Starting problem
 

Hi all, I'm new to this board. I realize that a search regarding a problem is in order, however --every search paramiter I've tried has given up no info.

So here's my problem (btw it's a 2004 ) about every second or third time I start my car, it takes many cranks to get the engine engaged.

Sometimes 2or3 tries and as many as 10-12 tries. Now here is the thing: it only happens when the engine is warm, never when the engine is cold (i.e. first thing in the morning or when I leave from work it starts fine on the first crank.) If I stop to get gas or any other time I stop when the engine is warm, I 'm apt to encounter this problem.

Naturally, I've had the car into the local Mazda dealer, and they are stymied. Because it's intermittent, it has not happen to them while they had the car.

They have never encountered the problem before. I put in a new battery just to see if it would make a difference , but no change.

Anyone else encounter this problem?

Thanks for any responses...

Maybe have a different dealership or an auto shop look at your car and maybe they'll find what your dealership missed?

Lots of things cause a hard starting problem when the engine is hot; try this search on the "Advanced Search" screen: hard start when hot . Be prepared for lots of reading:)

Hi EDZRIDE:

I checked out your link and the only thing that seemed to fit was possibly a spark plug problem. However, because of a flooding problem, my spark plugs were "upgraded" about a year ago.

Interestingly, the problem started not long after that... hmm

A year ago = how many miles? How many miles are on the car? What other work have you done to it?

Car has low mileage, about 25,000. Other than the flooding upgrade, no other work, other than regular mainenance.

I'll add a little more info: when I have the problem, it is nothing like the flooded engine problem. When it happens, each crank of the starter seems to bring it a little closer to engaging the engine. Like I said before, sometimes it takes 2 or 3 cranks, but lately its more like 10 or 12. I'm worried about burning out my ignition (probably costly to replace).

The suggestion to go to another dealer for analysys is taken under advisement, but the closest alternative to the dealer I went to is way out of the way for me and would truly be a hassle.

If I knew what the problem was, I would simply go to the dealer and tell them what it is and have them fix it. However the intermittent factor is the frustration ....

Go to advanced search... Click to search "titles only"... Then type in "warm start"...

I just did it to check and a ton of useful stuff comes up

i would first start with a compression test. 25K miles or not, get a good base and see what you are working with. you may have a faulty injector(s) that will cause flooding due to leakage. do you have the upgraded starter and battry that the TSB called for a few years back?

Yes I had the update. The problem is not flooding. I have once flooded the engine and this "hard start" problem that occurs when the engine is warm is nothing like the time I flooded the engine.

I will have a compression test and see where that leads...