Continuous Hard Start

CivicChris · 01-20-2008, 10:00 PM

Hey y'all... I've had my Civic for almost 10 months now and am up to roughly 19,500 miles. Ever since I got the car with ~72 miles on it, I have experienced hard starts, nearly EVERY time, in varying weather conditions and times of day, after having sat turned off for a day and other times just an hour or two. Tonight, I was leaving a friend's house after the car sat off for about 2 hours, and I turned the key once and a strange high-pitched grinding noise came from the engine. I immediately stopped trying to crank it, waited one second, and then turned it again, and it started (fairly) normally.

This was the first time it's done that, however, there have been literally countless other times where nearly every start seems to take effort... meaning taking an extra second to turn over, and/or a very low rev/struggle of a start. I'm sorry for the long description, but does anyone know what this may be from? It's happened in all temperatures, although tonight it did happen to been around 20F. I've not taken it to the dealer yet because I'm pretty certain they will "not find a problem" and I don't want to waste my time if they're going to treat me like an over-cautious worry-wart.

ziwang55 · 01-20-2008, 10:23 PM

this have happened to me when i first had the car.
but the thing is that if that really happens then u can try tapping on the gas peddle to help the pump the gas in the engine. maybe a different type of engine oil might help. but it might because of the battery. cuz when i got a new battery. my starting got so easy. and yeah take it to the dealer. thats where i went.

radiocontrolhead · 01-20-2008, 11:15 PM

Take it to the dealership. I can hear my engine turning over about 3 times and it starts. It'll squeeze in another revolution when it's been sitting for 3 or 4 days.

ziwang55 · 01-21-2008, 01:26 AM

yeah u heard the man. take it to the dealer man. its still under warrantee nothing to worry about!

xxhaimbondxx · 01-21-2008, 08:50 AM

I have the same thing. Also from almost the day one. Few days ago it wouldn't even start until the third try! And yesterday, I decided to hold the key until it actually starts and it did after maybe 6-7 turns. Would you let me know if you take it to the dealer? Thanks.
Off topic: have anyone had a problem with their heating system. I noticed that after I use the front window defrost and then switch to leg and face position, it continues to blow the window until maybe 10 minutes. Weird since I thought we have manual controls.

rmfa · 01-21-2008, 09:35 AM

This is what works for lots of people. Try turning the key to the position when everything is on but right before you crank the car. Supposedly, this sends fuel down the lines from the tank, then you can turn the car over and it should start. Basically, give it a few seconds before you attempt to crank it to let the fuel get down there. I hope this helps.

***msjwild3*** · 01-21-2008, 09:44 AM

Maybe you have a faulty starter. The battery that comes in it stock is only 500 cold cranking amps. I am going to upgrade that on mine yet and it will help alot for cold starts.

ziwang55 · 01-21-2008, 01:25 PM

is 500 really crappy

rmfa · 01-21-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziwang55

is 500 really crappy

Is 500 really crappy for what???

**Yodums** · 01-21-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfa

This is what works for lots of people. Try turning the key to the position when everything is on but right before you crank the car. Supposedly, this sends fuel down the lines from the tank, then you can turn the car over and it should start. Basically, give it a few seconds before you attempt to crank it to let the fuel get down there. I hope this helps.

I often do that when it's really cold. Turn it to the II position. You'll see the electronics turn on and hear the fuel pump. After about 3-4 seconds, crank it and it should come up a lot smoother than it would from an instant 0 -> II.

On another note, I would definitely bring the car in if you are noticing it is generating a high-pitched noise when being cranked.

radiocontrolhead · 01-21-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfa

This is what works for lots of people. Try turning the key to the position when everything is on but right before you crank the car. Supposedly, this sends fuel down the lines from the tank, then you can turn the car over and it should start. Basically, give it a few seconds before you attempt to crank it to let the fuel get down there. I hope this helps.

