I have a 2005 with 54k miles on it. I took a short vacation (9 days) and the car was left outside during the freak blizzard we got during christmas

The car started with a bit of cranking when I got back, it seemed to run fine and I drove it on the highway after wards and really pushed her hard. Again everything sounded fine and ran like it should

A couple days latter and the starting issue is getting worse. It takes at least 3-5 complete cranks to get started. Once it is started it sounds awful. I'm used to the sounds the car makes and it sounds like it has a cold (literally) the engine sounds hoarse compared to the higher pitch hum I am used to.

I've got new plugs on the car within the last 6 months and its never been flooded. The coils have NOT been changed as of this post. I've checked the oil levels as well and that seems fine too. Power loss does not seem to be an issue at this time. Lastly, the battery does not seem to be problem (no light dimming) and it is new within the last 4 months.

What do you guys think is the problem/ what else should I look at?

 

First test the charging system, any check engine lights? At 54k your coils should be shot. Also after a hard run you should check your cat to see if it is glowing red.

 

Also do you have the updated Starter? Could be the Problem Thomas, Jew had the same problem about a month or two ago.

 

the starter does explain why the engine is rough after starting. A starter either starts the car or it doesn't, once the engine is started the starter is out of the equation.

 

I would check if you have the upgraded starter and then coils after that. Might have the battery checked at the same time just to make sure it's good too.

 

yes 9K but if it's taking awhile to start then finally does it's probably the starter if he doesn't have the updated one, mine used to do that and so did the jew's until we got the updated starter. Thomas's car sounds like what happened to the jews. Just my 2 cents

 

Yeah definitely the long cranking can be the starter or the battery. Just wonder what the bad sound he is hearing after its started.

 

That's probably the coils after it starts making it sound or run a little different. Although I'd expect more symptoms, so it very well not be them.

I'd still the battery check out before going after the starter.

Start easy, then progress.

 

This is true, my battery was gone about 2 months ago and the car barely came alive and caused me to misfire once. So it could be the battery, then go to the starter, what Mazurfer said...

 

God I love this part of the forum, and you guys in general. I posted this same thread in the troubleshooting section of the forum yesterday and got not ONE hit, I post this in here a couple hours ago and have people practically arguing what my problem could be Thanks for the help guys.

If it is the starter what should I be looking for and what other symptoms would it have? (and how much would it cost to buy one and replace it?)

I haven't had any misfires and there is no check engine light, but the engine sounding like it has a cold is really freaking me out.

Edit: since i got the battery from auto zone I will have them check it for me.

Oh also, I know the dealership where I get the oil changed changed brands recently, could a different kind of oil have messed something up in the engine? I read some posts that said its best to stick with one oil.

 

Starter would cause it to take awhile to start up, normally 5+ cranks to get it started. A updated starter was a TSB but since your out of warranty then it'll cost you, I'm not sure but I think it's $300, I'm probably wrong though. If it's your battery then your car will hardly start and the cranks will get slower and slower and your car will almost die when you finally get it started. New battery will cost from $110 OEM Mazda to $200 Optima Redtop... And no the oil wouldn't cause this

 

Ok, so I just went to start the car up and it started first crank fine (a wtf moment for me since I was going to autozone to get the battery checked) So I drove it around a bit to make sure it was at least warm etc before I turned it off again. Engine still sounds awful. Really starting to think its the coils and its having problems starting because of the crazy weather here (it was 27 here this morning) but again I could be wrong about all of this.

 

Autozone checked your battery right? And if the engine sounds bad I'd go get some new coils but the battery would cause the coils to not function properly if their not getting a efficient power source which caused my one misfire so, if your battery is good then I'd head either towards coils or a new starter (for your starting problem). My engine would fire up immediately sometimes but then stop dead in it's tracks next start up. So good luck, and call me if you want help installing the coils, it's not too hard.

 

Once car is started, battery is techincally out of the loop(just like the starter) and alternator runs the car. Now.....if you had a hideously bad or short cell in the battery or very poor connections coming from the alternator, it could cause the running issues with the coils..........but I think you'd see it in other ways.
There is a DIY on how to check the coils with a meter, and I think this is a good place to start, but at that mileage I would just change them out. If they aren't already bad they soon will be.
Once the battery(and alternator) are confirmed good, then we can think about the starter.
Most Autozones will check the battery and alternator for free.

 

just because you are having problems starting, does not mean you have a bad starter. Trust me, I tried it. A few weeks back I had problems starting my 8 and like you, thought it was the starter. got the upgraded starter and it did not fix my problem.

Bad coils and plugs wer my problem, replaced those (along with wires while I was at it) and bingo, it fired right up.

 

Scott, how do the new sways feel? (sorry for minor thread jack)

 

I'll let you know this weekend when I install them

 

oh, just kidding, I thought you had installed them because of your sig, jk then.... lol let me know

 

Yeah I really dont think its a starter issue at this point. I really think its coils, but the seperate engine sound is worrisome

 

brandon you should post more

 

???

 

yeah just because its hard to start does not mean its always the starter we found that out with scotts car when we changed his starter. if you get some new coils i can help you put them on one day after i get off work or if i get a day off soon. call me and explain the strange noise when you get a chance ill see what i can come up with im sure ive had the problem already.

scott when do you want to install your sways? i still havent gotten a chance to repaint them but they will work just fine looking the way they do now.

 

You guys are amazing! Wifey left one of the interior lights on for a couple of days - and ran the battery flat dead dead dead! Jumped it on Sunday and drove around for about 20-30 minutes hoping to charge it up - (engine sounded fine thanks) - It sat from Sunday afternoon to this morning - when I went to start it - no luck. Hopefully just the icy cold weather and not enough driving time to charge it back up. Have plans to jump it again tomorrow and go ahead and drive for a couple of days to see if that works.
Bottom line if it doesn't I've got a whole thread here to work through to get the problem solved.
Quick question, what is the "upgraded starter" discussed here?

 

the ones that fixed the long crank issues

 

Wayne, just a fyi, your alternator will not charge your battery fully, you need to get a battery charger and charge it. So try that before you get a new battery