I've been trying to get some ideas from a couple of mazda forums about a Tribute but I guess no one seems to know anything. So I'm turning to you guys, you helped me alot in the past so here we go. When my wife starts her Tribute in the morning(New England, it's cold here) it takes 3-4 tries before it starts. The rpm's rev up to about 3000 then comes back down and idles very rough almost to the point of stalling. Driving is fine and after it warms up it idles fine, but still takes a few tries to start. Anyone have any thoughts about this.

 

FWIW a Mazda Tribute is basically the same thing as a Ford Escape.

 

Sounds like a fuel delivery issue to me.

 

Do ya choke it before starting? Mash the pedal to the floor for a couple of seconds and then start? My 94 Saturn won't start worth a crap on these cold a$$ mornings with out being choked. Course, it's an old a$$ car and I've no idea how old the tribute is. The snowblower is even harder to start with out being choked when it's -1 out. hehehe

 

I'm not familar enough about mazdas. so a few questions. does it have a fuel filter? is it maf or map based?

you didn't mention what year, how many miles and what oil you're using?


As far as the hard starting issue:

- Does it only happy after sitting for long periods of time (over night, while at work, etc)?

- Does it happen in all weather conditions, or just when cold? is this new issue that just happened this winter?

Could be fuel issue, not holding pressure and fuel is leaking back into tank. cranking a few times is what primes it to get vehicle running.


The rough idle:

- could be caused by iac
- thick oil (wrong oil type for conditions).


- Dan M

 

The Tribute ia a 2001. It has a fuel filter, I changed it. I believe it is MAF. The hard starting happens in all weather conditions. Usually happens after it has been sitting for a while(usually an hour or longer). If I'm at the market or something, when I come out and start it it's fine. The rough idle only happens when it's cold. When it's idling rough there is a strong smell of gas. It give a #3 cylinder code on the engine light. I've changed the spark plugs and swapped the coil pack with one in the front and it still gives the #3 cylinder. Could that be the intake gaskets?

 

Check your coolant temp sensor.