and the wire was frayed.

I went to the parts store and got a couple of generic ground cables, a new negative battery cable, new bolts, and a tube of copper-based anti-sieize. I cleaned off every connection, applied the anti-sieze, and assembled everything. The car started up better than it EVER had and basically eliminated my cold start problems.

Something to try.

[rico05]

I have some those supplies for that very idea Ryan.

And I have never heard of anything but good things about RP oil. Where did you hear that info at?

[r34 gtr]

Rico, no way it gets cold enough in TX for you to have cold start problems. Stop lying.

I am a huge fan of ground cables. The more the merrier.

Also, Castrol GTX is the best oil. That's your problem.

Ok, I'm done.

[float_6969]

Whatever, you're never done.

[rico05]

Ryan, Tim, Gabby, Dee...I give you full license to flame me, razz me, rip on me...hell disown me.

I changed my oil and filter for RP 10W-30 and a Wix gold (happy Tim?), added two new grounds and checked over everything. I start her up and she seems to start a little better. Then, I get a belt squeal. I go to tighten the p/s belt as I have been getting all kinds of crap from my p/s system lately (rack is SHOT and the pump is leaking like crazy...waiting for tax return to by all new parts) and it still squeals. Guess what. The tensioner bolt on the alternator backed off. It was totally loose. So my alty was not charging the battery enough and I was having cold start issues. Super.

Noobs, you don't get to say anything. I still know more than you.

[float_6969]

Hmm, maybe I should have a temporary hold placed on that custom title under your screen name...

[rico05]

Haha. Nice.

[r34 gtr]

Freaking power steering man, every time. I remember when my pump finally died. It made horrible, nightmare-inducing noises whenever you turned the wheel.

Fun note, my car ate ANOTHER clutch slave cylinder today. That makes one a year since I have owned the car (since '02). Anyone else's s13 absolutely slay clutch hydraulic systems?

[Ca_Silvia]

Mine has see 2 years of hard track abuse and not a drip comes out of it. Mie you it stays parked for 5 months a year.

[rico05]

My slave is on its way out...

In my old car, I NEVER had an issue with p/s. I am on my second SOHC pump (I know...I know) and the rack just leaves puddles and trails everywhere I go.

[r34 gtr]

Yeah, know how it goes. We should start a club.

[rico05]

Totally. Between my clacking lifters (new ones are going in with my new cam setup next weekend) and the leak, I feel so ghetto. Until I blow down an E55 AMG on the toll way that is (ok, so his whole family was in the car haha).

[ca18detgabby]

I swear everytime someone has an issue here lately....... the OP need to down 10 to 15 beers and a few advil PMs.. get up the next morning and think about the issue after they sober up.

getting all worked up and pissed off, never helps finding an issue.

glad to hear you are finding your solution. just chillax next time...........

lol, I love my PS.......... still OEM from nissan and hasnt died.

[DALAZ_68]

is it otay for me to post a vid of how POS acts,

[rico05]

I swear everytime someone has an issue here lately....... the OP need to down 10 to 15 beers and a few advil PMs.. get up the next morning and think about the issue after they sober up.

getting all worked up and pissed off, never helps finding an issue.

Never got pissed Gabby. Just stumped. Hence the thread. If you notice, I almost never start question threads anymore as I can usually figure it out on my own. I have issues all the time (3 weeks ago I had the motor almost stripped down in my apartment parking lot) that I handle just fine.

[ca18detgabby]

Never got pissed Gabby. Just stumped. Hence the thread. If you notice, I almost never start question threads anymore as I can usually figure it out on my own. I have issues all the time (3 weeks ago I had the motor almost stripped down in my apartment parking lot) that I handle just fine.

idk, it sounded like you got worked up a bit.

lol Im sure the apartment people loved that. usually thats a good way to get kicked out.

[rico05]

Actually, they are cool with me. I am very clean and don't take up a lot of space so I have not had any issues yet.