Slow Engine Start
 

Hey guys,

It seems to me that it's taking me a little longer to start my engine. I'm having to hold my key in the "Start" position for approx 2 seconds before the engine is ready to go. What should I get checked out or replaced in order to have the engine start quicker?

I had my battery checked and it was fine.

Is this normal?

Thanks in advance for the input.

As long as it start then its fine. If its cold out then its normal to take a few more cranks. BTW testing a battery cold and testing it after its driven can change the response. Typically a good 30 min. drive can make a battery start great for a day or so as it ages. Testing it cold may show different results. I have had mine 6+ years, if I drive it to work once a week it still starts but if it sits it would die. Last problem would be compression is coming down but dont worry about that until it wont start someday, carbon build up and low compression result in extra cranking. When summer temps come back the hard starts tend to go away for some people though.

My advice, if you dont give it a nice drive(highway) 30 miles then do it and try starting it afterwards. It starts now, if you took it to a dealer they may charge you if there is nothing wrong outside of long starts, wait till it wont start before you try anything imo.

How many miles? Topping up your battery or buying a new one should fix that, mine was getting sluggish, i replaced with an optima and it cranks right up!

What is your miles btw?

If you bought it used and it's an 04..........there is the possibility that you have one of the older starters.

I had this problem and got the new starter motor and battery (Interstate replaced the Panasonic) per warranty/TSB.

It's night and day.

The car starts with a 'blip' now.

Before, it was 3x as slow to turn over.

Go get it. Now.

Where can I get the newer starter for the 04?

Here for a new OEM:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

That's for a manual tranny. Check to make sure yours isn't warrantied. You may also be able to get one from a part-out or used as long as its not another '04.

You can also try here now that I'm in line... ;)

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...64#post2882264

I have an 04, with almost 47k on it. I bought it used about 500 miles ago. I had actually left it in my garage at work for 3 days (went on a trip) and when I came back it couldn't start. I had my coworker jumpstart it during lunch and we drove it around for about 30 minutes and it has started fine ever since. And by fine, I mean somewhat sluggish, but it was kind of doing this ever since I bought the car. I got the battery checked after this and found that the battery wasn't the problem.

I drive about 20 miles to work everyday one way (40 mile commute everyday). I redline at least once a day and never shut off the car before I warm it up.

Can you give us some informations from the replaced battery(amp,model...),i am going to change battery first and then the starter(out off warranty,mod. 04),to avoid slow starts.Thanks:)

Not sure, but the dealer will check your VIN, and if you they can duplicate problem, will replace both the starter motor and battery per the TSB.

My dealer parked my car overnight since it was very cold, and that was when the problem was worse, and then started it in the morning. They called me at 8:35 am and said "you definitely are getting the new starter motor and battery."

It took a couple days, because it was near Christmas, and they had to order the starter motor.

TSB: http://www.finishlineperformance.com...48-06-1691.pdf


It's night and day between the old setup and the new one.