cold weather start + burnt electrical smell

[rac1201]

Is it normal to turn the key twice to start the car in cold weather? Its always early in the morning after the car has been sitting all night in the cold weather. Its been like this for the past 2 weeks. Temps are in the high 20s in the morning.
After I turn the key and it fails to start, it makes like a "grinding clicking" noise.........then I have to turn the key again for the engine to start.
Is not starting the first time damaging the engine??? I've only had this car for 3 months and 6500 miles was planning to do my first oil change today.

Also, today, after driving 10 minutes with my heater on, I started smelling a burnt electrical smell......it was so strong that I almost stopped the car, but then all of the sudden, it went away.........

I'm definitely going to the dealer for the oil change and I'm definitely letting them know about the burnt electrical smell.........but I just wanted to see what kind of opinions you guys have so that the dealer just doesn't say some stupid excuse...............

Thanks!!

[cheebz]

you are not alone i have experienced the same thing and it's mind-boggling as hell. let me know if you get an answer from anyone man

[TOOL]

Ive never had to turn my key twice to start the engine. But i dont live where it gets THAT cold, it its cold in the morning though.
I would ask the dealer to see if its normal.

[flyellow]

something's wrong. you should always start on the first turn and a burnt smell is exactly what you are smelling. something is too hot and burning!!!

[cheebz]

sorry i didn't specify my problem is actually just the burnt electrical smell sometimes i smell it randomly whilst driving it just depends but it goes away soon after. i never have trouble starting my fit

[rac1201]

Yeah, I was pretty sure it should have started on the first try........especially for a new car.

I'm scheduling an appointment for tomorrow morning. The service guy I talked to wasn't too helpful in any kind of initial diagnosis. He said it could be anything....like my gas quality. I told him I always use Shell gas, so he was like "well...I dont know so...."

[kenchan]

typically you can crank the starter for 10-12 sec straight and still be considered 'normal.'

but we tend to think we're going to break something after like 2-3sec
cranking and let off... then try cranking again immediately and you
hear it grind. if you let off, count to 3 before you re-crank.

[Halcyon]

I can speak for it being cold, it was -23C(-32 windchillish) a week ago, and it was sluggish to start even plugged in but i didn't get any smells. Usually just get some heater fan sounds which go away when it warms up and the constant dash rattle.

p.s. omg its going to -28C tonight, anyone want to switch climates?

[pip_rocks]

i've noticed a burning smell from my defroster when it's been on longer than 15 minutes. it's sometimes an electrical burning type smell, others it just smells like smoke from people burning outside, but i open my window and it goes away. i also live where it gets really cold (tonight was 15 degrees) so i kind of forget i have the defroster on.

any insight from anyone? i'd prefer not going to the dealer blindly

[Fittastic]

I've had trouble starting mine as well in the severe cold. A service person at my dealer said if it's a manual you have to push the clutch in as far as you possibly can and it should start. I've been doing that and I've only had trouble once since then, but the weather has been slightly warmer as well so we'll see when it gets colder.

If you have a manual then that may be why, and if you have an automatic then you should really ask your dealer. I guess no matter how new these engines are, the cold will still get to them?

[tonyd3773]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe it states clearly this particular car takes time to start in colder weather....at least in my new car manual!

[tin]

I have around 2400 miles on my Fit and I've had both problems. Had the starting problem for the first time a few days ago, I say it was around 25F and I only left the out car for an hour or so after a long trip. But I was also low on gas, the light came on a few minutes after I started driving, so that may have been a factor too. I also sometimes get a slight burnt smell coming from the vents. My friend keeps telling me it's coming from the outside so I just ignore it. One time this burnt coffee smell was coming from the vents, but it turns out we just drove by a coffee house.

[GD3-Fit]

hmm that strange....no clue


p.s. tonyd3773 your sig is freakin huge