High RPM start . . .

[kito311]

I bought my 2006 Mazda3 in early December and I have noticed when I start my car after being parked for an extended period of time (usually over night) that the rpm's go over 2000 for a minute or so and then slowly drop back down to beneath 1000 or so (this take minutes not seconds). I usually cannot wait for the rpm's to drop so I begin to drive. I then notice in between 1 & 2 & 3rd gear especially there is a lag and then it jolts into gear. Has anyone else had a similar problem??

 

[nvmsp]

lemme answer this for u cuz no one else probably will.



That is completely normal and every car does that when starting up after an extended period of time. The car has to warm up. If you don't have a turbo you really have nothin to worry about. You have no forced power trying to come out and put stress on the motor. You really shouldnt even have to wait for it to warm up. I don't in any car unless it's the MSP because it's bad for the turbo to not let it warm up and cool down. My parents have a Focus and an Altima 3.5 . I don't wait for them to warm up.

You gears might feel a little notchy or a little rough at first becuz everything is cold. This is normal, try slightly reving your engine like 10-20 seconds apart for a while, and don't rev it to redline, just to like 2k rpms'-3krpms with a light foot and watch your Temp. gauge go up more towards hot.

 

[kito311]

Interesting

Thanks for the quick reply. I had a feeling this is what the dealer would tell me, but it just doesn't make sense to me to have to wait for a new 2006 vehicle to "warm up" My 97 Cavalier never had this issue. I still think there may be an issue with the tranny because I've had an experience of a sudden jolt of power when I slowed down to pass someone on the right as they were making a turn. After I passed the car I hit the gas and I was jolted back into my seat a bit as the gears shifted. Maybe this is just the zoom-zoom factor, but it just doesn't feel right. Thanks for your insight!

 

[nvmsp]

i mean, if your flooring the pedal then there should be a jolt of power. But if your just barely pressing the gas then there shouldnt be a rough jolt of power.

 

[kito311]

it just seemed like when i lightly pushed on the gas that the tranny needed to catch up and gave more power than it should have and it caught me by surprise

 

[nvmsp]

I see what you mean. Well, yea then something else could be wrong. Idk tho, you'd have to get it checked it and see if you can recreate what happened with one of the Mazda tech's.


The Focus i have does just that but it also has very weak motor mounts. 2002 with 170,000 miles lol. I doubt your motor mounts are even weak so IDK man.

Does it stop happening after the car is warm or is it all the time?

 

[Firewired]

Take it easy before the car is fully warmed up. It takes twice as long to reach optimum oil pressure then to warm the coolant. There is also tranny and bearing that need to warm up. You should see the car when its -30. You'd understand.

 

[kito311]

when the tranny jolted the car was warm, but it hasn't really done anything like that since. The coldest I've started my car was at -2 up in VT this weekend. But, I let it run to warm the inside up so I had no problems

 

[nvmsp]

whoa. -2? lowest my car has seen in Florida was like the day before yesterday when it was 30 some degrees.


I think that could be ur problem, the weather. Just always let it warm up, it's better for your car anyway.

 

[Firewired]

The best thing you can do when you start it cold; is to start it...wait a couple of seconds then just carefully drive off. Dont rev it too high. Your engine will heat up MUCH faster when theres on load on it. Most engine wear occurs when its cold.

 

[BlueMonsta]

I still think there may be an issue with the tranny because I've had an experience of a sudden jolt of power when I slowed down to pass someone on the right as they were making a turn. After I passed the car I hit the gas and I was jolted back into my seat a bit as the gears shifted. Maybe this is just the zoom-zoom factor, but it just doesn't feel right. Thanks for your insight!

i've the same problem when my car is warm as well.
When coming to a stop, the shift from 5th to 4th is jerky. And at times every gear that the car down shifts (5-4-3-2-1).

Living in canada, I let my car idle for 10 seconds ish. back it out of the garage and start driving. I don't let my revs past 2500 until the engine warms.

 

[tsunami]

my car just started doing something along these lines, was going to start my own thread but am goin to jump in here.

When i start my car the rpms always went to 1500-1750 or so and then came down from there (in the winter i do live in maine) just a couple days ago it cilmbed to 2k then started drop it drops pretty quickly back down to 1500 where i usually let it set for a minute or two until it drops below 1250 then i drive off keeping the rpms below 3k until i am a couple miles down the road...

anyone else notice anything like this?

 

[ChopstickHero]

i always let the car warm up before i go. i let the rpms drop to about 1000 before i leave.

i've never seen a women warm up their car before. ever.

 

[BlueMonsta]

i always let the car warm up before i go. i let the rpms drop to about 1000 before i leave.
i've never seen a women warm up their car before. ever.

depends what you call warming up.
my guardian warms up her car, as soon as the temp needle raises, she starts driving (takes it easy).

Just for FYI, 1st gen proteges do the same thing (2K-2.5k plus rpm start).
my 1st gen, takes a bit longer for the rpm to go back down though. the mazda 3 is just over 2k.

so I warm up my car for like 5-10 seconds and start driving, keeping it below 2.5k (for protege) and 3k (for mazda 3, the throttle is harder to control than the protege).

I don't think this is limited to mazdas, i think my extended family's hondas (they all drive hondas) does the same thing. I'll confirm tomorrow.
is midnight here.

 

[tsunami]

hahaha, told me GF that it would ruin her car if she didn't and scared her into doing it.. she was like the sales man said i didn't have to b/c of such and such oil cavatation or some thing... (bs prob as most sales pitches are especially to women sadly)

 

[kito311]

Apparently the high rpm start is completely normal. I was at the dealer yesterday and they said this is known as "cold phase" and is normal and you should let it warm up for a minute and let the rpm's drop down before you start driving. Enjoy!

 

[BlueMonsta]

Apparently the high rpm start is completely normal. I was at the dealer yesterday and they said this is known as "cold phase" and is normal and you should let it warm up for a minute and let the rpm's drop down before you start driving. Enjoy!

if i keep my rpm below that of the start up point, isnt it better??