i'm thinking its probably the plugs at this point.
its only an issue when the car is cold
Slow/Rough Start - '07 Caliber
Today I experienced this for the second time in a week.
Background:
2007 Dodge Caliber SXT
1.8l 4 cylinder
5-speed manual
48,XXXkm
November 2006 build date
About -5*C outside or cooler
Last Thursday, when i came out of work, i got in my car and it felt like it didn't want to start. It took a while to finally turn over. I took it to my local dealer and told them about it. They took it in just before closing and looked it over and we decided that the battery, although not bad, wasn't the best for the winter ahead (which I was planning for considering that I drive 2.5km each way to work everyday) I had them put the battery in as I was already there, and they had done some test for me. The tech said that everything appeared fine, and there was not any draw even with the battery out of the car.
Friday the car started fine.
Car was fine all weekend, did 6+ hours of driving on the weekend in 4 ~45 minute trips and 2 1.5 hour trips.
Yesterday the car started fine.
Today I come out to my car, and the exact same thing happened as what happened last Thursday, where it seemed to crank for a while before it started. It did start though.
When my car is at home and its winter its in the garage plugged in. I have no place to plug it in at work.
Also, It was fine when I went to Montreal a little while ago and we had similar temps there, and it sat outside all night and started just fine in the morning.
I did a fuel system flush in October 2009, so that shouldn't be an issue. Is it this stupid computer again?
Anybody have any ideas as to what is causing this?
Background:
2007 Dodge Caliber SXT
1.8l 4 cylinder
5-speed manual
48,XXXkm
November 2006 build date
About -5*C outside or cooler
Last Thursday, when i came out of work, i got in my car and it felt like it didn't want to start. It took a while to finally turn over. I took it to my local dealer and told them about it. They took it in just before closing and looked it over and we decided that the battery, although not bad, wasn't the best for the winter ahead (which I was planning for considering that I drive 2.5km each way to work everyday) I had them put the battery in as I was already there, and they had done some test for me. The tech said that everything appeared fine, and there was not any draw even with the battery out of the car.
Friday the car started fine.
Car was fine all weekend, did 6+ hours of driving on the weekend in 4 ~45 minute trips and 2 1.5 hour trips.
Yesterday the car started fine.
Today I come out to my car, and the exact same thing happened as what happened last Thursday, where it seemed to crank for a while before it started. It did start though.
When my car is at home and its winter its in the garage plugged in. I have no place to plug it in at work.
Also, It was fine when I went to Montreal a little while ago and we had similar temps there, and it sat outside all night and started just fine in the morning.
I did a fuel system flush in October 2009, so that shouldn't be an issue. Is it this stupid computer again?
Anybody have any ideas as to what is causing this?
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
its only an issue when the car is cold
This is what my car is doing - 2009 automatic. Took it in New Year's for stalling & rough idle. They changed the plugs, fuel flush, & pcv valve (only at 51K). Since I've had it back on 4 separate times I have had to turn the key 3 times to start it - all random - sometimes car has been driven for 20 minutes, turn off to run into a store come out 5 minutes later & can't start properly. Other times, it's cold and has sat for several hours and won't start.
I can hear it trying to start, just won't catch - always 3 turns.
I can hear it trying to start, just won't catch - always 3 turns.
**UPDATE**
Car started normally today. Well it was kind of slow, but it was also -8* outside
Car started normally today. Well it was kind of slow, but it was also -8* outside
Every once in a while my SRT won't turn over. It takes a good 3-4 times of trying to get it to start. Then, sometimes when it does start it will sputter and shut back off. Then it still start back up fine. Its totally random and yes, did start once it got cold outside. Its never done it in the spring/summer.
just weird that the car is only 4 years old and has these problems. my dads first dakota was used and never had these problemsEvery once in a while my SRT won't turn over. It takes a good 3-4 times of trying to get it to start. Then, sometimes when it does start it will sputter and shut back off. Then it still start back up fine. Its totally random and yes, did start once it got cold outside. Its never done it in the spring/summer.
It does seem that it only does it in the cold weather and its totally random. Its sorta scary in a way. I don't want to drive some place far such as a mall or something and come back out and have my car not start.just weird that the car is only 4 years old and has these problems. my dads first dakota was used and never had these problems
I will say I don't recall it ever doing it with my stage 1 computer installed (I take it out for the winter), but then again its always warmer when I put that back in.
