On Cold Starts, it pauses for half a second then starts

[SlippytheDisco]

I am a university student on break, and am trying to compile a list of maintenance things to do so it is ready for when I will be heavily commuting again, so anything I notice that seems a bit off I want to nip in the bud right now. On cold starts only, the engine begins to start, then almost just pauses for .5 seconds, and then turns on. The engine used to cleanly start on cold starts, and progressively started this pausing process. It runs great, and starts clean the other times. I am wondering what could cause this, and if it is something I can fix or just how the engine is? Thanks.

 

[kris812]

Battery or battery cable issues? Possible some injection cleaner might help..

 

[SlippytheDisco]

Battery or battery cable issues? Possible some injection cleaner might help..

How would I test for an issue with the battery / battery cables? And thanks I will try that as well. I just started it on a cold start again, it stuttered for a second, paused, then came on. Never had troubled any other times tho

 

[LRDONE]

How old is your battery?

 

[SlippytheDisco]

How old is your battery?

I’d have to check for sure, but I’d guess probably 3-6 years old. It got drained completely like a year ago as well, but I was able to recharge it back to normal

 

[SlippytheDisco]

How old is your battery?

6 years might be a stretch, probably 3-5 years on the high end *

 

[LRDONE]

Only happening during cold, I'd start with a fresh battery. Then with a fresh battery I'd measure how much amperage your starter is drawing while cranking.

 

[SlippytheDisco]

Only happening during cold, I'd start with a fresh battery. Then with a fresh battery I'd measure how much amperage your starter is drawing while cranking.

Ok cool, I will do that and see where it takes me. And yeah it only does it cold, so for example if I get home for the day and don’t start the vehicle until I leave the next morning.

 

[discostew]

A half a second? What the fuck are you talking about? It doesn't crank for .5 of one second? How did you measure that?

 

[SlippytheDisco]

A half a second? What the fuck are you talking about? It doesn't crank for .5 of one second? How did you measure that?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to time smthn under a second… glad you contributed to the conversation tho

 

[discostew]

Sorry, I just don’t understand what you’re worried about that for.
My explanation for less than 1 second delay in cranking is the security system processing that data. When it becomes a problem is when the security software gets really confused and you have to hold the key in crank position for what seems like an eternity, but it’s probably 20 seconds. That condition gets fixed with som software modifications with a tool they called an F-out tool. I haven’t seen one of those for years.
Unless something changes I would not be concerned about 1/2 a second delay before cranking. I wouldn’t worry if it took even .7 of a second.

 

[LRDONE]

As I understand it, it's starting to start, boggs down with the first compression stroke and then keeps going. Only happening on the first start of a cool morning.

 

[SlippytheDisco]

Sorry, I just don’t understand what you’re worried about that for.
My explanation for less than 1 second delay in cranking is the security system processing that data. When it becomes a problem is when the security software gets really confused and you have to hold the key in crank position for what seems like an eternity, but it’s probably 20 seconds. That condition gets fixed with som software modifications with a tool they called an F-out tool. I haven’t seen one of those for years.
Unless something changes I would not be concerned about 1/2 a second delay before cranking. I wouldn’t worry if it took even .7 of a second.

I can see how it sounds really stupid, however I just noticed it slowly starting to do this, because it used to start immediately on cold starts and sounded really good. I figured I would ask the experts. It sounds like it is something I can put on a list to look into, so if I end up having the time to do so, I most likely will. It’s all good, I do not mind asking stupid questions and getting a little sarcasm back, it’s how I learn. Thanks for the response though, I didn’t know that.

 

[SlippytheDisco]

As I understand it, it's starting to start, boggs down with the first compression stroke and then keeps going. Only happening on the first start of a cool morning.

Yes exactly, and it used to start immediately (sounded really good), which is why J figured there must be smthn wrong causing it to change to that kind of start. Thank you.

 

[discostew]

Oh, I get it now. I thought you meant you turn the key and there was a slight pause before it started cranking. Cause thats a thing, but it's 20 seconds.
Sounds like battery voltage or a bad connection. Sometimes somethings killing the battery slowly overnight.And a perfectly good battery can just get low on charge. I wuld clean connections and maybe put a good grounding washer under the battery cable at the starter.

 

[SlippytheDisco]

Oh, I get it now. I thought you meant you turn the key and there was a slight pause before it started cranking. Cause thats a thing, but it's 20 seconds.
Sounds like battery voltage or a bad connection. Sometimes somethings killing the battery slowly overnight.And a perfectly good battery can just get low on charge. I wuld clean connections and maybe put a good grounding washer under the battery cable at the starter.

Okay I will try this before I look at getting a new battery, thanks!

 

[discostew]

Okay I will try this before I look at getting a new battery, thanks!

Test the battery. Replace it if it fails. Auto zone should be able to test it for you if you carry just the battery,

 

[SlippytheDisco]

Test the battery. Replace it if it fails. Auto zone should be able to test it for you if you carry just the battery,

If the battery ends up being good, do you think anything else could be causing it, or just needing to clean the connections and put a grounding washer as you said?

 

[discostew]

I think it sounds like your starter is getting less than battery voltage because of excessive resistance in the circuit. The circuit includes the starter motor and the battery. But don't test the battery by spending 200 bucks to see if it fixes anything.

 

[kris812]

After reading through this:

1 the battery is end of life, PERIOD. If it sat dead the cells would have started to collapse inside and killed Cold Cranking amps.. Replace the battery and report back.

2 The injectors could be leaking flooding the plugs after sitting. Sit long enough, and gas evaporates and starts right up. Try injector cleaner, then new injectors.

Both totally different issues that could be explained better by the OP.
ie cranks fine, stuttering sometimes (injectors)..
Or doesn't always crank, and when cold it's really slow cranking (battery)..

Logic and explanation goes a long ways to fixing and diagnosing things. Gotta poke the right end of the pig!