Starting Issue /Ignition issue/ - Merged threads

[1st06civic]

Whoa......I guess I'm not alone!

[twistedframe]

anytime! :)

[06CivEXJon]

Hey 1st i think i get the same thing as you and its weird! I put the key in the ignition and it turns over but the car isn't on so i have to turn the key then it starts hmm could it be because of cold weather? i also have a EX.

[cl0wnc4rni]

Just had my first encounter with a delayed start today... brand new tank of gas on a SLIGHT uphill parking lot... i know it is common with my roommates 7th gen but I guess the 8th gen have the same problems.... I think imma do what medcina says and wait before i crank it over.... as for 1st06civic, my DRIVER side door is the door that needs to be shut harder than the passenger side.... i think mine has to do with the misaligned doors problem as in a previous post that i posted pics on (cant find link due to website merging)....

[evolution921]

This happened to me many times. I don't think it is bad gas, because I refilled my tank at least 5-6 times, happened many times in a 2 month span when it is cold and I usually park on flat surface. I live in Canada, it seems like this only happen when it is below 0°C outside and after my car has been sitting outside for more than 4 hours. Usually when i turn my ignition, my engine goes to 1500rpm then drop to 400rpm and the engine doesn't start, then I let go of ignition for 2 sec and try again, it start everytime. I've tried to turn my ignition to III and let it stay there while all the gauges move to a ready position, it got better, but my car still have problem starting. But haven't happened in the past 2 weeks because the temperature has been above 0 most of the time. I went to the dealer for oil change today, told them of the problem, they told me that I have to leave my car there overnight to have them reproduce the problem. I guess I will have to wait till the end of the year to do that.

[WiDeFiRE]

Originally Posted by medcina

I've had my Civic start and then want to die right away several times when I first got her. I don't think it ever died but the RPM's dropped so low that it was about to before it caught itself. It turns out that the fuel doesn't reach the engine fast enough during startup so it sputters until fuel is delivered. Now, I turn the key to the on position and wait until the fuel and temp gauges do their reset routine to crank the engine and it fires right up every time without issue. This allows the fuel pump to work for a couple seconds before the engine cranks so fuel is available to let it start properly. Perhaps you guys are experiencing the same thing? I can see the engine not wanting to start at all if there is no residual fuel in the engine until the fuel is delivered. Perhaps the few times that it happened to me there was a bit of fuel left in the engine so it fired up and then sputtered until more fuel arrived.

My engine was doing it to me on a daily basis. You fixed my problem. Thank you :)

[wrnchspnr]

it could be the immoblizer in the vehicle, if you jump in and try to start it right away the computer may not be reading the chip in the key quick enough and by the time you turn it off then crank again it has enough time to pick it up. have had a few people complain about that on TL's and MDX's

[Zuli]

I am no mechanic, so this is just a partially educated guess, but could this be caused by failing to let the fuel system build up pressure before attempting to start the engine?

It would be safe to assume that most modern fuel system are designed to build up suffiecent pressure in under a second, but not giving it that fraction of a second to presurize the system could be causing this.

Just my two cents... what do you guys think?

[Jrfish007]

Yup, the pressure is not up to par. I think the civic has some sort of high pressure system too, maybe that has something to do with it. I noticed that leaving the key in the on postion stopped this, I used to get this problem about 2-3 times a month.

[lpages]

Originally Posted by 1st06civic

I've encountered some problems with starting and i guess the ignition of my 06 ex. There are times when I try to start the car, it doesn't instantly start. It cranks about 3-4 times and I have to stop for a second and turn the key again. This doesn't happen every time but it does enough for me to worry. Has anyone else encountered the same problem? Another thing is, my passenger side door wont close perfectly. I always have to sort of "slam" the door for it to close, unlike my driver's side door where it closes fine. Anyone have that problem?

