roadsession

Hi guys
I have a particularly strange problem :

1. New battery - tested
2. Good ground strap connection
3. No codes on durametric
4. Car starts on first crank whether hot or cold or warm - any ambient temperature whether sitting for 5 mins or 5 hrs or 5 days - EXCEPT when parked in an underground garage for between 3 to 5 hrs.
Then it requires 3 attempts at key off and key on cranks to start and there are no errors

Open garages are fine
Outdoors fine

Only in deep underground garages - wth is up with that?
Is the car getting insufficient oxygen ?

Cuda911

If there was insufficient O2 for the car, you would pass out before getting to the third key turn try.

Hurdigurdiman

Simply a coincidence. No other explanation.

FRUNKenstein

FIFY Hurdi.

Gonzo911

Is the underground garage level? Most aren't, so you may be dealing with a fuel pump issue.

roadsession

The garage is level...
Anyway the problem is completely reproducible!
Underground garage, car resting for 3 to 5 hrs... SO weird...

Macster

Provided you are not -- I hate to say this but I must -- imagining this behavior the only explanation I can come up with is dampness which affects the coils and could -- stretching a bit here -- result in an engine less inclined to run.

If (big if) it is dampness I am surprised there are no misfires logged and the CEL is not on. Both of the engines in my two Porsches are affected by dampness, not to the point of being harder to start but to the point of misfiring in damp conditions -- most often a drop in temperature accompanied by more humidity. However, neither engine is reluctant to start.

Chiamac

Agree, or more or less thinking along those lines.

Also if it is that damp its' not really a place I'd want to keep parking at anyway...

KrazyK

Have you had the garage air sampled yet? Is the garage built to code? How are the corners laid out? Was a cornerstone used?

Did you conduct a prestart ritual? Let glow plugs and grid heater warm up enough? Was engine block heater plugged in? Engine blanket installed?

DBJoe996

Are there steep ramps going down? What I am thinking is along the lines of a weak fuel pump, clogged fuel filter or return line....or somehow the engine is starved for fuel. Next time, turn the key on but don't start. See if you can hear the fuel pump running. Wait for the fuel pump to "prime" and then try to start. Can't be more than the oil level countdown anyway. And...WAG other than aliens have a huge underground powerplant with EMF causing interference..

5CHN3LL

Here's a stupid question - since you're in a deep underground garage, are you turning your lights on or otherwise adding more drain to the electrical system than you would if not parked underground?

I see from your avatar that you have a cab. Are you putting the top up after the motor is off, whereas you might leave the motor on when putting the top up elsewhere?

There is no reasonable explanation for how an underground garage should affect how the car starts for you, but I suspect there are possible ways that an underground garage could be affecting how you start/treat the car.

sjg1138

Raising/lowering the Cab top does use a lot of energy. Battery could be on the edge of going.

JayG

I am completely sure it is sun spots

roadsession

Thanks everyone - dampness might be the something to chase
No battery drain happening ...

KrazyK

If its not the things I listed or the sun spots, I would bet on mice. Or there may be a whole colony of underground dwellers just waiting for their chance.