maxcosity

So I've been parking my 5th gen outside for a couple of weeks now, maybe 7 weeks, and it has been as cold as 37 (or so my thermometer says) here in Cali a few days, but usually in the 40s in the morning.

Today, it was 57 on the thermometer -- much warmer although it was raining, but when I when to start my car (6 speed manual btw), it just sounded really weak and would not turn over. It was for sure not the alarm starter kill. The headlights came on and did NOT dim one bit while starting, so I doubt seriously it is an electrical/battery issue...

I kept trying to start it and gave it some gas and finally it started up...

I'm thinking it could have been any of the following:

- starter
- air
- fuel
- plugs
- injectors

So, assuming it wasn't the starter, lack of air (I do have an intake though), or fuel, it leaves the plugs and injectors, right?

My car is just about to hit 24k miles, and is almost 2 years old (was brand new when I bought it).. It's an '03.

ANY IDEAS WHAT HAPPENED??

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

Have your battery tested, I doubt its your starter since the car is so new. Most of the time VQ starters go out around 100-140K miles, mine will be here tomorrow I hope. My battery is dying right now due to very cold winter we have here in the Chicago area- was in the single digits for the last 2 weeks ! My car cranks very slowly and sometimes the starter just stops, and hits again- so I know its both the starter and the battery. If it was just the batt, the starter would click and not turn over. Optima Yellow top is on its way too

TriangleMan

FYI - it is a bad idea to have the headlights turned on while cranking the engine. Why drain the battery when you don't have to, especially when you are starting the car, which is when you need the battery the most.

PearlWhtMaX2000

iTrader: (5)

i had the same problem like 5 days ago. i garaged my car for about 5 weeks, than when i came home from svhool for the break, it wouldnt start. so i had it jumped and it started right up, and is fine now. so i think its just a mix of it being so cold, and not started for a while.

maxcosity

Yeah, I hadn't started it for 48 hours, which is a first probably.. at least during cold weather it is..

Why my lights were on? Well, they come on by default when I start my car. It's not like I put them on.. I know it drains on the battery during start.. :|

TriangleMan

I'll have to check when I start it at night but I can't remember if the auto mode turns them on as soon as you put the key in.

thephatOne

why dont you push start it? it is a manual...

jmal

Yeah, its been about 0 degrees out here for a couple days this past week...the car starts, but a bit slow on turning it over...I think its the stock battery too. Might need one soon myself.

brettb

iTrader: (2)

I had this problem about two weeks ago. Turn the key and nothing, push down on the gas a few times and it would start. One week later it did it again except this time it took about 5 turns of the key to finally start. I took it to Autozone they checked the charging system and the battery and said everything looked fine. One week later it was dead again. So I got a new battery and have not had any problems since. I think you have a bad battery because the dealer told me that the factory installed battery is only good for 2 to 3 years.

jmal

Thank you.

2/3 years is right on the money!...Time for an Optima!

maxcosity

OK, well this is certainly an excellent excuse for the wife to let me get a Yellowtop Optima... AWWW YEAH!

I just hope this is indeed the problem....

scopium

here is the situation bro..
i dont know if your an auto or not.. but for some reason if it doesnt start in park put it in neutral and the car will start...