Ditto. Twice now, I've had trouble getting the car started, and I was on a level surface with full tank of gas, warm weather. Thought it might be the battery, since I had been listening to music during my lunch hour. The battery is awfully small. I'm going to keep an eye on it, it hasn't happened since a couple months ago. The door issue is a probably a different topic, but, I have noticed the passenger door (left corner) sticks out from the body. The driver's side is flush. The other day, I could not open the passenger door from the outside or the inside. The door lock was locking and unlocking, but door would not open. Eventually, after fiddling with the master lock(lock, unlock, lock, unlock...) I finally got it open. I'm wondering if door hadn't been completely shut, hard to tell since it doesn't sit flush. Another thing to keep an eye on. Things that make you go hmmmm...

[JLRvtec]

Try and wait for about 3 seconds or until your check engine light goes out before cranking the starter. These have fuel pumps that tend to get some back pressure. Allow some fuel to pump for 3 seconds and it should start every time. Plus it's bad to start really quick. I have had many Hondas and they all did that. Hope that helps.

[Tate]

I read the csx quick start guide and it says" sometimes the engine may take longer to start because the engine management software is trying to reduce emission". So I would say if it starts ok, that's fine and need not to worry about it

[fiji06si13]

Originally Posted by JLRvtec

Try and wait for about 3 seconds or until your check engine light goes out before cranking the starter. These have fuel pumps that tend to get some back pressure. Allow some fuel to pump for 3 seconds and it should start every time. Plus it's bad to start really quick. I have had many Hondas and they all did that. Hope that helps.

I agree with this quote.
Mine started to take longer to start at the 3000 mile mark. I assumed it's cause the motor broke in finally and the rings seated. You also have to remember 11:1 compression. The higher the compression the harder to start. I'm not worried at all.

[lpages]

It happened to me again, yesterday. This time, the car started and then immediately died(in the past, it's just been hard to start, hesitates). Turned off the a/c, waited a minute, and then started right up. Seems to be an intermittent problem going on here.

[Yodums]

Happened to me just now. I just got on dinner break at work and I was trying to crank it for a good 4-5 seconds before it turned over. Scared the crap out of me... It happened to me yesteerday as well, but just not as bad. And I'm reluctant to bring it into the dealership because it's such an intermittent problem, they'll probably just look at me like a moron.

It felt like I was trying to start the car up in extreme cold conditions (I live in Canada)... but it's perfectly warm outside. Even my 1994 Sentra doesn't do that... in cold weather!

I'm off in about 3 hours, so I'll see what happens in 3 hours.

[Yodums]

What do you know, came out of the parking lot, even colder temps then before and it cranked like normal. Didn't even put it on the "ON" position and waited, just cranked. Just wanted to see how it'd react since I've never waited.. Guess this is just a weird Honda problem? :S

[06civicsiguy]

My Si also does this. i park on a flat surface always have a 1/4 tank gas or more, thought it was gas so i switched to a diff place still does it. usually does it when the car is cold.

[sedanSI]

i'm pretty sure the delay is so oil pressure can build up first before the engine fires. we all know start up is the hardest on the moving components. I don't mind the few seconds of cranking because I know it is building up oil pressure before any combustion occurs. Which is a good thing.

[coolricky]

I've been having the exact same problem posted here (cranking for a long time, and sometimes having to stop cranking and try again a second time) . I noticed it a month after getting my car (got it in September) when the temperature was below 0C and when I parked outdoors on a flat level. It has happened a few times since and just yesterday it happened in my garage, again on a flat surface. The temperature gauge said my garage was 11C when it started (it was 6C outdoors). Has anyone tried to bring it back to the Honda to have it checked? I was going to bring it in this week, but I don't want to waste my time if Honda doesn't have a fix for it. I haven't tried leaving the key in the ON position before starting, so I'll try that when I go out today.

[Si 07]

Originally Posted by Si 07

this might be out there but...


on the 2nd page of the Quick Start Guide manual, highlighted in yellow Things You Need to Know

it says on the bottom right corner


"At times, the engine may take longer to start than usual; the engine management software is working to reduce emissions at start-up"

just found it today since i got my car last sunday.

hope this might help out.