Morning start issues

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:18 am

Hi Everyone,

I am Pierre from Sydney. I recently acquired an MX5 1999 silver.

Its far from perfect but love it.

The first thing I have noticed that might need attention is:

- when I start the car in the morning, its taking longer and longer to start. It kicks over fine and is not slowly turning over or anything.

- For that day it will be fine (no delay)
- next morning, its again slow to start

It appears to be getting worse and I was wondering what you think would be the cause of this.

I'd like sort this out but am not sure what would be the cause.

I'd really appreciate any advice you could provide.

Regards,

pierre

ralt · Postby **ralt** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:15 am

Hi.
Your problem may be a fuel pump which is dying. To eliminate it from the problem in the morning turn the ignition on for 10 seconds switch it off and then start it. If it fires immediately your fuel pump is dying. If it is the same and will not start you have eliminated the pump as a problem.

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:13 pm

Thanks for the advice. Makes sense. Will try tomorrow..

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:21 pm

You didn't buy it from Initial D (a user who owned a water damaged 5)?

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:37 pm

I doubt it. The car is pretty neat.

The numberplate started with CAN...

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:56 pm

bruce wrote:You didn't buy it from Initial D (a user who owned a water damaged 5)?

I think his was an NB8B wasn't it?

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:59 pm

This definitely looks like the fuel pump.. The car almost always starts straight away if I turn on the engine leave it for 10 secs and turn it off.

If I have been driving the car for a while it seems sweet as well..

It did take a while to start today when I got fuel so I am going to assume its on its last legs...

I priced one at mazda - $650+

Got the walpro pump of ebay shipped for $105

Fk OEM parts are expensive. I might have considered it at $300 but 6 time the price.

What a rip...

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:47 pm

hks_kansei wrote:
bruce wrote:You didn't buy it from Initial D (a user who owned a water damaged 5)?

I think his was an NB8B wasn't it?

Yeah

Zcootz · Postby **Zcootz** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:49 pm

How long was it taking to kick over? My Nb takes about 2 secs but that's just slightly longer the my other cars.

Just because it has an OE label doesn't mean it's any better either. I used to work for a piston manufacturer, we made OE and aftermarket. The were made to the same quality but the aftermarket pistons always had the newer technology in them from a design and material perspective at half the price.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:53 pm

pap11y wrote:This definitely looks like the fuel pump.. The car almost always starts straight away if I turn on the engine leave it for 10 secs and turn it off.

If I have been driving the car for a while it seems sweet as well..

It did take a while to start today when I got fuel so I am going to assume its on its last legs...

I priced one at mazda - $650+

Got the walpro pump of ebay shipped for $105

Fk OEM parts are expensive. I might have considered it at $300 but 6 time the price.

What a rip...

Yeah, those Walbros on ebay are a good price. When you remove the fuel pump/ fuel gauge assembly from the tank also check for this problem:
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=46425
Might save you some time if it still doesn't work after replacing the fuel pump.

There's a chance it might also be the EGI relay in the engine bay fusebox.

ralt · Postby **ralt** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:38 am

Hi.
Just looking at the photo of the pump and top cover on an posting above. If you buy a pump particularly a goss electric pump kit be warned the clamps they put in their kits are useless and provide little clamping pressure. Always use screw radiator style clamps.
I have seen an electric pump supplied by goss and installed using their clamps all boxed up in the tank and car started boot open with fuel pouring out around the top cover and a garage floor completely covered in fuel. Could have been a disaster- gud /goss who package kits advised -the reaction poor. Reinstalled pump with good clamps no further problem.

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:47 pm

Zcootz wrote:How long was it taking to kick over? My Nb takes about 2 secs but that's just slightly longer the my other cars.

Just because it has an OE label doesn't mean it's any better either. I used to work for a piston manufacturer, we made OE and aftermarket. The were made to the same quality but the aftermarket pistons always had the newer technology in them from a design and material perspective at half the price.

Usually it takes between 2-5 cycles (excuse my technical jargon)

Can take up to 10 when misbehaving

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:47 pm

ralt wrote:Hi.
Just looking at the photo of the pump and top cover on an posting above. If you buy a pump particularly a goss electric pump kit be warned the clamps they put in their kits are useless and provide little clamping pressure. Always use screw radiator style clamps.
I have seen an electric pump supplied by goss and installed using their clamps all boxed up in the tank and car started boot open with fuel pouring out around the top cover and a garage floor completely covered in fuel. Could have been a disaster- gud /goss who package kits advised -the reaction poor. Reinstalled pump with good clamps no further problem.

Thanks for the heads up..

pap11y · Postby **pap11y** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:56 pm

Zcootz wrote:How long was it taking to kick over? My Nb takes about 2 secs but that's just slightly longer the my other cars.

Just because it has an OE label doesn't mean it's any better either. I used to work for a piston manufacturer, we made OE and aftermarket. The were made to the same quality but the aftermarket pistons always had the newer technology in them from a design and material perspective at half the price.

Go figure.. I still can't believe the OEM price

Fingers crossed its just the pump but I am going to change the fuel filter as well..

elpowell · Postby **elpowell** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:57 am

Car hard to start cold?

Changing a fuel pump is unlikely to cure the problem. Anyway, never change the pump without a pressure check - it's just thrashing around and going to cost. Pumps should last for well over 200K Km and many go well over 400K. Changing a fuel filter is good maintenance but even a partially blocked filter will give a start even if the motor dies soon after.

My suggestion is to look at the information the motor gets to tell it it is a cold start. Temp sender etc. Could be as simple as a failed sender with the motor operating in default mode. Check for codes as well.

C
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