Problems starting in cold weather

[jcgalarza]

I AM NEW TO THIS CITE AND VERY HAPPY TO JOIN. My 2000 Oddysse mini van has 119k miles. We are the original owners. Satrting December 27, 2010, During the cold weather (25 DEGREES OR BELOW) , it is giving me a problem starting in the cold weather. It will crank but not start. (it will start and run for a milli second and then turn off) If I leave my van in the garage overnight, its starts right up. My mechanic cannot figure it out. He changed the main relay and some heat sensor and I am still having the same problem. Once the car starts it will run and restart perfect until you leave it overnight outside in cold weather.

Any imput would be really appreciated.

[jcgalarza]

I have to add more details: Plugs changed and injectors were cleans by my mechanic in Jan 2011. Timing belt was done @ 95,000 miles.


I AM NEW TO THIS CITE AND VERY HAPPY TO JOIN. My 2000 Oddysse mini van has 119k miles. We are the original owners. Starting December 27, 2010, During the cold weather (25 DEGREES OR BELOW) , it is giving me a problem starting in the cold weather. It will crank but not start. (it will start and run for a milli second and then turn off) If I leave my van in the garage overnight, its starts right up. My mechanic cannot figure it out. He changed the main relay and some heat sensor and I am still having the same problem. Once the car starts it will run and restart perfect until you leave it overnight outside in cold weather.

Any imput would be really appreciated.

[OdyinNH]

There's a few posts with starting issues in here. Problems I remember seeing were bad keys, bad ignition switches and I think a relay. The relay one was interesting, the poster was very thorough on when it did and didn't start as I recall. Check out the post below and you'll see on reply #7 that it points to a few other posts, one is about the relay. The search function is your friend.
'02 Starting Issue

[davedrivesody]

Since it's starting "for a milli second", the problem is either a lack of air (aka flooding) or a lack of fuel.

For the former, try pressing the gas a little while starting, to let more air into the engine. If that helps, get a MotorVac or SeaFoam cleaning of the throttle body. This is normal maintenance after 119k miles.

For the latter, turn the key to ignition for 2 seconds before cranking the engine. This cycles the fuel pump and pressurizes the injectors. Don't wait longer than 2 seconds - the fuel pump will shut off after 2 seconds if the engine isn't running.

Lastly, have someone watch the exhaust while you start the engine. Black smoke indicates engine flooding. Flooding can wash fuel into your engine oil. Smell the engine oil for any trace of fuel.

[jcgalarza]

I appreciate your response. My mechanic says he clean out the throttle body when he changed the plugs in January 2010. He further said that he checked the fuel pressure and that was fine. So once again I am back to square one.

I leave van in garage overnight it starts right up. Leave it out over night in below freezing temp and it gives me a prob starting. Once it starts, it will restart all day. Please help me someone.

[New Dad New Van]

I wonder if a bottle of gasline antifreeze might help the cold starts?

[OdyinNH]

You are going to need to watch the dash lights in the van and listen to see how things are different when it doesn't start. Things like the green key light never goes out, the fuel pump does not run, the main relay does not click, I can smell fuel from the exhaust. One of the threads I listed mentions certain lights and noises that happen when things are working as they should. Posts 13 & 21 on thread 99 Odyssey dies and/or wont start! may help narrow things down.

[davedrivesody]

Try switching to synthetic engine oil during the winter so the engine spins more freely. Natural oil can become pretty sluggish at cold temperatures.

[bobdacat]

I have had the cold starting issue too with an 01 with 155,000, starts just cranks a lot longer, but obivious difference in colder weather. Everything was checked also, all in working order, going to try the better oil now, i always used to use 5w-30 with all my cars. But the van goes to honda i dont fool with stuff anymore. no idea what oil they are putting in, but i know its getting good care friend takes care of me there. He keeps telling me i should use better grade now with it getting on in years.

[jcgalarza]

So, the warm whether came and went with no problems starting. Now the cold whether is back, and the problems are starting again. I changed crank sensor, radiator temp sensor, cam sensor, under dash board sensors / relay, use different oil, new battery, cleaned throttle body, made sure timing was on money, and some other switches and sensors suggested in this forum. The mechanic was one that said he always fixes the problem. Well he didn't. Cold whether starts are the issue. It cranks perfect. wants to start, occasionally stops turning over as if its fighting the start (like when your pull starting a mini bike, you pull cord trying to start, then it jams as your pulling the cord and you brink pull cord back to starting position and pull cord again with no problem) , then it eventually starts. I am lost. PLEASE HELP.

[jcgalarza]

Van now has 131k miles

[davedrivesody]

jcgalarza, check the fuel pump pressure. It's a long shot, but have the fuel injectors tested. They could be partially blocked and so not able to deliver enough fuel to start the engine when very cold.

[William Wiles]

Has the mechanic checked for temporary codes with a good OBDII tester. It is not unusual for electronic equipment to develop temperature sensitive problems. Leave outside in cold then hit the PCM with a hair dryer for a couple minutes before trying to start.

[jcgalarza]

My friend figured it out. It was the Map Sensor. Theres a bulletin about rough idle starts. Mine wasnt starting in cold temps. Changed a whole lot of cold temp senors. Changing the map sensor totally corrected the problem.

[jcgalarza]

I still have the problem. Only, it seems easier to start with new map sensor when I step on the accelorator during the cold start. The other day, the Crank Position Sensor code (PO 336) came on. I do have other symptoms described by others in here - sometimes after the cold start problem such as: Idles rough, idles up and down, feels like it will stall, JUST UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. Im tired. I need guidance. My mechanic wants to put a new Crank Position Sensor (car now has 141,000 miles) and a new tranny at 135k (3rd Tranny).