Dablakbradpitt
Member
original battery? or newer?
cold start problems
- Thread starter jfx35
- Start date
About two years old. Costco style.
Ok.. I replaced aging OEM battery back in November 2010 with Optima Red Top.
Its been firing up fine until weather got cold starting last month. Its just the first start in the morning after sitting overnight that needs to be cranked up two to four times to start. After the first start its fine for the rest of day.
So I thought it was the Optima going bad after two years and got the battery tested out at the shop where I purchased it. But...
Battery checked out good. 700+ CCA and holding charge.
Alternator checked out good.
I cleaned the throttle body after that.
Added fuel additive to take any water out from fuel.
Still doesn't wanna crank up in the morning.
Battery shop advised to try trickle charging it overnight and see how it is after the charge and will replace the Optima under warranty (Warranty till NOV '13) if its same. Hooked up the charger last night and obviously it started up fine this morning. Will see how it is tomorrow morning but have a feeling that something is draining the battery overnight causing hard morning starts.
Could it be AC Amp going bad like the others or does the Unichip draws any power after ignition is off?
Btw.. Mine is '06 AWD with Tech
Its been firing up fine until weather got cold starting last month. Its just the first start in the morning after sitting overnight that needs to be cranked up two to four times to start. After the first start its fine for the rest of day.
So I thought it was the Optima going bad after two years and got the battery tested out at the shop where I purchased it. But...
Battery checked out good. 700+ CCA and holding charge.
Alternator checked out good.
I cleaned the throttle body after that.
Added fuel additive to take any water out from fuel.
Still doesn't wanna crank up in the morning.
Battery shop advised to try trickle charging it overnight and see how it is after the charge and will replace the Optima under warranty (Warranty till NOV '13) if its same. Hooked up the charger last night and obviously it started up fine this morning. Will see how it is tomorrow morning but have a feeling that something is draining the battery overnight causing hard morning starts.
Could it be AC Amp going bad like the others or does the Unichip draws any power after ignition is off?
Btw.. Mine is '06 AWD with Tech
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Hi. Just to know if you could do it and if you had any results.
lateforwork2
Member
9/10 its not the fuel pump. Sounds exactly like the AC Amplifier. Search the posts, you'll find the part number, but it may be year specific. Its about $350, and takes about an hour to install yourself.
---if you think somehow the fuel pressure is the culprit after letting it sit for a while, double prime it, then try to start. You will see that it still doesn't start correctly.
---if you think somehow the fuel pressure is the culprit after letting it sit for a while, double prime it, then try to start. You will see that it still doesn't start correctly.
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tomwetherald
Member
I had this issue this morning, not really that cold, maybe 50, and in the garage. I was suspecting its my Ikey battery.
I had some issues with hard to start a while back, but my battery tested as bad, and after the replacement it had been working great.
My key has been pretty weak lately, remote button push didn't work except fairly close. I might see if that helps, or maybe put the hard key in the ignition.
If it still happens I'll have to see if my warranty will cover the AC amplifier.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin 2
I had some issues with hard to start a while back, but my battery tested as bad, and after the replacement it had been working great.
My key has been pretty weak lately, remote button push didn't work except fairly close. I might see if that helps, or maybe put the hard key in the ignition.
If it still happens I'll have to see if my warranty will cover the AC amplifier.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin 2
Hi guys, sorry I haven't been on the forums for a long time obviously. Yes the AC Amp fixed all of the starting issues ever since I replaced it. It starts up better than it ever had before. I replaced the part 5/2011 and haven't had one starting problem whatsoever so now I currently have a remote car starter 
. Just wanted to let everyone know that I purchased my FX August 2009 and I had starting issues when it got cold up here in Massachusetts, replaced the battery in my carand it started fine for a couple of months then it started to act up again. Then the warm weather came and starting problems went away until the next winter 2010 and then the starting issues came back. Brought my FX to the dealership to see if they could figure it out, they took my car in and came out and said that it's the battery, I scratched my head and said "come on it's only a year old" the sales guy said its because its not an Infiniti battery, absolute complete BS so I took my keys and walked out. I did numerous amounts of searching from the beginning of the internet to end and only found maybe 2 people that had their AC amp replaced back in 2009/2010. Read a bunch of people having the same issue, people had their fuel pumps replaced, spark plugs, Ikey fobs, etc etc the list goes on and on so since those people had all of those things replaced and the starting issue continually came back I knew that those were not the solutions. I was very angry and was just going to trade my car in because it was getting on my last nerve. Like I said I've done an unbelievable amount of research and I finally came a solution, to replace the AC Amp. I was only have starting issues only in the colder months, but towards the end around 5/2011 (no more cold temps) I would have to crank my car twice everytime in order to start it up so that told me right there that the AC Amp or something electrical shit the bed completely. I have noticed from reading all of the post that the majority of people having the starting issues have an 06 which is what I have. All in all I've been there and done that for about 1.5 years until I fixed the problem and haven't had it since. I'm not saying that the AC amp will fix everyone's car, I'm just saying that I did my research and from reading all of the posts the majority of the people that replaced everything except the AC amp have had the starting issue arrive again.
