2002 civic startup

I just bought a used 2002 4 door, automatic civic LX, low mileage and would
like to know what might be a probable cause with starting the car. Anytime I
try to start the car when it has been off for a good night, it will take at
least 6 to 10 starter revs before the cars starts. However, if I restart the
car a few minutes after or even after a few hours, the car starts normally
within 2-3 starter revs. I thought that I might have a fuel issue that when
the car has been sitting for the night, gas would go back into the tank and
it would take a few starter revs before the gas came back to the engine. Is
there something I should have checked. Fuel pressure regulator, leaks ???

I naturally asked the dealer about this and they just replied that was
normal. Screw them, I know that 6-10 starter revs is too long for a car to
start. I would live with that during the winter below freezing but not
during this time of year. Any help or guidance would be appreciated

 

try a bottle of injector cleaner in the tank. chevron techron or similar.

id probably let it turn over 5revs (right before it catches), then pull
the plugs and examine for extreme wetness or dryness.

if it has 30k miles and the original plugs, id replace em.

 

Are you waiting for the fuel to pressurize before engaging the starter?
You should turn the key to the "run" position"; all the idiot lights
come on, and you will here a slight "whirring" sound for 2-3 seconds.
When the whirring stops (usually followed by the check engine lamp going
out), turn the key to the cranking position. I think you'll find the
engine catches on the 2nd-3rd crank.

--Gene

 

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It's flooding, like Mike said. The manual tells you how to get it to
start faster. The cure is to clean out the dribbling injector, which the
Techron will hopefully do. I used two tanks of Gasohol in my Odyssey and
it cured the exact same problem.

Overnight flooding. You'll notice it blows a puff of black smoke too,
and might 'chug' a bit when it finally starts. The 6 cyl is less
affected by this phenomenon but the 4 banger can be dead in the water if
you don't know what the manual says about flooded Hondas.

'Curly'

 

Me wrote:

--------------------------------------------------

Oh yeah, your dealer is a Bozo too. That probably wasn't a mystery.

The reason it takes several hours to show up: The fuel rail holds a few
ounces of fuel at about 40 PSI of pressure. It can take all night for it
to dribble out of one injector and then the fumes fill the whole intake,
and sometimes the exhaust. That's why the manual is very explicit about
how to start it in this condition.
It also explains how to start a Honda at extreme low temperatures. A
tiny percentage of the population could tell you what it says, even
though it's true for most domestic cars / trucks as well.


'Curly'

 

Here's a tip: Turn the key to II (on), but NOT to III (start). Leave it
like that for eight to ten seconds. Now turn it to III. Does this speed
things up?

 

I've had a honda dealer make do their "performance oil change" which
consists in adding an injector cleaner. Anyhow, it cost me 90$ so I would
presume that even though they are bozzos, they wouldn't rip me off . Any
how, other than that, I've tried to put the key on the II position where the
pump turns on. I've done that 3 times in a row to give the pump a chance to
push the gas to the engine, but no change at all. It still take around 6-10
cranks. more like 8. I did notice however today that I started my car for
the first time around 11am and thus the temperature was hotter than the 6 or
7am that I usually leave for work. And today it started maybe after 5
cranks. seemed better but still. it's 2-3 cranks generally another time
during the day or evening

Would it do harm to buy myself an other bottle of cleaner if the dealer
actually already did that. (since I don't even know the dealer actually did
add the cleaner !!!)

My car has 67000km, and the manual says the spark plugs are good for
something like 100000+km, is that true? should I actually change them or is
the problem totally injector related

 

It won't hurt anything to look at the spark plugs, if you are mechanically
inclined. It would at least be interesting to see what a 67,000 mile spark
plug looked like. It won't hurt to dump another container of parts store
injector cleaner in the tank. Most of the stuff I have looked at appears to
be just kerosene, anyway. If you really have a flawed injector, pump or
valve leaking down, then all the cleaner in the world won't fix it.

Earle

*** ***

 

worth a shot.

its always possible the plugs have been changed, but with the wrong
brand. NGK or ND are the only 2 kinds recommended for hondas, AFAIK.

 

Well, THAT is a mistake.

DON'T try that again; you'll flood it. Turn the key, wait, then crank
it.

You might try the flood/cold start technique:
hold the gas pedal down about 1/4 of the way; DO NOT pump it to the
floor, or pump it at all; just hold it part way down while cranking.

--Gene

 

I tried this method of pressing half way but I don't think my car liked that
too much. This morning it kind of almost stalled or cough right before
finally running. Any how, I'll try an other injector cleaner liquid and
hopefully ameliorate the cranking time. And it's not easy to troubleshoot as
I only have one chance each day and the hot temperature appear to influence
slightly on the cranking time. Hotter temperature appear to facilitate the
startup.
Anyhow, if it doesn't get worst, I'll just leave it at that. the car runs
fine otherwise.

Thanks all for the replies. Really appreciate ;o)