In VERY cold weather, car cranks great but does not start
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In VERY cold weather, car cranks great but does not start
My daughter has a 2011 Civic LX 1.8 FI SOHC
It died on her the other day on her drive home from school (teacher). She said lights came on on the dash, she started to lose power, then pulled into a driveway and shut off the car. It did not want to start back up. We had it towed to a shop. They could not get it to start until the weather warmed up some (above freezing). They checked diagnostic stuff and said they could not find anything. Thought maybe moisture in the lines. She drove it fine for another couple weeks and then this past Monday when the weather was 9 degrees F, it would not start again. It cranks over fine. Battery was new last Oct. Trying off and on, it will crank for longer than I care to keep trying. Minutes maybe? Never slows down. But does not fire. An occasional stumble but nothing more. I tried it Tues, same thing. Tried it today, same thing. While cranking I put the pedal to the floor and crank, I pump the pedal while cranking, I crank with no pedal. Asked my brother advice (car guy), he said put the pedal to the floor, then try to start it. Before turning key, not while turning key. First time I tried, nothing. I stopped, pulled the key out, put it in and tried again and after stumbling a bit, it started up. It is close to 32degrees here now.
If should not be water in the lines. All out gas has ethanol now and that should absorb that shouldn't it? Anyway, I got some HEET to put in the tank and filled it up (was at 1/4). Hesitant to let my daughter take it when it is this cold (you know how us dads are). She always gets gas at a name brand gas station so pretty sure gas is good. Usually Quiktrip in the Kansas City area. BP sometimes also.
Is the consensus just moisture in the line (which it really seems like to me) or is there some other known issue we could look at?
It died on her the other day on her drive home from school (teacher). She said lights came on on the dash, she started to lose power, then pulled into a driveway and shut off the car. It did not want to start back up. We had it towed to a shop. They could not get it to start until the weather warmed up some (above freezing). They checked diagnostic stuff and said they could not find anything. Thought maybe moisture in the lines. She drove it fine for another couple weeks and then this past Monday when the weather was 9 degrees F, it would not start again. It cranks over fine. Battery was new last Oct. Trying off and on, it will crank for longer than I care to keep trying. Minutes maybe? Never slows down. But does not fire. An occasional stumble but nothing more. I tried it Tues, same thing. Tried it today, same thing. While cranking I put the pedal to the floor and crank, I pump the pedal while cranking, I crank with no pedal. Asked my brother advice (car guy), he said put the pedal to the floor, then try to start it. Before turning key, not while turning key. First time I tried, nothing. I stopped, pulled the key out, put it in and tried again and after stumbling a bit, it started up. It is close to 32degrees here now.
If should not be water in the lines. All out gas has ethanol now and that should absorb that shouldn't it? Anyway, I got some HEET to put in the tank and filled it up (was at 1/4). Hesitant to let my daughter take it when it is this cold (you know how us dads are). She always gets gas at a name brand gas station so pretty sure gas is good. Usually Quiktrip in the Kansas City area. BP sometimes also.
Is the consensus just moisture in the line (which it really seems like to me) or is there some other known issue we could look at?
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Re: In VERY cold weather, car cranks great but does not start
Could be a bad tank of gas. Is she one of those people that tries to force more fuel into the tank after the pump clicks? That's bad for the evap system. The evap system is supposed to inject fuel vapour to help the engine start when it's cold.
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Rep Power: 210 Re: In VERY cold weather, car cranks great but does not start
If it's not a moisture in the line situation it could be a failing intermittent fuel pump issue.
Is there an external fuel filter or is it part of the pump assembly? Did the mechanic check fuel pressure?
Is there an external fuel filter or is it part of the pump assembly? Did the mechanic check fuel pressure?
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