Rep Power: 0

I wanted to post this as I've had this happen recently on my daughter's 2000 LX Civic and a few years back on my 2000 EX Civic.

I started my daughter's car started to move it and accidentally killed it... it's a 5 speed. When I tried to start it, just keeps cranking and no start... after testing for spark.... all 4 cylinders firing... also fuel pump primes at on position... even tested to see if fuel pressure is present after the filter... yes. I literally tried starting it several times over a few days and of course put a charger on the battery.

WTF?... After a few days of trying to figure it all out... I tried cranking and pumping the gas pedal a bunch of times for 4 or 5 seconds and it starts. Been running perfect ever since. Not sure how to explain that one...

I vaguely remember being in my 2000 EX Civic a few years back and I killed it by mistake...tried to start it and it wouldn't start. after trying again a few times I got frustrated and pumped the fuel pedal a bunch of times quickly while trying to start it and voila!

Was it flooded? Is this common? I now know the work-around if this happens... but just curious.

Also want to share this with others so they know what to try if this ever happens.

My daughter's car literally seemed like it had something wrong with it and somehow was flooded or something...

 
Rep Power: 518

You killed it while the engine was cold, and because the spark plugs were not up to operating (self cleaning) temperature, the carbon on the plugs soaked up liquid gasoline upon the restart attempt and snuffed out the spark (spark found another path to ground), causing the condition we call 'flooded'. (little or no firing, unusually fast cranking speed and little resistance in the cranking sound)

Yes it is common.
Same thing can happen if you shut off the engine before it is warmed up....usual scenario is to move the car around in the driveway to let another car out, shut it off..... then it won't start later.

Instead of pumping the gas pedal, just hold it to the floor while cranking a flooded engine.
I think the owners manual speaks of this too.