Starting problem
 

Hello,

I have a 2 door 2000 honda accord, 5 speed V-4.

The car will turn over no problem. The starter sounds fine, no problem (although as this problem continues, I will wear out my starter). The longer the car sits unstarted, the less of a chance it will start. I have never had a problem with it in the past, it has always started within one second of turning the key. Recently though if it sits 2 or 3 days unstarted, it won't start. If I try it over and over again for a half hour, maybe it will start. Once it starts once it will start again and again, without a problem. If I had to make a guess (and of course I know zippy about (cars). Any suggestions on whether it is a large or small problem.

Thanks,
P

I was going to say you started was done but if its sits of 3days it wont start, Im not big with Civics but I got to say maybe Fuel Pump or Injectors thats just a guess for me...Im a chevy guy!

That's fantastic. Thanks for the imput. Love your tits.

Anyone else?

Those aren't my tit's:D

Yeah, sounds like a fuel related problem. Either a weak pump, clogged filter, dirty/sticky injectors...that's what it sounds like.

Oh, and by the way, it's an I-4...inline four...not a V-4.

Wont start? As in wont crank over, or it will crank and just wont fire up?

If it will crank, and not start, does it smell like gas when you are first cranking it ( or shortly after)? Does it start easier, harder, or the same on hot days vs cold days?

Could be a couple things. Leaky injectors. You are leaking fuel into your engine when you stop. It would get so flooded with gas in there, it would take a long time to get enough of it out to start. This is probably the case if it smells like gas when you try starting it. Otherwise, its most likely that the tube that carries fuel to each cylinder is not holding pressure in there like it should (your fuel rail). leaky one-way valves, problems in the fuel pump, etc.

It will most likely be a reasonably small problem, such as a bad pump, or pressure reagulator. If it doesn't smell like gas when you start it, chances are its not the injectors, which means it should be cheaper.

Just something i remembered, when you go to start the car, turn the key to the RUN position, but dont crank it over. In most cases, this will prime the fuel pump for 2 seconds, to try and presurize the fuel system. You will occasionally hear a whirring noise from the back hald of your car when this happens. Try turning it to the on position for 2-3 seconds, and turning it off. Do this a couple of times. Now see if it starts any easier. You might have to do it a dozen times if it has been sitting a while.

Edit : i doubt its a clogged filter. It doesnt sound like Mr. Sparkle has any problems with it once its running.

He said it cranks over but will not fire Peryn.

"The car will turn over no problem. The starter sounds fine, no problem (although as this problem continues, I will wear out my starter). The longer the car sits unstarted, the less of a chance it will start"

I would assume he means it wont fire, buti've heard more than a few people with similar descriptions mean that it wont crank. From someone who knows nothing about cars, that could also describe a problem from excessive key-off battery drain.

I don't know I would say take it to a mechanic and have him first off check the fuel system, but I'm no specialist with Honda's, but most cars are the same!

Four years old>well have you changed your fuel filter lately?

Ohh you guys rule. Thank you for the attention. Let me clarify...From the top.

The car will fire without a problem and I do not smell gas. As for the hot and cold days, this is a very recent problem so I don't know . Priming the fuel thingy sounds like a good idea.

I will take it to a mechanic armed with this knowledge. Ad for the fuel filter, I never considered that. No I don't think it's been changed. The only planned service I've had on it was a 60,000 mile service which was probably a little less then a year ago. Is changing the fuel filter like changing an oil filter?

Thanks again for your help.

Mr. Sparkle

It's a pain in the ass. Your car doesn't have an in-line filter, it's a filter assembly inside the gas tank. It's a job for a mechanic.

One more thing, in your first post you said your car has a V-4. It's an inline 4.

Now why would they do that, and put the flter in the gas tank?

My fuel filter is right in front of the carb, so easy to get at!

His car si fuel injected, but i have no idea why they would put in such a stupid place

Ok first of all on a 2000 civic the fuel filter is on the fire wall on the pasenger side of the car, it is a pretty easy change, you need a 14 mm wrench, a 17 mm socket or wrench and a 10 mm socket to remove the filter from the mount.

When the car is running is the check engine light on?
Turn the car on and make sure the engine light lights when your turn the key.

Hondas have had some problems lately with their ingnitions switches also, they will crank the car but not allow power to vital relays.
Make sure while your cranking the starter the dash warning lights light up.
And it might also be your ect (coolant temp sensor) telling the computer that the car is hot when in fact its not, this will give you a leaner starting condition.

Well they got to make money some how!