(G) Cold starting the 1.2

This is for 1.2 owners... does anyone else find the car takes a while to start up when cold? I've noticed for a few times that you have to turn the key and wait a couple of seconds or so for the engine to kick in, but the other night turned the key and held it there for couple of seconds and the engine just cut out. I tried again and it took at least 3-4 seconds for the starter motor to get the engine going. Is this normal? Maybe it's just I'm too used to the Ka... one quick flick and the car is started

Sounds like there is a problem, a modern car engine should start with a flick of the key and no throttle input.

Are you pressing the throttle, sometimes by pressing the throttle while starting the engine you can experience slow starting.

You shouldn't use the throttle on a modern car when starting. The ECU does all that for you. Not like an old carbi car.

Nope, not steppin on the throttle. Another chap has had similar probems after the bad weather over the past couple of days.

I've popped the bonnet, checked the oil, that's all fine. Gave it a quick fire up and it started pretty much instantly. May have just been a couple of 'one offs' - I'll keep a check on it though

wow I didn't know you don't press the throttle when you start a new car I had better stop doing that then

Definately isn't normal.
Rain, snow or shine it should start pretty much straight away every time. I'd keep an eye on it in case it becomes more frequent.

Hmmm okay, well I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks and post if I have any trouble Otherwise it looks like a trip to the dealers

Suasexed. Sorry to hear that. I don't think the slow start should be happening at all, the engine should start immediately.

What you could try....and this might sound silly....is turning the key 2 3rds on, waiting a couple of seconds ( like you do for the glow plugs in a diesel ) and THEN starting. It could be something to do with the fuel pump allowing fuel to drip back into the tank over time...which means if you give the car a couple of seconds to spool it up before you engage the engine it might move the fuel into place and you might have an instant start. Just a suggestion, hope it helps.

However, whatever the case, your slow start shouldn't be happening. I have a friend who parked his ancient rover 70 something (can't remember model!) over Christmas in my drive and when he came back from Spain it started after one revolution of the engine. Apparently it always does this without fail and he bought it for £400.

So keep an eye on it and if it persists then take it in and make demands!

it's happened twice to me so far and only on really cold mornings too.... I really thought that it was going to leave me for dead but as you say 3 or 4 seconds and it kicks in but it was long 4 seconds!

Jim

It should start immediately, as everyone says.

I assume you are depressing the clutch when you turn the key though; you don't want the starter to have to turn the flywheel as well as the pistons when it kicks in.

However, I would speak to the dealer about this.

Do you need to depress the clutch when you start a car first thing as well? I didn't know that why is that?

Surely by depressing the clutch its making the starter work harder?
I had this weird starting issue on my old Cinq, most times it would start perfect, other times just like your symptoms... never found out why.

The gearbox is attached to the crankshaft, until the clutch disengages it. Consequently, if you don't depress the clutch on starting the starter motor will have to churn a whole mass of 'dead' metal besides the pistons and crankshaft. This leads to excessive wear on the starter motor and more load placed on the battery.

When I was a kid it was standard procedure to always keep the clutch down on starting - also, it is a safety measure in case you are accidentally in gear. I mean, as a security measure we all leave our cars in gear as well as with the handbrake on, don't we?

i dont

Nope... it's 2008 after all