For the people that are going to have the AC Amp replaced and are looking for the part number, you have to have your vin # in order for them to find the correct one for your car. I bought mine online from I think Infinitiparts.com or something, it cost me 344.00 back then and it literally took me 10 minutes to install. Do yourself a favor if you're somewhat handy do it yourself and save yourself 400+ bucks. I asked my dealership how much it would be to replace and install they told me 800+tax. It's kind of sad how stealerships rip people off that much. Well sorry for the long post, but good luck to everybody on getting their starting issue fixed. If there's anybody else on here that replaced their AC Amp and it solved their starting problem please post up and let others know about it. Thanks
. Just wanted to let everyone know that I purchased my FX August 2009 and I had starting issues when it got cold up here in Massachusetts, replaced the battery in my carand it started fine for a couple of months then it started to act up again. Then the warm weather came and starting problems went away until the next winter 2010 and then the starting issues came back. Brought my FX to the dealership to see if they could figure it out, they took my car in and came out and said that it's the battery, I scratched my head and said "come on it's only a year old" the sales guy said its because its not an Infiniti battery, absolute complete BS so I took my keys and walked out. I did numerous amounts of searching from the beginning of the internet to end and only found maybe 2 people that had their AC amp replaced back in 2009/2010. Read a bunch of people having the same issue, people had their fuel pumps replaced, spark plugs, Ikey fobs, etc etc the list goes on and on so since those people had all of those things replaced and the starting issue continually came back I knew that those were not the solutions. I was very angry and was just going to trade my car in because it was getting on my last nerve. Like I said I've done an unbelievable amount of research and I finally came a solution, to replace the AC Amp. I was only have starting issues only in the colder months, but towards the end around 5/2011 (no more cold temps) I would have to crank my car twice everytime in order to start it up so that told me right there that the AC Amp or something electrical shit the bed completely. I have noticed from reading all of the post that the majority of people having the starting issues have an 06 which is what I have. All in all I've been there and done that for about 1.5 years until I fixed the problem and haven't had it since. I'm not saying that the AC amp will fix everyone's car, I'm just saying that I did my research and from reading all of the posts the majority of the people that replaced everything except the AC amp have had the starting issue arrive again. For the people that are going to have the AC Amp replaced and are looking for the part number, you have to have your vin # in order for them to find the correct one for your car. I bought mine online from I think Infinitiparts.com or something, it cost me 344.00 back then and it literally took me 10 minutes to install. Do yourself a favor if you're somewhat handy do it yourself and save yourself 400+ bucks. I asked my dealership how much it would be to replace and install they told me 800+tax. It's kind of sad how stealerships rip people off that much. Well sorry for the long post, but good luck to everybody on getting their starting issue fixed. If there's anybody else on here that replaced their AC Amp and it solved their starting problem please post up and let others know about it. Thanks
Hi guys, sorry I haven't been on the forums for a long time obviously. Yes the AC Amp fixed all of the starting issues ever since I replaced it. It starts up better than it ever had before. I replaced the part 5/2011 and haven't had one starting problem whatsoever so now I currently have a remote car starter
For the people that are going to have the AC Amp replaced and are looking for the part number, you have to have your vin # in order for them to find the correct one for your car. I bought mine online from I think Infinitiparts.com or something, it cost me 344.00 back then and it literally took me 10 minutes to install. Do yourself a favor if you're somewhat handy do it yourself and save yourself 400+ bucks. I asked my dealership how much it would be to replace and install they told me 800+tax. It's kind of sad how stealerships rip people off that much. Well sorry for the long post, but good luck to everybody on getting their starting issue fixed. If there's anybody else on here that replaced their AC Amp and it solved their starting problem please post up and let others know about it. Thanks
Hi thanks!! Can you tell us how to replace it? If possible a step by step. Thanks again
Hopefully everything works out.
Hi. I called infiniti yesterday. They asked me almost $800 for the ac amp. Obviously I'll buy it from infinitiparts or something like that. Just one more question: I've been reading about the AC Amp (your posts) and about the IPDM (Intelligent Power Distribution Module). Is it the same?? How do I know wich one I need? My FX does the issue even with the A/C and radio off...
You'll have to call them up in order for them to order you the correct one made for your car. They will need your vin# in order to get the right one. Here's a link to what you need, it is number 16 listed in the diagram. When you call them up just confirm with them that its the AC Amplifier Control Module/unit.
http://www.orderinfinitiparts.com/p...eid=1433284&diagram=3850355&diagramCallOut=16