starting trouble

[Synthesis5]

today in the morning, about 7;30, i tried to start my car and it wouldnt start. it was like it was choking to start. WTF. i'm late for school and such but im still sitting there trying to start my car. i turned the keys about 4-5 times before it actually started. the way i got it to start was when i seen the the idle was bouncin around i figured i would press the gas pedle down to maybe give it some more gas. vwhalla it started. when it started i looked in the rearview mirror and there was a cloud of smoke form the exhaust . now im sitting here in school (on break) wondering if i have a problem at hand with my car. its also been really cold lately around here, but today just wasnt as cold as any other day. anybody know what could be the problem?? should i take it to the dealer to get it looked at ??(i hope not, just to many things to take off of the car). could it be the plugs??


*p.s. when i finally arrived at school, i turned the car off and waited about 5 min to start it back up, this time it started wonderfully.*

 

[mazdadan]

Your engine was probably flooded or carbon locked. This will happen sometimes if you run the car for a few seconds and shut it off without letting it warm up (aka moving the car out of the garage to wash, then moving it back in.) Usually holding the gas pedal on the floor and cranking the engine will resolve this problem, because it will disable the fuel supply temporarily. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it is not a regular occurance. Otherwise everything is all good.

 

[Synthesis5]

hey thanks for the info , makes me feel a little bit better that i wont have to take it to the dealer (yet???)

 

[mazdadan]

No problem. This was a big problem with rotary engine powered cars...especially the 2nd generation RX7's (86-91).

 

[boostisgood]

If the problem Persists, there could be an issue with your TPS (throttle positioning sensor) IT could be reading at partial throttle, thus causing more fuel to be added, thus flooding. When you stomp the gas, you kinda correct it by letting more air in to mix with the fuel. Did the car Idle rough at all? If so, this might be your issue.

Hope that helps.

Craig

 

[Synthesis5]

well in the mornings when i start my car, the idle is always around 2k...... same thing this morning "after" i got the car to start... si i guess no real rough idle ??

 

[mazdadan]

well in the mornings when i start my car, the idle is always around 2k...... same thing this morning "after" i got the car to start... si i guess no real rough idle ??

Yeah, it sounds like everything is ok. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it's not an intermittant problem.

 

[psifactor]

what kind of car?

 

[Synthesis5]

p5

 

[MadBiker]

Just once about 9 months after I bought my P5 I also couldn't get my car started. I figured the engine was flooded, so I just let it sit a bit more and then vroom it started. Hasn't happened since but I'm keeping an eye on it.

 

[psifactor]

a new P5 shouldnt flood like htat, and it wont get 'carbon locked' either, especially not something that new. Only the rotary will get carbon locked. and that will only happen after many miles. a chunk of carbon will bust off and lock between the rotor and the rotor housing which will seize the engine. if this happens, you have to pull the plugs and squirt ATF into it which will dissolve/soften the carbon. then you can crank it up, assuming the carbon didnt ruin the apex seal.

the reasons the RX7's flooded like thatw as because they would still be in the high idle, cold start circuit. plus the injectors are old, worn, and dirty causing the pintles from sealing properly when they close. so the residual pressure in the fuel lines will force the fuel out the injector if its shut down. this could happen if the car is hot OR cold. its happend to my 7 a couple times. the Series 4 rx7 wasnt able to be floord and disable the fuel pump, it would flood it more. the series 5 did disable the fuel pump when it was floord. so not every car is the same. I normally pull the Fuel Injection fuse so that no fuel gets injected and i can clear out the raw fuel.

Your problem may have been related to the cold start injector...if there is one. thats really weird though, i would have never expected a new car to do that... has it happend again?