The Trouser Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hi Forum Members, First time poster on the forum – hope I can find an answer to my questions here. I have a 350Z which I bought new and is now 8 years/87k miles old. I still get a thrill out of getting into it every day and it is still a joy to drive. I count myself lucky to own a Zed. Thing is, I know very little about cars and when something goes wrong I have little idea what the cause is and what to do about it – hence my question today. In the cold weather the car is failing to start. On turning the ignition key, the engine turns over fine (the battery is only a couple of years old) but the engine is failing to rev itself enough to keep itself running. It doesn't seem to rev very high and the engine just splutters to a stop. I was wondering what might cause this and what I could do about it? It goes in for an MOT next month and I was wondering if there is some adjustment I could ask them to make that would solve the problem Thanks for any guidance. Best, The Trouser PS I have had a look around using the search function but was unable to find my exact problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter10 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 The car is known to be a slow starter in the cold. Mine was particularly bad but I also think that was because it was well overdue a plug change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Trouser Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hi Peter, Thanks for the reply - so does that mean my Zed needs a new set of plugs? Are they changed as part of a service? Best, The Trouser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 (edited) They should be changed every 35,000 miles or every 5 years depending which comes first. You may need to ask to have them changed when you get it serviced as for some reason they don't always do it. Welcome BTW Pete Edited January 26, 2013 by JetSet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Actually every 50,000 miles Pete I think, but certainly wouldn't hurt doing them earlier. I had a new set 10k ago on 99k and mine stuttered in the cold up in Newcastle the other week although it was just complaining as it missed it's warm Garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted January 27, 2013 Share Posted January 27, 2013 Try the learn idle air thing that could help. Also check for a dirty TB too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Welcome Along Plugs could be a good shout if you have never had them changed. Mine used to struggle starting on a rare occasion, but never missed a beat generally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I often have problems starting in the cold, dogging is definitely a summer sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Trouser Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 Thnaks for all the replies Try the learn idle air thing that could help. Also check for a dirty TB too What's the "idle air thing"? And what's a "TB"? Is having a dirty one good or bad? Welcome Along Plugs could be a good shout if you have never had them changed. Mine used to struggle starting on a rare occasion, but never missed a beat generally. Thnaks. Plugs seems a common theme. TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Throttle body is a butterfly valve on the intake. Clean = good but it being dirty is likely. The idle air thingy I cant remember it's name. Do a search on how to do it and it will relearn how to idle etc. if you do clean the TB then there is 3-4 procedures that need doing anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Trouser Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 Thnaks all. Now that its above freezing again in the morning - it starts no problem. Does this still indicate the plugs? Thanks TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.1 Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) Bumping an old thread here, however this happened to myself this winter/now. Car starts fine when the air temp is warmer however when it's cold the car starts then cuts out. Just changed over the plugs (sitting at 40k = 6 years) and I've changed the coolant temp sensor, Funnily enough my car doesn't rev past 1k when this problem occurs, I have to wait until the car warms up fully then I have to turn the car off and on before it allows me to drive, my TB could very well need cleaning/replaced also. We'll see how it gets on. I think to be honest the 350 is just generally a bad cold starter. Edited February 18, 2015 by M.1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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