| RonH |
Every once and a while, my 03 X with just shy of 1,400 on the clock takes a bit to start. I'd say 1 out of every 20-30 starts I'll get one that will crank for about 5 or so seconds before firing off. It almost has a flooded sound to it .. that fast, semi-firing crank. All I do is hold the key and it starts up .. no need to touch the gas or anything.
There's no smoke or other related problems associated with the hard start that I noticed. It also doesn't seem to be related to weather ... did it tonight and it's in the 50s .. last time it was in the 90s. The first few times it did this, I thought I might have had my foot pressing the gas pedal a little bit because it's so easy to push in comparison to the cabled pedles ... no dice. I've also never run anything but 93 octane, so Acura can't blame the gas.
It doesn't overly bother me, but I know my 00 Ody has never done this. Just a little concerned it may be a sign of a problem to come ... or is this a common thing?
Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
:cool: |
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| frostyra |
| It's pretty common -- my '01 with 30K miles as of today, does it every so often, too. |
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| RonH |
Wierd. Guess as long as it doesn't start getting worse, it's something I can live with.
Thanks for the info. |
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| hockeyplayer |
| RonH....When you start your X do you turn the key 1/4 turn and let the computer do a diagnostic first?? I always wait a few seconds before cranking the engine and have never had a problem. Let the "christmas tree lights" go off first. Just a thought. |
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| RonH |
Hmmm, I can't really say. I usually wait until that fuel primer (or whatever that whirring sound is you hear for about a second when you first turn on the key in most cars) before cranking it. I'll pay more attention from now on and see if it makes a difference.
:) |
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| RealWing |
My '03 has started to exibit this behaviour as well at about 16,000 Km (10,000 miles). It sounds more to me like the engine is not getting sufficient fuel at the start of the crank cycle. It tries to start, but misses and after about 5-6 secs it finally lights off. Took to dealer and of course they cant find any problem because there are no fault codes and it will not do it at dealer. Only happens every 10-15 starts and seems to occur after the vehicle has sat for a couple of hours.
Maybe bad fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump? |
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| Todd03MDX |
I've had a similar problem but where it will occasionally crank but not run. Turn the key off and back on and it starts right up. But where this is real annoying is when using the remote start, especially when it's dark. For example, I'm comfortably indoors and press the remote start, the X cranks but doesn't start. After a few seconds or so the remote starter stops. But now the head lights are on and will only turn off when the driver's door is opened. Pressing the remote start again doesn't do anything.
When we bought the X we wanted a remote starter and the dealer (McGrath Acura in Westmont, IL) convinced us to buy it through them. It was $600. I said we could go somewhere else and get it for probably less than half that, but they assured us that by buying it through them (they subcontract it out anyway) they would stand behind it and we'd only have to deal with them. Yeah, right. What a joke. When we originally took delivery they were not able to get the starter installation scheduled so we had to bring it back. When we did, and left it overnight, my wife picked it up and there was no one to explain how it worked. But to make matters worse, it didn't work and my wife noticed wires hanging down below the steering column. The morons returned the X to the dealer without finishing it and the dealer didn't bother to check the work.
Today, when my wife took it in because it sometimes wouldn't start, they had no clue and did nothing. (She also got the steering wheel radio controls fixed). The loaner car they gave her was on empty and the low fuel warning light was on. She said something and so they brought a different loaner but with the same gas situation. They told her that it was standard policy. McGrath sucks! |
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| ELP_JC |
Had the second hard start today, at 1,550 miles. And yes, I always start it after the 6 stupid seat belt beeps stop.
No clue why the hell this happens. The first time was cold in the morning. Today was after the car was used in the morning; cold but not stone cold. I charge the battery every week, and only use premium chevron gas. Not a clue what the hell causes that, and it's not even worth it to talk to dealer if it can't be duplicated.
Have a great weekend guys.
JC |
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| mchen007 |
| I had a few hard starts as well. I believe it usually happens when I don't give the car a couple of seconds to power up electronics and diagnostics before turning the key to start the ignition. I've been a bit more patient and haven't had the problem in a while. |
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| RonH |
| Still happening here. I've tried waiting with the key on for anything from 1-10 second before cranking, and it makes no difference ... at some point, it happened. Also been making a big effort to watch the immobilizer light while cranking, and noticed it was "normal" during one of the hard starts. Oh well, at least it's infrequent enough that I can live with it. |
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| ELP_JC |
Hey Ron, apparently only you and I are on the same boat. The only 'pattern' I can come up with is that it happens in cold weather and after the car sits idle for more than a day. I bought mine in November, so I'll wait for warmer temperatures and see if it comes back then.
