Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Bit of an odd one, I have had several times when I start up it doesn't seem to fire up straight away. Today at lunch time I had to turn the key for a while, nothing, let it rest for a minute then turned again and after a longish burst with the starter it fired up. I wonder if there is a method for starting when colder, ie auto choke? or could it be something like knackered plugs. Seems to happen when colder/damp more and if it's been left for 4/5 hrs. Rest of the time she runs perfect Paul BTW, new battery fitted couple of months ago and it turns over well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Occasionally (but very rare) I get a similar problem. Plenty of life in the battery and turns over perfectly but won't actually fire for probably 7 or 8 secs. This only ever happens when the cars not been driven for several days (maybe a week or so). It fires up instantly every morning regardless of the weather/temp etc 99.9% of the time. Only have this problem when left standing for a while. Changed plugs-no difference. Full service incl second plug change-no difference. Seem to get a fair bit of condensation when this happens out of the exhaust for a couple of mins, but I've not got my head round it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wipeout Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 I had something similar the other day, it started but the revs were very low and going up and down a bit (400-700rpm), I stopped the engine and tried to restart but it took some cranking and then fired up, but the revs were still low and didn't get better until the car had warmed up to normal temp (a good 5-10 mins running) I guess the choke didn't come on or something was stuck somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 Bloody hell, I've hit on something here then I had same thing towards the end of last winter but as my battery was shagged I decided to re-new before this winter. Now I still have the problem but as the battery is new it copes better with the 7-8 second turning over. After mine has fired up it runs fine, and the rest of the time too. Let's just wait for the mechanic types to give us a few pointers:thumbs: Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Sounds like a auto choke 'feature' to me. My friend's Micra used to do the same. If you started the car but then turned it off within 10 seconds or so it would then take an age to start again (turning over, turning over) and then would run rough for a little bit. I remember on my old Escort Mark II - back when we had manual chokes - you would pull the choke right out to start it, but then it you stalled it soon after starting you pushed the choke right in, started it again, and then pulled the choke out again. What I suspect happens is that the auto choke comes right out to start it but then stays right out if you stop or stall it soon after. With the Escort I remember my dad telling me that if you stalled it soon after starting the technique was to push the manual choke right in again, floor the throttle and then turn it over. Once it fired, pull the choke out again. This technique worked 100% of the time. I wonder if you could reproduce this by putting your foot to the floor and turning it over then - but you're running the risk of flooding it of course if it doesn't fire... Anyway, I'm totally non-technical, but I've experienced this problem before on that Micra and I always remembered the ol' Escort Mark II starting trick... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksupra67 Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 have u tried leaving ignition on 4 about 10 secs before turning the key? sounds like fuel starvation or evaporation(when hot) :flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 Mine does it when cold, left for 4/5 hrs? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksupra67 Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 when was the air filter last checked? or changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 From the handbook; Starting Manual transmission: Press the clutch pedal to the floor and shift the transmission into neutral.Hold the clutch pedal to the floor until the engine is started. and If the engine will not start your engine may be flooded because of repeat cranking. If this happens turn the key to 'start' with the accelerator pedal held down. Keep the key and the accelerator pedal so for 15 seconds and release them. Then try starting the engine with your foot off the accelerator pedal. I guess, after trying to understand the sh*t jap translation they mean if you can't start, put your foot flat to the floor, turn ignition on till lights come on (don't turn over) leave for 15 secs, turn off and release pedal. Try again with no accelerator. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 Air filter...........about six mths ago, very clean. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksupra67 Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 thats what it means!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksupra67 Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 what its doing is when ur engines hot and u then switch off its (possibly) evaporating ur fuel!! hence leave ignition on 4 a few seconds 2 allow pump 2 circulate fuel back 2 ur injectors + give it a couple of pumps on the pedal: flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 So, what you are saying is switch to 'on', then pump pedal a couple of times then take foot off and turn over? (I can't believe I'm asking advice on how to start a car! After I've sussed this one I'll get technical and ask how to install an air freshener ) Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicksupra67 Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 thats pretty much it! but don't ask me about air freshners, the last 1 is in 20 pieces!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timwildman Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Originally posted by Paul So, what you are saying is switch to 'on', then pump pedal a couple of times Yeah thats right, the harder you pedal the faster you go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 I disagree, I reckon that accelerator-to-the-floor procedure is simply resetting the auto choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 I'm not saying it won't work; I'm simply saying that's what it's doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timwildman Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 does an injection car have a choke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Gawd knows. Er... my car's silver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 So, to aid better starting in cold weather what about ignition on, foot on accelerator, release then turn over. Would this give you 'choke' ? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 huh - me too ! very occasionally, it starts with a VERY uneven idle then settles down and once it even just didn;t catch i thiought that you would flood the whatever-thingy if you depressed the accelerator pedal prior to turning the key ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 So, lot's of us now Nice cars but don't know how to start them......... LOL Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 Pull your EFI fuses and reset the ECU. Put back fuses. Put key in gnition, crank starter and go:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 30, 2003 Author Share Posted October 30, 2003 Cheers Phil, Just a guess or you saying that it needs to re-learn? Which fuses again? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted October 30, 2003 Share Posted October 30, 2003 err - what are fuses ? what do they look like ? where can i find them ? help phil !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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