I think all of my cars have done this a time or two. My black Caliber R/T did this too as well as my '04 Stratus R/T Coupe, and my '02 Neon ES. I'm confused as to why they do this. Every time with all of my vehicles they did start eventually. *hopes the tradition continues there*
yeah that's just it. I'd expect this with an older car, but not with a newer one. its just a bit ghetto, and the uncertainty is there now for me.It does seem that it only does it in the cold weather and its totally random. Its sorta scary in a way. I don't want to drive some place far such as a mall or something and come back out and have my car not start.
I will say I don't recall it ever doing it with my stage 1 computer installed (I take it out for the winter), but then again its always warmer when I put that back in.
I think all of my cars have done this a time or two. My black Caliber R/T did this too as well as my '04 Stratus R/T Coupe, and my '02 Neon ES. I'm confused as to why they do this. Every time with all of my vehicles they did start eventually. *hopes the tradition continues there*
My CSRT has done this a few times. Most of the time it had been when I rolled it out of the garage during the winter, but it had happen at least once while it was parked in the office parking lot. Car turned over, but no fire. backed the key off then tried it again and she started with no issues.yeah that's just it. I'd expect this with an older car, but not with a newer one. its just a bit ghetto, and the uncertainty is there now for me.
Well, just chiming in here but mine does this too... the cranking without start. Usually if I back the key to off and re-prime the fuel pump it starts right away. Just before christmas during a really cold snap it didn't even crank until I took the key out and put it back in, which made me wonder if it was security related.
I just rolled over 60,000km (warranty now done) and I guess this weekend I'll try new plugs.
I just rolled over 60,000km (warranty now done) and I guess this weekend I'll try new plugs.
Could it be that you are getting some water in your gas in the lower temps? Every so often I put dry gas in the tank and after driving awhile it straightens up. (My Cal doesn't get driven much in this weather!) My other car has 100K on it and can be grumpy. If you haven't cleaned the injectors, you might try that as well.
If this was an isolated incident, I would agree with you that it could be bad gas/water in the gas.Could it be that you are getting some water in your gas in the lower temps? Every so often I put dry gas in the tank and after driving awhile it straightens up. (My Cal doesn't get driven much in this weather!) My other car has 100K on it and can be grumpy. If you haven't cleaned the injectors, you might try that as well.
When my CSRT did it during the winter (when I only started it to roll it out of the garage and back in when I needed the space) it had a full tank of premium gas. The kicker is it never happen when starting it in the garage, it was always when it was outside being started to go back in (my garage is not full time heated, so the car would have been cold when started).
The time it happen at work, I don't remember how much fuel was in the tank.
Given the amount of computer involvement in these cars, the other post about the security system could be plausable. I would assume however, that those of us that have seen this issue, all do not have the same model/year of car, so our computers/programming may be different.
It's really hard to say what it is, and with no codes thrown, and no computers hooked up at the rare time it happens, we may never know.
I never had to back the key off with the 2 times this has happened.My CSRT has done this a few times. Most of the time it had been when I rolled it out of the garage during the winter, but it had happen at least once while it was parked in the office parking lot. Car turned over, but no fire. backed the key off then tried it again and she started with no issues.
I'm only at 48,000km-ishWell, just chiming in here but mine does this too... the cranking without start. Usually if I back the key to off and re-prime the fuel pump it starts right away. Just before christmas during a really cold snap it didn't even crank until I took the key out and put it back in, which made me wonder if it was security related.
I just rolled over 60,000km (warranty now done) and I guess this weekend I'll try new plugs.
Security-related is an interesting subject...
There have been a few tanks of gas in between the events for me. Same brand, but different station I think.Could it be that you are getting some water in your gas in the lower temps? Every so often I put dry gas in the tank and after driving awhile it straightens up. (My Cal doesn't get driven much in this weather!) My other car has 100K on it and can be grumpy. If you haven't cleaned the injectors, you might try that as well.
I love the computer in this carIf this was an isolated incident, I would agree with you that it could be bad gas/water in the gas.
When my CSRT did it during the winter (when I only started it to roll it out of the garage and back in when I needed the space) it had a full tank of premium gas. The kicker is it never happen when starting it in the garage, it was always when it was outside being started to go back in (my garage is not full time heated, so the car would have been cold when started).
The time it happen at work, I don't remember how much fuel was in the tank.
