Hard to start because of battery change?

My daughter has a '00 Mirage. She got new tires and a new battery
today. Tech had a hard time starting it after new battery installed.
Said it was because the computer "forgot" settings and that Mitsus are
known for this. I've had the cables off each year to clean the
terminals and this never happened before. Could it be that the
battery was disconnected for a longer period that this occurred? I've
had batteries out of my wife's Camry and my Eldo for longer periods
with nothing more than the radio and clock losing settings.
Is this something peculiar to Mitsus as the tech stated?
TIA
DFB

All ECU's have a "learning" curve. If it was a one time thing, I wouldn't
worry about it. The mitsu actually has a big capacitor in the radio that
should last about 20 mins without needing to re-enter the code or settings.
The ECU is designed to reset immediately (ok...3 secs). I know your Chevy is
designed to hold the ECU power longer, but I'm not sure about your Toyota.
If it get's better in one or two drive cycles, I wouldn't worry.....It just
means you daughter's O2 sensor is getting old.

Does the engine stall or run very slow on tickover ?

Thanks for the response. She said that it started and ran fine on
subsequent attempts, just like normal. That's the fooler, why it was
bitchy on the first start after the new battery install and why the
tech said this is common in Mitsus. First time ever I've heard that.

Check the butterfly valve , (Thats the one in the inlet manifold) What you
have to do is clean round its seating.
What happens is the onboard ECU remembers the position of the butterfly (Via
the TPS,) But after you disconnect the battery it resets the position to
when the engine was brand new. This means that after you have driven a few
thousand miles the butterfly is in a different position from new, due to
soot gum etc . and will be slightly open giving hesitation,slow idle,Even
start problems.
The ECU will have compensated for this by making adjustments to the idle/inj
control.

Take off the rubber tube between the air cleaner and the inlet manifold
then peer in ,my guess is you will find its gummed up and black in colour .
Clean round the brass butterfly valve,( use carburettor cleaner) then
disconnect the battery once
again ,should be ok after this.
Any Mitsu Tech would have known this. i would find another garage .
Some other makes of car have the same configuration but instead of just
disconnecting the battery
demand an expensive visit to a dealer for reseting via PC equipment.
Im glad i have a Mitsubishi .

Again, many thanks. Your explanation makes perfect sense. I've printed
it out for future reference. My '93 Eldo is the same. If I clean the
TB, I disconnect the battery for a minute to reset to default or do
the idle learn procedure.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode test 33Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

3 21st March 05:30 jonny External User Posts: 1	Hard to start because of battery change? Does the engine stall or run very slow on tickover ?

4 21st March 05:30 nickysantoro External User Posts: 1	Hard to start because of battery change? Thanks for the response. She said that it started and ran fine on subsequent attempts, just like normal. That's the fooler, why it was bitchy on the first start after the new battery install and why the tech said this is common in Mitsus. First time ever I've heard that.

6 21st March 13:36 nickysantoro External User Posts: 1	Hard to start because of battery change? Again, many thanks. Your explanation makes perfect sense. I've printed it out for future reference. My '93 Eldo is the same. If I clean the TB, I disconnect the battery for a minute to reset to default or do the idle learn procedure.