Turning the key is a no brainer. There shouldn't be a science behind it to start a brand new car. It should turn over in less than 2 seconds regardless. Take your faulty car to the dealership.

ziwang55 · 01-21-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfa

Is 500 really crappy for what???

for a battery's cold cranking amp

***msjwild3*** · 01-21-2008, 09:09 PM

Well for cold weather it is. Where I am it reaches -40 celsius during the nights here and thank god for block heaters. If you dont plug in here i cans till start my car but it turns of a few times before it starts. If you get a higher cold cranking amp it will start easier. My parents have 900 on their grand prix and I want to upgrade for next winter to about 700-750ish. It will help alot.

ziwang55 · 01-22-2008, 07:22 AM

i heard about block heaters. what are they really and how much are they. and how much would a battery like that cost?

***msjwild3*** · 01-22-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziwang55

i heard about block heaters. what are they really and how much are they. and how much would a battery like that cost?

Block heaters well heat your engine block lol. It works by using electric current (AC power) to keep the coolant in your engine block warm, thus giving your engine an easy start in cold weather. Just about every car in Canada has or comes with them. They don't come standard with them in the US and since i bought my Si in the states, they had to put one on for me. I think it cost about 150 with installation.

A battery like that would probably go for about 125 - 200. All depends on the brand. Look for the Optima Redtop. Looks like a six pack of beer with a red cover on top. They are suppose to be good and have 910 cranking amps, which will improve your starting big time over OEM.

Hope this helps!

ziwang55 · 01-22-2008, 10:43 AM

lol yeah it helps big. well does heat block effect anything with ur performance? and where can i get it at? is it possible to install it my self? or do i gotta go to dealer?

***msjwild3*** · 01-22-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziwang55

lol yeah it helps big. well does heat block effect anything with ur performance? and where can i get it at? is it possible to install it my self? or do i gotta go to dealer?

There should be no affect on your performance that would be bad. Just makes it easier to start you car when its cold. So i guess you could say it makes it easier on your starter. Plus you dont have to let your car runas long to warm up and then you use less fuel.

Get the dealer to do it. Its alot easier that way. Only about 150 bucks installed. Well worth it in cold climates.

ziwang55 · 01-22-2008, 10:52 AM

wow i guess thats what im gonna do next. when i get the time. thanks for the advice and all that stuff. its priceless haha

***msjwild3*** · 01-22-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziwang55

wow i guess thats what im gonna do next. when i get the time. thanks for the advice and all that stuff. its priceless haha

No problem.
Tonight it is suppose to hit -35 c and -46 c with the wind chill.
Thats -31 f and -50 f for you american folks lol.
Block heater is gonna be plugged in for sure.

CivicChris · 01-26-2008, 11:29 PM

Hey guys, sorry I haven't checked back in this week. I had to take an emergency trip down to Tennessee for my grandmother's funeral. I'm sitting in a VA hotel room right now, gonna be back home tomorrow. This was the first chance I had to get back on my laptop.

Anyway, I've read all your advice and thanks, everyone, who had suggestions. I'll let you know if anything helps or if I end up taking it to the dealer in the near future. All else aside, it held up well on it's second 2000 mile round trip to TN. Up to about 21,500 on the odo now!

01-20-2008, 10:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
CivicChris Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Baltimore Posts: 385 Chris iTrader: 0 / 0%	Continuous Hard Start Hey y'all... I've had my Civic for almost 10 months now and am up to roughly 19,500 miles. Ever since I got the car with ~72 miles on it, I have experienced hard starts, nearly EVERY time, in varying weather conditions and times of day, after having sat turned off for a day and other times just an hour or two. Tonight, I was leaving a friend's house after the car sat off for about 2 hours, and I turned the key once and a strange high-pitched grinding noise came from the engine. I immediately stopped trying to crank it, waited one second, and then turned it again, and it started (fairly) normally. This was the first time it's done that, however, there have been literally countless other times where nearly every start seems to take effort... meaning taking an extra second to turn over, and/or a very low rev/struggle of a start. I'm sorry for the long description, but does anyone know what this may be from? It's happened in all temperatures, although tonight it did happen to been around 20F. I've not taken it to the dealer yet because I'm pretty certain they will "not find a problem" and I don't want to waste my time if they're going to treat me like an over-cautious worry-wart.

