Ignition Startup Hesitation

[CX5_808]

Every morning or whenever the vehicle has been parked for more than a few hours, I've been experiencing a ignition hesitation when I startup the car. The brake is fully depressed and the key light turns green. Upon pressing the start button, the engine attempts to turn over and the dash lights lights up. A second attempts fires up the engine instantly.
I'm in Hawaii so I know that its not the cold weather to blame. I've checked the battery before starting it up and I'm getting a 12.4V reading. I had the car serviced three months ago from the dealership and the inspection showed nothing.
Has anyone experienced this problem? I have a '13 with 25K miles. I bought the car in July '12 so my warranty coverage is over.

 

[mazdadude]

If you hold the button in for a longer duration, instead of tapping the button, does that change anything?

 

[MikeM.]

I'm in Hawaii so I know that its not the cold weather to blame. I've checked the battery before starting it up and I'm getting a 12.4V reading. I had the car serviced three months ago from the dealership and the inspection showed nothing.
Has anyone experienced this problem? I have a '13 with 25K miles. I bought the car in July '12 so my warranty coverage is over.

Sounds like a bad battery to me. Batteries and heat do not go together. Unfortunately the CX-5 carries it's battery in the engine compartment where heat is an issue, particularly if you spend time idling in city traffic. Yes, batteries should last longer than that, even in the heat, but it's not completely uncommon for batteries to be defective, even when brand new. 12.4 volts is less than it should be when the battery is not under load. Has the battery ever been run down to 0%? It could also be battery cables and/or post clamps.

Batteries in my Volvo S80 last 8 years, in part because it's trunk mounted for weight distribution reasons. This would push up the price but I would have been willing to pay the $80 extra for longer, larger copper battery cables to the trunk.

 

[garyd9]

I've checked the battery before starting it up and I'm getting a 12.4V reading.

12.4 volts is less than it should be when the battery is not under load.

A car battery on a non-running vehicle with 0 load should show around 12 1/2 volts. 12.4v is on the lower end of a good battery. It'd be closer to 12.7v if brand new. However, it still might not be producing the proper amperage. Many auto parts stores do "free" battery testing. I'd bring it to one of them and let them test it.

 

[craigo]

I always replace batteries at the 3 year mark. Texas weather is hard on them. The first cold snap of the fall always brings a wave of failed batteries.

 

[CX5_808]

**UPDATE** After posting this I decided to take a trip down to the auto parts store. They did a battery check and determined that the battery was bad. Brought it home, replaced it and it fired up instantly.

I decided to check on my post and was shocked at the quick responses. As a former Lexus owner and a member of their CL forum, I never got this much of a response in a few hours. You guys are the best!
mazdadude - I sometimes catch myself starting the car with a limp finger. I usually try to remind myself to keep my finger on the button until the engine fires up.
MikeM. - You were right about the battery. My car does sit in the hot sun while I'm at work.
garyd9 - I should have took it in for a test sooner. Good tip to remember.
craigo - I should follow the same 3 year rule. All of my batteries never made it past the four year mark.

Again a big Mahalo to your responses!

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Sounds like a bad battery to me. Batteries and heat do not go together. Unfortunately the CX-5 carries it's battery in the engine compartment where heat is an issue, particularly if you spend time idling in city traffic. Yes, batteries should last longer than that, even in the heat, but it's not completely uncommon for batteries to be defective, even when brand new. 12.4 volts is less than it should be when the battery is not under load. Has the battery ever been run down to 0%? It could also be battery cables and/or post clamps.

Batteries in my Volvo S80 last 8 years, in part because it's trunk mounted for weight distribution reasons. This would push up the price but I would have been willing to pay the $80 extra for longer, larger copper battery cables to the trunk.

Is that s80 tuned? And did yiu mod it?

 

[MikeM.]

Is that s80 tuned? And did yiu mod it?

I keep it tuned to factory specs and it has 170,000 happy miles on it. Only mods are lighter wheels, better rubber, Bilstein shocks and a radar detector! It came from the factory with the trunk mounted battery and a substantial front strut tower brace. I love the straight 6 twin turbo engine, excellent aerodynamics, low flex chassis and very good ground clearance for a normal looking sedan. The GM designed and built 4 speed auto transmission is the low point of this fine car. Replaced it at 80,000 miles. After 16 years the second battery is just starting to give up the ghost, on the charger right now so I can let the shop down the street install a new battery. Yes, I could do it myself but they do a good job at a good price and have a good line on batteries.

 

[MikeM.]

**UPDATE** After posting this I decided to take a trip down to the auto parts store. They did a battery check and determined that the battery was bad. Brought it home, replaced it and it fired up instantly.

I decided to check on my post and was shocked at the quick responses. As a former Lexus owner and a member of their CL forum, I never got this much of a response in a few hours. You guys are the best!
mazdadude - I sometimes catch myself starting the car with a limp finger. I usually try to remind myself to keep my finger on the button until the engine fires up.
MikeM. - You were right about the battery. My car does sit in the hot sun while I'm at work.
garyd9 - I should have took it in for a test sooner. Good tip to remember.
craigo - I should follow the same 3 year rule. All of my batteries never made it past the four year mark.

Again a big Mahalo to your responses!

Glad it was so simple to fix! Is this the first problem it's had since new?

Motor on! (drive2)

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I keep it tuned to factory specs and it has 170,000 happy miles on it. Only mods are lighter wheels, better rubber, Bilstein shocks and a radar detector! It came from the factory with the trunk mounted battery and a substantial front strut tower brace. I love the straight 6 twin turbo engine, excellent aerodynamics, low flex chassis and very good ground clearance for a normal looking sedan. The GM designed and built 4 speed auto transmission is the low point of this fine car. Replaced it at 80,000 miles. After 16 years the second battery is just starting to give up the ghost, on the charger right now so I can let the shop down the street install a new battery. Yes, I could do it myself but they do a good job at a good price and have a good line on batteries.

Nice. Not sure if I think Volvo offering performance tunes at the dealership on some cars is a perk or a rip lol.

 

[CX5_808]

Glad it was so simple to fix! Is this the first problem it's had since new?

I never had any problems since day one. Although the car was very close on becoming totaled back in October.