Hard starting in cold weather
#1
Hard starting in cold weather
When the weather gets to 0 deg F or colder my car will only start on two or three cylinders. Sometimes it won't even start. You can hear it pick up cylinders as it warms up. The car then runs fine and hits on all 6 cylinders. The only error code that comes up is the P0134 code. I can't figure out what is causing that code. Has anybody ever had this issue? Any help would be great. I'm sick of this
#2
o2 sensor decided to die
fix it asap
https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...704-p0134.html
https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...on-issues.html
fix it asap
https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...704-p0134.html
https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...on-issues.html
Last edited by george__; 01-01-2015 at 09:05 PM.
#4
is it cranking slowly? if that the case, I would have your battery tested see if it's bad, since I noticed mine was cranking longer to start, and my battery was on it's way out, so when I replaced it with a new AGM battery and noticed how quick it crank up. Especially now with the colder weather, so check your battery also the cold crank amp minimum should be 550 any less, it won't start or too long to crank.
#5
This could also be a bad ECTS (Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor). If it is inaccurate, the ECU doesn't allow the fuel injectors to spurt out a rich enough enough fuel mixture for cold weather starting.
They are not super expensive, $20 - $25, if you want to try it. A better way is to test it first. A better OBD II code reader will also display the coolant temperature. Hook it up before you start the car and it should report what ever the outside temperature is. A few degrees off won't make any difference, but if it is reporting 80º, that is a problem.
They are not super expensive, $20 - $25, if you want to try it. A better way is to test it first. A better OBD II code reader will also display the coolant temperature. Hook it up before you start the car and it should report what ever the outside temperature is. A few degrees off won't make any difference, but if it is reporting 80º, that is a problem.
#6
I checked and replaced the spark plugs already. just had time to replace the o2 sensor and it still does the same thing. Battery is fine and it cranks over fast. I will check into the coolant temp sensor. I don't think that would cause the car to only start on two cylinders though. I could be wrong.
#7
I checked and replaced the spark plugs already. just had time to replace the o2 sensor and it still does the same thing. Battery is fine and it cranks over fast. I will check into the coolant temp sensor. I don't think that would cause the car to only start on two cylinders though. I could be wrong.
CTS could be quite relevant since your problem is temperature dependent and this is the only sensor which makes fuel-air ratio temperature dependent. More exotic cause could be intake manifold gasket leak- you have it while cold but as engine warms up gasket expands and leak disappears.
BTW, did you replace your spark plugs with OEM ones? Maxima engines are very picky on the plugs.
If you slightly depress accelerator pedal during cranking- does it fire up right away? Since it's 3.0L this would give it more air (and fuel) and it might help to start.
Last edited by Max_5gen; 01-12-2015 at 04:17 AM.
#9
I put in NGK plugs. The car still started crappy with the old plugs in it. I think they were Autolite. The intake gasket makes sense. I will have to try and get that checked out. I hope it isn't hard to do.
#11
Does the engine pick up rpms when cold (and almost dying) if you depress gas pedal?
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