My RCZ is not starting first time.

[Anonymous]

Just a quick one as you good folk will no doubt help out.

Basically everything has been running fine on my automatic petrol RCZ until this morning, where i went outside to start it before heading to work, turned the key, and the engine just turned over without starting.

Switched the ignition key back and took out, left it for 30 seconds and tried again, turned it over for about 10 seconds, still nothing.

Got a low coolant level warning on, in which i topped it up, then started to try to start it again.
Repeated same again, then it stuttered into trying to start, turned key back and tried again and hey presto it started.

Now when i parked it up at work and left it for about 8.5 hours, come out of work and same thing happened again apart from it started on 2nd attempt after about 15 seconds.

Something to worry about as it was cold this morning?
I would of thought it should start as soon as you turn key. ?

 

[renegade79]

Spark plugs??

 

[Anonymous]

Well why all of a sudden do it? I bought the car in start of September and its never done it until now

I left it for a couple of hours after i got in from work at about 5.00pm, then started it up at about 7.30-7.45 and it started first time.

Just confused with it

 

[Abzynthe]

Was it cold this morning?

Cold weather makes the engine hard to start for two main reasons. First, oil thickens when it's cold, which increases friction and makes it harder for the staner motor to spin the engine. Cold also slows the chemical reaction in the car's battery, reducing its power output. Battery output is usually rated at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, below which starting power drops drastically. At 5 degrees Fahrenheit a fully charged lead-acid battery has only half its rated amp-hour capacity.

 

[pete.garratt]

My guess is your battery needs replacing. How old's the car?

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah it was cold here in the north east this morning, at around 1 degree when i did try.
At teatime it was around 5-6 degrees.

 

[Anonymous]

My guess is you're battery need replacing. How old's the car?

The car is a 12 Reg, however the battery was replaced by the dealer before purchasing/picking it up.

So it seems strange that it should need a replacement battery already.

Its got just over 16000 miles on the clock.

 

[pete.garratt]

Hmmm. That would imply either something else has degraded the battery, one of the electrical connections in the starter motor circuit is high impedance (preventing enough current for the starter motor to turn the engine over) or one of the myriad sensors is not giving the right signal to allow the engine to fire up.

You may think this is a red herring, but I would still consider getting the battery tested with a high discharge tester. That way you get some more diagnostic info to discount some of the possibilities. If you can get the battery voltage measured with the engine running, that might show how well the charging system (alternator and regulator) are working.

The fact the battery has already been changed on a low mileage car less than 3 years old suggests something else is going on. I've never seen or heard of that on a car so new. Cars 4 or 5 years, yes - that's usually the life of a battery.

On reading your original post again, I'm thinking it has got something to do with unexpected discharge. That might be why it started so easily when you got home in the evening. The battery had been charged on the trip home and hadn't had time to discharge to the point where starting becomes difficult.

 

[tianorth]

My Z has started the eco mode thing as the temps started to drop.

Spoke to the technician at Peugeot and he said the batteries now a days just don't last, 2-3 years max (mines now 16.5 months old). The older batteries use to last 10+ years.

If battery has been changed by the dealership before you purchased it should be still within the years warranty, so they should change it.

 

[Brolly]

Your vehicle is turning over ok, so I am wondering why people are suggesting there is a problem with the battery

Your car is turning over but not firing hence the non start,maybe there is a problem with a cam or crank sensor.

Maybe you have a plugs that are worn out but I doubt it at such low milege.

Acid batteries will always deteriorate in cold weather due to the design of them but if the starter motor is spinning the engine then the battery is more than likely fine.

Sometimes the temp switch will give an incorrect signal and the car will think its cold when its hot or vise versa,giving incorrect fuel mixture causing the car not to start. Knowing what a problem they are maybe thats also worth looking at.

Cheers Wayne

 

[DKZ5745]

Bad tank of fuel? If it's turning over but not firing I would have thought either electrics (to spark plugs), plugs themselves, or, most likely, fuel problems.

I am no mechanic, in fact I am to mechanics what Alan Carr is to action heroes, and I know that there are many other possible problems including timing - (RCZ has a bit of history there I believe),
Maybe a diagnostic is the way forward. :eusa-think:

 

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds pretty basic but you always go for simple things first, you said it wouldn't start after being left overnight and struggled to start after it had been left for 6-7 hours but started after you left for 2 hrs when you had driven home. Have you left an interior light on or has the dealer left you with a loose battery connection ?

 

[Brolly]

Just a quick one as you good folk will no doubt help out.

Basically everything has been running fine on my automatic petrol RCZ until this morning, where i went outside to start it before heading to work, turned the key, and the engine just turned over without starting.

Switched the ignition key back and took out, left it for 30 seconds and tried again, turned it over for about 10 seconds, still nothing.

Got a low coolant level warning on, in which i topped it up, then started to try to start it again.
Repeated same again, then it stuttered into trying to start, turned key back and tried again and hey presto it started.

Now when i parked it up at work and left it for about 8.5 hours, come out of work and same thing happened again apart from it started on 2nd attempt after about 15 seconds.

Something to worry about as it was cold this morning?
I would of thought it should start as soon as you turn key. ?

YOU ARE RIGHT. IT SHOULD START INSTANTLY.

trouble with forums is sometimes you get advice that is not relevant and people who want to help but do not have the knowledge.

 

[Anonymous]

Well this morning it was a different story, got in the car with temp around 5 degrees, goes to start the engine, and it turns over and after about 5-6 seconds it starts up no worries.

Car was left at work for 8 hours again, come out of work, went to start it and it fired up straight away.

Now on the subject of fuel, i have been filling up at asda while the petrol is a reasonable 120.9p per litre.
I think i might let it run down a little and fill it up at shell or one of the 'major brands'

Still baffling to know why its hit and miss.
Keep a eye and log on it.

 

[DKZ5745]

From the price you mention, I assume you are putting standard octane fuel in. Try the super unleaded, I gather that Z's tend to run much better on that.
I have only ever used this, so I have no comparison.
I do know it can't do any harm, but it's just that bit more expensive, round here at the moment you can get it for 1.33 so not too bad.
Worth a try though.....

 

[Anonymous]

Well this morning it was about 3 degrees and started after about 2-3 seconds.

Come out of work at 4.45, and it happened again, where it took about 3 attempts to start and the 3rd time it started was after about 10 seconds.

Baffled

 

[Anonymous]

There could be numerous issues to check.... Have you checked anything yourself yet? First I'd be checking the condition of the spark plugs.

Next could be a temp sensor issue. Ie the engine temp sensor is not realising the real temp and giving extra fuel

Also check any earthing cables from chassis to engine and the earth lead to the Battery.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[Anonymous]

Also check the coil pack connections to the leads are fully inserted

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[Anonymous]

Well i filled up with a full tank of shell's finest v power stuff let see if that works.

Took 2 attempts this morning, and fired up straight away when finished work today.

So its fully hit and miss, i will check those things tomorrow as ill have a bit of time on my hands.