# Starting trouble **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** starting, protege, start, mazda\ **Created:** [June 5, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starting-trouble/265 "2007-06-05T14:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![radiator10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5e925/32.png) [@radiator10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/radiator10)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starting-trouble/265/1 "2007-06-05T14:00:31Z")
I have a 1997 Mazda Protege. From last winter it started giving occasional starting trouble, especially on the not-so-cold days. Here is what happens: When I turn the ignition, say early in the morning, it cranks and sounds like spark is delivered, but does not turn over. If a little gas is applied briefly the car will turn over and idle like it should , but this happens only rarely. More often, I have to hold down the gas pedal for a while (sometimes ~ 2 minutes or so) before it can idle on its own. This kind of behavior happens ivariably on mildly cold days (e.g. a mild winter or a rainy day in boston). If the car has been resting for less than a couple of hours it will start normally even on a cold/wet day. On warmer / dry weather days it starts normally even the first time in the morning. Any ideas whats going on ? Battery is less than 10 months old. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starting-trouble/265/2 "2007-06-05T14:38:56Z")
The first thing I would do is replace the spark plug wires. Old wires can cause starting troubles, especially in wet weather. You say the car starts fine on warm, dry days. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starting-trouble/265/3 "2007-06-05T15:48:11Z")
yes it does start at the first attempt on warm, dry days, thanks for the response