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Car Forum / Honda Cars / March 2006Is starter going out?
I have a '92 Civic EX. Sometimes the engine will turn a while before the car finally starts. This doesn't ever seem to happen when the car is cold. I can go into the grocery store for a few minutes, come out, try to crank the car and it just turns for about 5 seconds or more. Sometimes I stop turning it, try again and it kicks right off. It always kicks right off on the second try, as if something was primed from the previous try. Yesterday, I stopped for some gas. Filled up and tried to crank the car. This time it turned as usual but tried to start and couldn't. The car would try to come to life and shake then keep turning and repeat that cycle. Sounded like it wasn't getting enough gas. That was a first. So I pumped the accelerator a little and it kicked off. I'm thinking this is any of the following: starter, fuel filter, fuel pump, fuel injectors. It's a '92 and computer diagnostics for the engine weren't available until '96. Not sure if that would help in this case. Any one have some suggestions? Thanks, Brett Hi Brett. I can't nail this one very well but I'm just hanging out so I thought I'd steer you to at least a good Honda FAQ run/start problems site at http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html#startrun , and then ask a few clarifying questions. What's the maintenance history on this car, particularly tune-up items (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, air filter? How many miles? Thrown a bottle of injector etc. cleaner into the fuel tank recently? Chevron Techron is one brand of injector etc. cleaner much mentioned here. I use it about once a year, to no ill effect. Ever have the main relay replaced? Not sure your symptoms are perfectly consistent with this, but they're certainly mighty close. You eventually get some kind of start, so I don't think it's the coil or igniter at this point. >I have a '92 Civic EX. Sometimes the engine will turn a >while before [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > would help in > this case. Any one have some suggestions? > I have a '92 Civic EX. Sometimes the engine will turn a while before > the car finally starts. This doesn't ever seem to happen when the car [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Thanks, > Brett ----------------------------- It's probably the MAIN RELAY. look at tegger.com or google honda main relay. It's temperature sensitive and needs to be replaced or resoldered. 'Curly' >I'm thinking this is any of the following: starter, fuel filter, fuel >pump, fuel injectors. It's a '92 and computer diagnostics for the >engine weren't available until '96. Not sure if that would help in >this case. Any one have some suggestions? From your description, I doubt it is the starter that is causing your problem. --------------- Alex > I have a '92 Civic EX. Sometimes the engine will turn a while before > the car finally starts. This doesn't ever seem to happen when the car [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Thanks, > Brett The starter is the thing that makes the engine turn when you start. That appears to be happening, so your starter is fine. It could be that your fuel filter is fouled up but if it were truly impeding gas from reaching your engine, you'd know it as your car would probably 'buck' while driving. It is not a bad idea to replace the filter, though - cheap insurance and easily done. Mash your gas pedal to the floor and start it. If it starts after previously not starting, your car was most likely flooded. When it starts, do you see a puff of smoke? If so, that could be an indicator that one of the injectors in leaking into the cylinder a little, causing that flooding condition. Try some good fuel system cleaner to see if it helps. It sometimes takes several applications for a condition to clear. Note that some fuel system cleaners are suggested to be used on a near empty tank. Personally, I prefer to drive an older car with a near full tank so you don't suck too much sludge through the injectors. For that reason, I'd pick the cleaner that is to be used with a full tank. Remco > I have a '92 Civic EX. Sometimes the engine will turn a while before > the car finally starts. This doesn't ever seem to happen when the car [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > engine weren't available until '96. Not sure if that would help in > this case. Any one have some suggestions? leaky fuel injector is my guess. next time it happens (at home!), DONT pump the pedal. pull the spark plugs out and look at em. if one is exceptionally wet with fuel, thats your bad injector. or get a bottle of techron and put it in the tank, and see if it helps. worth a shot... > > I have a '92 Civic EX. Sometimes the engine will turn a while before > > the car finally starts. This doesn't ever seem to happen when the car [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > or get a bottle of techron and put it in the tank, and see if it helps. > worth a shot... You're right - that's a good idea. It helps identify the bad injector in case he needs to replace it. I read the tegger link and it was very good. About how much does a new relay cost? I can't really hear all of the clicks. However, I have been turning on the key (not motor) and waiting until the dinging goes off, which is a few seconds after the engine light. That was one of the suggestions in the link. The car kicks right off and starts every time so far. I will also try the fuel cleaner suggestion. I bought the car used and haven't added any since the fall (second owner). A tune up will be in the near future as well (at least new air filter). Some one asked about miles: 157k. Oil changes are regular between 2500 - 3000 miles. Thanks all, Brett >I read the tegger link and it was very good. About how >much does a new > relay cost? It's about $50 at places like www.slhonda.com (under Control Unit, Cabin, part no. 39400-S10-003). Or to fix the relay, see http://www.marklamond.co.uk/howto/electrical/main-relay/main-relay.htm http://techauto.tripod.com/mainrelay.htm Many people here recommend the fix. It's much cheaper. It lasts as long. |
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