Hi,


I cannot start the CX9(2010). It's cold, -3F outside, we also parked it facing downhill on a slope. It was running ok and after having left it parked for 6 hrs on that position it just wouldn't start. I added gas antifreeze to tank, checked all levels and all looks normal. Car has 60,000 miles.


When I try to start it sounds looks like its going to start but it doesn't. It sounds like 1 or 2 cylinders are going and smoke comes through the 2 exhausts but if I stop pushing the key it stalls. The Yellow Check Engine Light, Low Oil Pressure, and battery lights remain on (not blinking) on the dashboard only after I stop trying not while trying to start. Right after I stop I can hear a pump noise approximately on the passenger side of the engine compartment.





Any clues?

 

Don't know how you can properly check oil level on a slope.
It is possible that the oil pick up is at the rear of engine, when sloped it's picking up nothing. I don't know where the pick up is.
Try it sideways, should be easy to move. But you need to try something different.

 

I was able to move it to a flatter (still sloped slightly) terrain. Checked oil and added a little oil. waited 10 min. Problem remains it is not starting.

 

That's cold. There are a lot of possibilities. The throttlebody flap may be stuck, the MAF hotwire may have ice on it from humidity/condensation, the battery may be turning it over too slow. If you can put a light bulb in the engine compartment on an extension cord it might unfreeze whatever is frozen. If the area you are in gets temps like that often i would install a block heater.

 

So a local mechanic tried first to jump-start the car (wouldn't work), then towed it to their garage, they assumed it was a fuel/injectors problem. They added fresh gas in case it was contaminated fuel, added fuel injector cleaner, heated the engine block and started right away.


I agree this problem would have been solved with heating the engine.


Thanks so much for the replies.

 

iN THE WINTER TIME NEVER LET THE GAS GO BELOW 1/4 TANK, I ACTUALLY DON'T LIKE IT BELOW 1/2 IN WINTER AS WATER MAY BE AFACTOR. ALSO USE A FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER MORE OFTEN IN THE WINTER.

 

Our 2011 CX-9 always starts in the winter, even at -30 C (-22 F) without any issues... So something was def. wrong...

Cheers!
/Rikard "further North than Anchorage Alaska ;-)"