You've had yours over a year; Did it happen in summer? Can you come up with a 'pattern'?
I agree it's been infrequent enough not to warrant a trip to the dealer at this time. I'm sad to say this is the first car in well over a decade to ever miss a beat, and I don't like it. Next time you or I take it in, let's ask the tech to check for 'codes'; it's our only chance, without being able to duplicate it. Since this car has individual coils, I'm completely sure the problem lies in the ECM, and most likely related to the immobilizer feature.
Good day man.
JC |
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| RonH |
I've only had the X for about 5 months, but it's seen temps from the 30s to 100+ F in that time .. lovely FL weather. I can't say that temperature has been a real factor ... did it at least once at both extremes. The amount of idle time doesn't seem to play a role as it can sit all weekend, or from the time I get to work and go to lunch.
I agree the immobilizer seems the most likely candidate, but if it is doing something, the green idiot light isn't telling the tale. I wait for the green light to go out, and even when I had the last hard start, it didn't so much as flash while trying to start it. My 00 Ody is basically the same vehicle, and in 3 years it's hasn't had a single hard start, and it doesn't matter how I go about starting it ... just spin the key from off to start, or turn it on and wait a little bit .. cranks up every time.
Only pattern I know of is that the X somehow seems to know when someone else is either standing next to, or sitting inside the X but me as that's when it acts up ... always getting me the good old "you paid how much for this?" look. Maybe I just have a shy X ... go figure. :rolleyes: |
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| TulsaMDX |
| We took our 03 in for the 7500 mile check yesterday and mentioned this problem to the service advisor. He said they have talked to Acura and they stated a 10-15 second crank time is "within their standards". He said they are aware of the problem and are working on it, but have no solution as of yet. If it is anything like the Nav update, it could be a while. |
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| RonH |
| Yikes ... 10-15 seconds is the acceptable standard? Mine will only crank for maybe 5 as most ... if it cranked for 15, I'd be at the dealer in a shot. I can't imagine anyone having to crank a car for 15 seconds unless you're in an old carbureted sled and you flooded the heck out of it. *sigh* guess this means I'll just have to keep on living with it .. oh well. |
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| perk |
This has been discussed at length in several other forums. For example, this post and this post . I see that several of the folks posting there have posted on this forum as well, including me.
I'm virtually certain after a great deal of research that the problem derives from the inherently faulty MDX immobilizer circuitry. Many of us have experienced the problem. Most of us just get blank stares from the Acura service dept. What upsets me most about that is that I KNOW Acura and virtually all Acura service techs are aware of the problem, yet they like to play dumb when you bring it up. I guess they do so because Acura has no solution, as is evident by the fact that the problem has been present since '01 and continues in the '04. The only good news is that the problem does seem to fix itself. It did in my car after some indeterminate number of miles (about 10,000) and seems to do so at about same stage in other X's. |
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| ELP_JC |
Thanks for the 2nd link perk (1st is this same one). Hey Doc, could have used the search, huh?
Anyway, it seems a heck of a lot of guys went thru the same. It's the ECM, specifically related to the immobilizer, which is not energizing the ignition system; no doubt about it. Fuel system works and injects fuel as it cranks, as evidenced by the hard starting; just like ol' times, huh? It has nothing to do with break-in, sensors, bad fuel, etc. as some folks suggested over the 2nd link.
It's just a glitch in the ECM, that I can't believe it hasn't been found in 4 years.
And yes Doc, if mine took 15 seconds to crank, I'd be raising some big time hell at somebody. Mine also takes about 5 seconds when it acts up. And we only use 1 key, which has nothing else in the key fob.
I'll need an hour to read all that thread; maybe there was an answer? Not much noise about the issue anymore.
JC |
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| DChan415 |
When you get the hard starting, is your MDX parked facing up on a hill?
I find that my MDX takes a few more cranks to start once in a while but only when I park facing uphill for a period of time.
Its probably due to gravity pulling fuel out of the fuel rails while parked, so it takes longer for the fuel pump to build up pressure back into the rails and get the engine started. |
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