Difficult to start

[roger_mck]

Just curious if any has experienced a similar issue.

This last winter on a couple of occasions my '99 failed to start on the first try. It would however start on the fourth or fifth try. It was clear that this only happened on the coldest days when the car had been sitting outside. Cold Florida days to be exact, somewhere below 50f.

It has happened a few more times since, and now recently when the outside temp was 80 degrees.

So this is getting worrisome. Fortunately after a 'few' tries the car has always come to life.

When it fails to start all is normal except for the lack of absolutely any starter response. No indication of a dead or failing battery. When it does start it fires right up as per normal.

'99 w/116k miles.

Thanks

[phillipj]

I would start with you battery being the #1 suspect. B) How old is the battery? 4 years + and it probably needs to be replaced.

If you do search here you will find many mysteries attributed to a dying cell in a battery.

Have your battery tested and let us know what you find..(unless it's new.)

Edited April 20, 2009 by phillipj

[bmohr]

or your starter motor is dying on you. Mine started displaying warm starting issues(slow crank) after 85k miles. Replaced it around 90k and it was fine after that. Get your bat checked like Phillip said and if it's okay, you might need to pull it and have a shop refurb it for you, or buy another one.

[1schoir]

Just curious if any has experienced a similar issue.

This last winter on a couple of occasions my '99 failed to start on the first try. It would however start on the fourth or fifth try. It was clear that this only happened on the coldest days when the car had been sitting outside. Cold Florida days to be exact, somewhere below 50f.

It has happened a few more times since, and now recently when the outside temp was 80 degrees.

So this is getting worrisome. Fortunately after a 'few' tries the car has always come to life.

When it fails to start all is normal except for the lack of absolutely any starter response. No indication of a dead or failing battery. When it does start it fires right up as per normal.

'99 w/116k miles.

Thanks

Roger:

I would also check your clutch interlock switch. It sometimes goes intermittent before failing completely. It's easy to bypass, but you have to be a contortionist to get at it behind the clutch pedal.

Regards, Maurice.

[pk2]

Ditto Maurice

You can also jump the starter directly from the (a) battery with jumper cables to rule it out. If you don't know the hows and wheres, better not. PK

[roger_mck]

or your starter motor is dying on you. Mine started displaying warm starting issues(slow crank) after 85k miles. Replaced it around 90k and it was fine after that. Get your bat checked like Phillip said and if it's okay, you might need to pull it and have a shop refurb it for you, or buy another one.

Thanks for the info, I'll start looking at both the battery and starter motor more closely.

This seems different though - It is definitely not a slow start however, it's a no start for the first 30-60 seconds. Then we're fine.

[Cassiebox]

if there's absolutely no start as in no noise/movement at all from the starter then head more towards the clutch interlock switch (assuming manual of course ;) ) or possibly even the ignition switch. Starters these days (even w/ a '99) don't really develop the "flat spots" like starters of yesteryear - not saying they can't 'burn up' but usually the symptoms are much different.

Definitely check the clutch interlock switch (see post # 6 in this thread - might try some compressed air and/or silicone spray on it to clean it up too). In a bind (also to see if it's the root of your problem) you can disconnect the plug and run a jumper b/w the wires - JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUT OF GEAR (manual of course) W? PARKING BRAKe ON BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH

Good luck :)

Edited April 22, 2009 by Cassiebox

[roger_mck]

if there's absolutely no start as in no noise/movement at all from the starter then head more towards the clutch interlock switch (assuming manual of course ;) ) or possibly even the ignition switch. Starters these days (even w/ a '99) don't really develop the "flat spots" like starters of yesteryear - not saying they can't 'burn up' but usually the symptoms are much different.

Definitely check the clutch interlock switch (see post # 6 in this thread - might try some compressed air and/or silicone spray on it to clean it up too). In a bind (also to see if it's the root of your problem) you can disconnect the plug and run a jumper b/w the wires - JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE OUT OF GEAR (manual of course) W? PARKING BRAKe ON BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH

Good luck :)

I will try cleaning up the interlock switch first - Perhaps some gunk has just made the switch operation a bit spotty. Thanks for the advice.

[chanda]

I will try cleaning up the interlock switch first - Perhaps some gunk has just made the switch operation a bit spotty. Thanks for the advice.

Have you tried cleaning up yet and did it help? I have simular starting problem. I replaced the battery a couple months ago, and the problem did not go away.