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01-20-2008, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
ziwang55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 301 iTrader: 0 / 0%	this have happened to me when i first had the car. but the thing is that if that really happens then u can try tapping on the gas peddle to help the pump the gas in the engine. maybe a different type of engine oil might help. but it might because of the battery. cuz when i got a new battery. my starting got so easy. and yeah take it to the dealer. thats where i went.

01-20-2008, 11:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
radiocontrolhead Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, ca Age: 21 Posts: 2,885 Danny iTrader: 0 / 0%	Take it to the dealership. I can hear my engine turning over about 3 times and it starts. It'll squeeze in another revolution when it's been sitting for 3 or 4 days.

01-21-2008, 01:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
ziwang55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 301 iTrader: 0 / 0%	yeah u heard the man. take it to the dealer man. its still under warrantee nothing to worry about!

01-21-2008, 08:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
xxhaimbondxx Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brooklyn=>Albany, NY Posts: 627 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I have the same thing. Also from almost the day one. Few days ago it wouldn't even start until the third try! And yesterday, I decided to hold the key until it actually starts and it did after maybe 6-7 turns. Would you let me know if you take it to the dealer? Thanks. Off topic: have anyone had a problem with their heating system. I noticed that after I use the front window defrost and then switch to leg and face position, it continues to blow the window until maybe 10 minutes. Weird since I thought we have manual controls.

01-21-2008, 09:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
rmfa Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Austin, TX Age: 27 Posts: 3,471 Ronnie iTrader: 2 / 100%	This is what works for lots of people. Try turning the key to the position when everything is on but right before you crank the car. Supposedly, this sends fuel down the lines from the tank, then you can turn the car over and it should start. Basically, give it a few seconds before you attempt to crank it to let the fuel get down there. I hope this helps.

01-21-2008, 09:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
*msjwild3* 8th Civic Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Age: 20 Posts: 2,359 Ryan iTrader: 2 / 100%	Maybe you have a faulty starter. The battery that comes in it stock is only 500 cold cranking amps. I am going to upgrade that on mine yet and it will help alot for cold starts.

01-21-2008, 01:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
ziwang55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 301 iTrader: 0 / 0%	is 500 really crappy

01-21-2008, 09:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
*msjwild3* 8th Civic Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Age: 20 Posts: 2,359 Ryan iTrader: 2 / 100%	Well for cold weather it is. Where I am it reaches -40 celsius during the nights here and thank god for block heaters. If you dont plug in here i cans till start my car but it turns of a few times before it starts. If you get a higher cold cranking amp it will start easier. My parents have 900 on their grand prix and I want to upgrade for next winter to about 700-750ish. It will help alot.

01-22-2008, 07:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
ziwang55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 301 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i heard about block heaters. what are they really and how much are they. and how much would a battery like that cost?

01-22-2008, 10:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
ziwang55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 301 iTrader: 0 / 0%	lol yeah it helps big. well does heat block effect anything with ur performance? and where can i get it at? is it possible to install it my self? or do i gotta go to dealer?

01-22-2008, 10:52 AM	#18 (permalink)
ziwang55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 301 iTrader: 0 / 0%	wow i guess thats what im gonna do next. when i get the time. thanks for the advice and all that stuff. its priceless haha

01-26-2008, 11:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
CivicChris Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Baltimore Posts: 385 Chris iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hey guys, sorry I haven't checked back in this week. I had to take an emergency trip down to Tennessee for my grandmother's funeral. I'm sitting in a VA hotel room right now, gonna be back home tomorrow. This was the first chance I had to get back on my laptop. Anyway, I've read all your advice and thanks, everyone, who had suggestions. I'll let you know if anything helps or if I end up taking it to the dealer in the near future. All else aside, it held up well on it's second 2000 mile round trip to TN. Up to about 21,500 on the odo now!