Brand new Accord Slow Start

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eh - 26 Jul 2004 21:24 GMT

Dear Experts,

I just purchased a brand new 2004 Accord EXL yesterday.
One thing I noticed is that the car seems to work hard when
it tried to start ( 3 or 4 seconds 'dadada' sound before it starts)

The car had less than 10 miles on it. The salesman told me that
it is possbile that the cars has been sitting on the lot for too long
and battery might run low.

I drove it home and open the hood and see the battery indicator
is completely dark.

Is the slow start really related to the battery strength? Will it
improve if I drive on the highway extensively? Is there anything
I need to worry about?

Thanks in advance for all your answers.

Eugene

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Bill - 26 Jul 2004 22:59 GMT

>Dear Experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>Eugene

Turn on the ignition and wait a 2-3 seconds before cranking and see if
thay helps.
It might need for the fuel pump to pressurize the system for easier starting.

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Jason - 27 Jul 2004 01:49 GMT

> Dear Experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Eugene

Take your fancy new car on a 20 mile or more trip on the freeway or
interstate. Follow the instuctions in the owners manual related to
"breaking in" the engine. After the trip, your battery should work fine.
If not, take it back to the dealer and tell them to fix the problem under
the warranty program.

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L Alpert - 27 Jul 2004 02:34 GMT

> Dear Experts,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> it is possbile that the cars has been sitting on the lot for too long
> and battery might run low.

If it turns over, it usually isn't the battery.

> I drove it home and open the hood and see the battery indicator
> is completely dark.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Eugene

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Sean D - 27 Jul 2004 03:52 GMT

> > Dear Experts,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> If it turns over, it usually isn't the battery.

Not always. There's a fine line between a dead battery and a low one. Slow
cranking would a low battery, and as other posters have said, take a the car
for a nice drive to let the alternator do its job. If after that, the
battery indicator is still dark, then get the dealer to install a new
battery (and possiblycheck the alternator).

> > I drove it home and open the hood and see the battery indicator
> > is completely dark.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> >
> > Eugene

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Glynn Edgar - 27 Jul 2004 14:07 GMT

> > > Dear Experts,
> > >
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> > >
> > > Eugene

Hi,

If you read through the manual for the car, you will find under the starting
your car section that it may take 2-3 seconds for the car to start after
turning the ignition key due to the distributorless ignition system which
has to wait until the sensor detects that all cylinders, valves and plugs
are fired in the proper sequencce. I sometimes find with mine that it
starts first crank and the next time it takes 3 or 4 seconds to start.

This was one of the first things our dealership mentioned so that we
wouldn't be concerned when the car didn't start immediately with the flip of
a switch. I would not expect an 04 model to have a low battery after
sitting for this short of a period on a lot, an unused new battery should
not lose its charge in less than a year.

Cheers,

Glynn

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Sean D - 27 Jul 2004 23:07 GMT

> > > > Dear Experts,
> > > >
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>
> Glynn

Very true, but what caught my eye was that original poster mentioned that
his battery indicator was dark when he should be able to see bright green.
I was commenting more on that than on the amount of cranking he was
experiencing. But you do make a good point that sometimes these things are
just little quirks of the vehicle that are normal.

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L Alpert - 29 Jul 2004 04:36 GMT

>>> Dear Experts,
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> the dealer to install a new battery (and possiblycheck the
> alternator).

It is hard to tell if he is saying it is turning over slowly or it starts
slow as in taking too long....

>>> I drove it home and open the hood and see the battery indicator
>>> is completely dark.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>>
>>> Eugene

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lbierre@houston.rr.com - 27 Jul 2004 22:29 GMT

the battery strength will definitely affect how quickly the engine starts,
and the car washer staff uses the battery to run the radio while they do
their work, (at least at the dealership i bought from). but it ought to
recharge fairly easily, and one good trip of 10 miles or more ought to bring
it back up to full charge.

my own dealership was touting how caring their staff is, if you`re still
having a problem take it back, have it looked at.

lance

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