Shutting the car off with the A/C or heat on does nothing to the car. Idling for 30 seconds or so may be good for the cars since it is a turbo, but not necessary unless you have driven the car hard just before.

 

It's not the shutting it off that does it, it is the turning it back on. The more things you have going to draw power during start-up the more wear-and-tear you are putting on your car.

-Taranis

 

i dont think hes talking about the a/c or heat affecting the starting problem, only that it was something his dad told him which resulted in his letting the car idle before shutdown, which did affect the starting problem, basically eliminating it no matter the weather conditions.

and the 60 second idle isnt just for the turbo either, that is usually the main cause for concern, but all of the components benefit from a cooldown after a drive, even if it isnt driven very hard, and also create a more ideal environment for the engine to burn properly and efficiently and thus ensure a smoother startup condition. letting the car idle before turning it off allows everything that was functioning at once, including our super sensitive transmission, to "settle down" and sort itself out, basically determining an end to the previous drive cycle and preparing for the next. im sure im wording it terribly, but it makes sense in my head, just hard to explain in type.

i know it sounds like a bunch of bs, but how many people who have experienced the problem can guarantee that they let the car idle for a full 60 seconds before they shut down the last time before it happened?

 

To clear up all speculation lol:

When I referred to turning off the A/C or heat blower before I cut the engine, I meant that was something my Dad has always told me to do since I was a kid. I used to turn the A/C or heat off when I was driving a 1990 Ford Tempo back in '98; just something I have always done. Does it help? I have no clue. Could it hurt? No.

My 2 cents: since allowing the RA to idle for about 30-60 seconds before cutting the engine, I have not had any more issues with the "break my heart" start. I have also had the starting issue in all types of temperatures/seasons since I bought it in April, and it wasn't always after one of my "race everybody, even the old lady in the van" drives.

Bottom line: 30-60 seconds of idle = 0 starting issues in my experience

 

I wouldn't listen to that tech anymore, though I do try to buy all of my gas at Shell stations. They seem to be one of the few stations around here that don't add 10% ethanol to the 93 octane mix.

Another thing to think about....how often does the station need to refill the 93oct tank? If you live in a rural area where EVERYBODY buys 87-89 octane, it's possible that the 91-93 gas has been sitting in the station's tanks forever and is old.

 

Im just glad to see im not the only one with this problem! Ive owned my RA for about 6 months now and only had the start issue happen one time this summer during a rain storm and now ive had it happen 2 times in the past week. One time it was sitting outside in 20F and the other time it was in my garage at around 55F. Hope something comes of this issue! THis is ridiculous they cant figure out what is causing it.

 

Yeah it definitely seems to be random.

Seems like it will happen once or twice in a short period of time, then not again for a long time. I've experimented with letting it idle before shutdown and that doesn't seem to make any difference. Nor does parking on inclines. Nor does the weather, as I've had it happen in all temperatures. =/ Luckily it does rarely happen, but it is embarrassing when it does. =)

-Taranis

 

Yeah it's definitely embarrassing. After I got my last tattoo over the summer, all the guys from the shop came outside to check out my car cause about 8 different people asked about it while I was getting my work done. I showed it to them and everybody was talking about how nice it was and how great it must be. I was leaving as they continued to stand outside and finish their cigarettes, and guess what? It didn't want to start. EMBARRASSED. They went from being in awe to laughing at my RA in a matter of seconds lol.

 

i've noticed the starting issue, i think it occurs (at least for me) when i turn the ignition switch too quickly.

what i do now is turn the ignition switch to the battery, and when i see the fuel gauge meter go up to the fullest point on the dashboard, then i turn the car on.

ever since i started doing this it has worked every time.

 

I've been doing this as well. Once you turn the ignition on, the fuel pump goes to work building up pressure. I had a Honda in the past where you could hear the fuel pump running when you turn the key to ON....it wouldn't start reliably until the fuel pump ran for a second or two before trying the ignition.

 

Sounds like everyone has their own "traditions" now.

Problem is the it happens so infrequently that you could do just about anything and it may seem like that fixes it, but in reality it just hasn't happened in a while. Hopefully we can find the real solution through all of this trail and error though!

-Taranis

 

i think you nailed it. I never had this happen until this morning. I went to start it. (and yes I always let it idle 30secs after driving) and it would just crank. and to me it felt like lack of fuel. i turn key off. then on again and let the fuel pump prime. and what do ya know. it fired up.

i'd really like to monitor fuel pressure on these cars to see how much pressure drops at the rail after sitting overnight. i'm almost willing to bet alot of it is bleeding off so when you go and try to start up too quickly in the morning it just doesn't have the fuel pressure.

i'm going to start monitoring it with a different startup approach. of turning the key to on and letting the fuel pump fully cycle. then engage the starter. see if that makes any difference.

 

Region: Toronto, Canada
Date: 12/31/2009
Time: 10:45pm

Climate Conditions:
Light Snow
Temp: 1°C (30F)
Humidity: 93%
Air pressure: 1012.5mb. (29.90in)

Modifications:
MXP Testpipe

Fuel Remaining: 60km (according to the computer) - and filled it up to the top with about 43L, so about 12L of gas in the tank according to the 55L specs

The problem goes like this. Car is sitting on the driveway and refused to start. Tried it in P and in N and it kept on "choking". It didn't seem like it was catching. It would try for around 15 seconds and still no luck. I tried for about a minute before putting it in Neutral and rolling it to flat surface. thinking that maybe the gas wasn't flowing in or anything. Still no luck similar problems. Since the lights are "auto" and the navigation would automatically start playing music. We turned off the lights the nav. interior lights and kept on trying - while giving it some gas. Eventually it started with extreme difficulty. Reminded me of someone with an asthma attack trying to breathe and eventually getting some air. Since it was up, I let it idle a bit. Drove to the gas station filled 'er up and started the car. I noticed that there was a slight difficulty as well. Like about 2 "chokes" and it started up. It did seem to be as if there was a lot of difficulty with that as well.

Worthy mention: A few days before I was at my uncles and my car was sitting outside for about 2 days untouched. When I started it up at -11°C (12.2F for you Americans), it started up the first time but again with some difficulty (5 to 6 chokes).

I was going to get this on video, but my damn iPhone was out of batteries or this would have been an epic video for this issue as it lasted about 4-5 minutes without starting.

What should I do? Take it in to the stealerships? Possible battery fault?

 

^Sounds exactly like the problem I've had in the past. I don't think you should even bother taking it to the stealership. They'd just ask for you to leave the car with them, and see if they can reproduce the issue. Most likely they won't be able to...I think there was someone (almost2009?) who did leave their RA with the dealer who didn't find anything out at all.

I'd say our best bet is if someone catches it on video to show the dealer what's going on. Since it is completely random sometimes (the injectors not priming sounds plausible, but is not definitive at the moment).

 

^ I really wanted that video!! I was so angry my phone was dead and my sister was on the phone It sounded disgusting none the less. Not to mention embarrassing. I had to deal with a "Dude, don't you look into cars before buying?"