HARD TO START WHEN COLD

I've noticed this too. It tells me that the mixture while starting is too rich (not enough air or too much fuel), or the ignition is not enabled. It's most likely the latter. The computer is probably waiting for a signal from the tac or the oil pressure transmitter to say that the engine is being cranked before giving the signal to fire a spark. A stupid design if it is.

If the dealer doesn't resolve this for me, I'll make them investigate it every single time I take it in for an oil change until my warranty expires in 4 years.

 

My '98 does this as well. It always starts on the second try; seems to only happen when it's under 30 degrees outside. Of course, my battery is from 09 so that's probably the problem.

 

Thanks. Those were the same thoughts I had. I'm going to get a thermometer for the garage and take notes when it happens again. Maybe even record the start in the mornings with my phone.

 

Well, it's kind of necessary for the ECU to know where the crankshaft is to know when to fire which plug and when.

I found that out the hard way years ago. 200 miles from home, the remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through Michigan, and after driving in rain so heavy I didn't know it was even possible to have that much water fall from the sky, that sensor died in my Civic (it was part of the distributor in that car). No spark because it didn't know when to make spark. It was a weird experience - I was driving down the road in 5th gear, the car just starts slowing down and I looked down and the tach read 0 when still in gear at speed. Scared me half to death. I initially thought I snapped the timing belt.

 

40 is cold in Houston. Lol, and it doesn't hesitate to start when it's oh let's say 55+ degrees outside.

 

New truck with 2000 miles and had to crank twice this morning and just now. Temp is 40f. Wtf....

 

The times I have seen this the temperature was showing less than 40f on the mirror at engine start. I have yet to see the problem occur when the temperature is above 40f.

 

Fired mine up at -8 degrees this morning, did not use block heater. Truck fired up 1st try, but it sure wasn't happy about it

 

So in my push button start car how am I going to slow down and wait for then pump to prime? Current high pressure fuel systems have multiple check valves to prevent back flow and reduce priming times to nil.

 

same...new truck with 1500 miles...Twice its sputtered on startup when the temps been 30-26f sitting overnight...I even turn the igntion to on and wait 5 secs or so the computer can wake up and it still does it...

 

Damn thats cold where you at? I've had 5-7 degrees every morning for the last week or two.

And the truck is starting just fine.