Given the amount of computer involvement in these cars, the other post about the security system could be plausable. I would assume however, that those of us that have seen this issue, all do not have the same model/year of car, so our computers/programming may be different.
It's really hard to say what it is, and with no codes thrown, and no computers hooked up at the rare time it happens, we may never know.
/sarcasm
CodeTech might have an point however. I would imagine that the security code is probably the same in all our Calibers. Could a bug in that.
Does everyone that has had this issue have an OEM alarm?
I do
Does everyone that has had this issue have an OEM alarm?
I do
i don't have the factory alarm.CodeTech might have an point however. I would imagine that the security code is probably the same in all our Calibers. Could a bug in that.
Does everyone that has had this issue have an OEM alarm?
I do
but we all have the factory engine immobilizer.
True.i don't have the factory alarm.
but we all have the factory engine immobilizer.
I thought about that on my walk home from the office. I know it was mandated that it was required for all 2008 model year vehicles (in NA?). That being said, I believe it was used on Dodges prior to 2008 and would assume that the code would be the same/similar across most models.
I'm dragging this one out again...
Saturday night a vicious, brutal cold front mashed in. Saturday we were basking in far above freezing temps, but Sunday morning it was way below zero.
Sunday morning Miss Cali cranked and cranked, and cranked, and just when I thought the battery was going to need to sit on the charger for a bit she finally caught and ran perfectly.
Sunday evening and this morning and today at lunch, same cold, she started perfectly first try like normal.
Thinking back on the previous incidents, they all were when I shut the car down in relatively warm weather then tried to start in very cold weather. This sounds like a major clue to the problem (which of course will be locked in the PCM where we can never fix it).
Saturday night a vicious, brutal cold front mashed in. Saturday we were basking in far above freezing temps, but Sunday morning it was way below zero.
Sunday morning Miss Cali cranked and cranked, and cranked, and just when I thought the battery was going to need to sit on the charger for a bit she finally caught and ran perfectly.
Sunday evening and this morning and today at lunch, same cold, she started perfectly first try like normal.
Thinking back on the previous incidents, they all were when I shut the car down in relatively warm weather then tried to start in very cold weather. This sounds like a major clue to the problem (which of course will be locked in the PCM where we can never fix it).
^ hmmm, i'm trying to remember the weather around my incidents...but can'tI'm dragging this one out again...
Saturday night a vicious, brutal cold front mashed in. Saturday we were basking in far above freezing temps, but Sunday morning it was way below zero.
Sunday morning Miss Cali cranked and cranked, and cranked, and just when I thought the battery was going to need to sit on the charger for a bit she finally caught and ran perfectly.
Sunday evening and this morning and today at lunch, same cold, she started perfectly first try like normal.
Thinking back on the previous incidents, they all were when I shut the car down in relatively warm weather then tried to start in very cold weather. This sounds like a major clue to the problem (which of course will be locked in the PCM where we can never fix it).
if it ever happens again i'll think about that
ok the car just did this again tonight.I'm dragging this one out again...
Saturday night a vicious, brutal cold front mashed in. Saturday we were basking in far above freezing temps, but Sunday morning it was way below zero.
Sunday morning Miss Cali cranked and cranked, and cranked, and just when I thought the battery was going to need to sit on the charger for a bit she finally caught and ran perfectly.
Sunday evening and this morning and today at lunch, same cold, she started perfectly first try like normal.
Thinking back on the previous incidents, they all were when I shut the car down in relatively warm weather then tried to start in very cold weather. This sounds like a major clue to the problem (which of course will be locked in the PCM where we can never fix it).
it was mild today, and so i parked out front of my house. a few hours later i come out to go to the gym, and i turn the key and it just cranks, but doesn't turn over until i hit the gas pedal.
when i came out of the gym, about an hour and a half later, it started normally...
My car has done it a few times as well. Temp doesnt seem to be a factor as its occured in summer and winter. I have always dismissed it as a variable timing issue having to do with the piston position when the engine is shut off. Whatever it is seems to clear itself up right after it happends.
I'm having the same problem on my brand new 2011 Caliber Mainstreet. If it sits too long, it cranks from 2-10 seconds and the kicks over.
Here is a video I took with it happening. The engine may be hard to hear over the car beeps but kinda helps.
Here is a video I took with it happening. The engine may be hard to hear over the car beeps but kinda helps.
21 - 40 of 53 Posts
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