Trouble Starting

[GSXracerGuy]

I have a 95 GSX, 104k miles, all stock except for air intake and BOV.

So. I live in Michigan and it is in the low 20's right now...even colder in the morning.

When I go out in the morning to start the car (or whenever I have not driven it in a while) it has trouble starting up. It always starts up but I have to hold the key turned and the gas down for maybe 15 seconds..

Is this because of the engine not being used for a long time and having it be freezing temperatures? I'm only asking because I have had 3 cars before this one and none of them did this.

I know it isn't exactly a winter car, but I use it as one because of it's AWD...but I was jsut wondering if this starting crap is normal or if I should take it in.

Lemme know.
Thanks guys

[Blackcrow64]

Sounds like its a pretty common thing. Mine does it too and I know there have been a few other people on here who have asked the same thing... I wouldn't worry about it unless it does it year round.

[inatalonIXLR8]

I've got mine totaly winterized. An electric battery blanket, which really helps the cranking power. An inline lower rad hose heater, which circulates warm coolant through the engine. And to top it off, three heater magnets slapped on the bottom of the oil pan on a timer to pre warm the oil. The only thing I don't have is a heater core put in a frost plug.

Excesive? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

Yet it hasn't been cold enough around here to use any of this gear - Go figure!

[GSXracerGuy]

How much did all that cost?

[inatalonIXLR8]

Battery blanket - $ 10 at a garage sale brand new

Inline rad hose heater - $ 40 at Canadian tire

Each heater magnet - $ 50 new, but I got mine at G sales for $ 10 a piece and you really only need one.