This is my 2nd go around with this problem. The last time I invested almost $1000 in parts and labor and it turned out to be a dirty throttle body!! Here's what's been replaced during the first time: new NGK Platinum plugs, new coil packs, new crankcase and transmission sensors. Battery is good and air filter is clean. Car has been running great for the last year since I cleaned the throttle body. Now, it won't start unless I hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking the engine. Once it starts, it blows smoke out the exhaust. And the check engine light is on too. I've had the first two 02 sensors replaced also. I just cleaned the throttle body a couple months ago and it wasn't dirty at all. I also must mention that it seems like it's temperature related. If the car sits all night or all day, it's a real b*tch to start. Any ideas????

 

Just an idea since you said it seems to be temperature related. Try changing your coolant temperature sensor. It runs less than $20 and can be changed in 10 min. My max was having a hard time starting unless I gave it a good amount of gas. It then shot out black smoke. The check engine light was on and it was giving a code for knock sensor and coolant temp. sensor. I changed the coolant first b/c it is cheaper and easier to change. I have not had a problem starting since. I noticed it was worse the colder the temp. My understanding was that the knock sensor was retarding the ignition b\c it was getting a bad reading from the faulty temp sensor. Let me know how it turns out.

 

Its very simple. You need a new starter. :-)

 

i've been having the same problem as you two for about a year now. it seems to be related to the length of time the car sits instead of the temperature. i'm in AZ so i've started my car in temps between 35 and 115. what happends is that when i first start it up (if its been sitting for a while) the rpm's go to about 1000, then either the car stalls or the rpm's go on a sine-wave until they finally stabalize in about 15 seconds. during this period the rpm's go anywhere between 1000 and 100. when this happens the exhast smells very rich. i can end this idleing variation by flooring it for about 3 seconds. if i let the car stall, the 2nd time it starts right up. i do not see how this could be the starter. i haven't done anything about this because: a) it always starts on the 2nd time. b) it does not effect the performance. c) i don't have the $$$ if i find out that it's expensive.
i would like to find out wtf is going on out of simple curiosity.

 

This is a very common problem among 4th gen Max.
I had same problem before.. it's the dried grease in your starter.
You need to take apart and repack it with new grease.
Try this if you having a problem starting a car then try to tap the starter with somthing like metal bar or hammer (don't bang it too hard...just tap it!) if it starts then you need to open the starter and repack it with new grease.
I saved $$$ with this...you don't need to get a new starter... just get gear grease and cleaner... will probably cost you less than $10 all together.
good luck!

 

Let me clear the air.... for my starting problem, the starter DOES actually work. The engine just doesn't start. I can sit there and spin the engine over until I put my foot to the floor and then it will start. By the way, I tried starting it a few days ago and it fired right up on the first try!!! Check engine light is still on , though. I think I will take it to a dealer and have them look at it since I had bad luck with local garages trying to diagnose these starting problems. The last time it happened, my mechanic said that all the coil packs needed to be replaced at $80 each. That didn't fix the problem. It wasn't until I found this site and was advised to clean the throttle body!!! All it took was an old toothbrush and a can of Gumout!!!

 

This has happended too me before. But it happended because I turned on the car moved it out of the way, and then turned it off. We went away the rest of the week and when we came back the car wouldn't start.

I had to push the gas pedal to the floor and it started up, and black smoke came out the exhaust. This was probably back in April. The check engine light came on and it took about a month to go away.

Now my car burns oil on hard acceleration and when it shifts gears a puff of blue smoke comes out