Kizashi Club

I have only had my car for a month now. Its garage kept but when I went to start it today it just kept trying to turn over... I let off the brake then tried it again. It started but was lagging. Any ideas??

If it's drive-able, take it to a Suzuki Service center and have them diagnose it. If not, try disconnecting the battery overnight, reconnect and try again. Did you buy it privately or from a 'dealer'? If dealer, call them and get them to diagnose it....there was some type of warranty w/ your purchase, right? Are you mechanically electrically inclined? How many miles are on it? Any other dash lights on? Otherwise, get it towed to a Suzuki Service center for diagnosis, depending on mileage and the initial in-service date when purchased new, it may still be under the Suzuki bumper-bumper warranty. I'd personally stay away from non-Suzuki garages at this point. The car is a relative unknown among most mechanics for these types of issues.

I am not mechanically inclined by no means. It has 39000 on it. Everything seems to work on it except for the starting issue. I have a powertrain warranty and bumper to bumper. Will that cover looking at it? I am a woman and have no idea about this kind of stuff.

The Suzuki factory bumper-bumper warranty was over at 36,000 miles for your car, so you'll need to check w/ the third party insurer about their bumper-bumper policy and whether or not they'd cover the diagnosis and repair of this particular problem which would most likely not be covered under the Suzuki 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. You could try it might be, another reason to get it to a Suzuki service center. Read the details of whatever bumper-bumper warranty you received, bumper-bumper can mean different things to different companies. That said, I can't see why they shouldn't cover a diagnosis as you have a repeatable problem. With this warranty you have, do you need to take the car somewhere specific? I stand by my earlier recommendation that a Suzuki Service Center is your best shot at getting it diagnosed correctly. Where are you located, someone here might be able to recommend a good place. If the 'KC' in you board name means Kansas City, well then you had the largest Suzuki dealer in the nation in Witchita and I'm sure they are probably still servicing Suzukis.

Sounds like the Hard Crank issue that pops up here and there. There is a software flash the dealer can perform under warranty that should resolve it. It's happened to me maybe 3 or 4 times going on 3 years now. I know what is is and haven't really made the effort or taken the time necessary to have the dealer do the reflash.

Unless I misunderstand what the term lagging means in the OP's symptoms, I didn't think the extended cranking had any ill-effects associated with performance once the engine fired. If it's running fine after start, then I agree w/ nytq, have it reflashed per the TSB referenced in the above post. Again, at a Suzuki Service center. I've had the extended crank thing happen once in 30k miles, and once fired, the car ran normal. No 'lagging' of any kind afterwards.

I am willing to bet it's the battery.

It didn't start and then you said that once you left off the brakes, it started?
When you step on the brakes, it obviously lights up your brake lights regardless of whether the engine is on or not. This consumes battery power and reduces the total cranking voltage.
When you let off the brake, the extra electricity was free to help start the car.
You battery is weak, but not weak enough to cut out the lights. Cranking requires a higher threshold of battery power than turning on the lights.

I suggest you get the battery checked out and most likely replace it.

If the battery is new then it could be the issue the other posters mentioned. New batteries dying soon is also an indication of a faulty alternator. An alternator recharges the battery when the engine is on, assuming it is working properly.

My Kizashi with only start if I'm pressing on the brake.
If I only press the start button only the radio will turn on.

Isn't that the way they all are?

My factory battery died at about 30k miles.

Sluggo wrote:My Kizashi with only start if I'm pressing on the brake.
If I only press the start button only the radio will turn on.

Isn't that the way they all are?

yep.