Cold weather issues...
Cold weather issues...
My car is not starting as smoothly as it normally does now that it has been cold out. Is this happening to anyone else? I don't know what it could be...I let the fuel pump charge up, I don't have the heat or anything set to on. It starts on the first try, but I have to hold the key longer or it just doesn't start as smoothly. Once it is started up, it runs perfectly fine. What could cause this? I don't want to take it to honda and have them say my SRI is doing it...I doubt that could have anything to do with ignition. Any help would be appreciated.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Luling, Louisiana
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Because of the cooler weather, the liquids in your engine take longer to flow. How long do you keep the key on "start"? I would think it is the fluids because of cooler weather making fluids thicker.
Not too long...worst I've had is an extra 7 or 8 seconds maybe? You hear it try to turn over, but it won't at first. Maybe this will go away when I get my first oil change, since I'm still on break in oil.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Luling, Louisiana
Rep Power: 0 Could be, or you car is just breaking in a little more. How many miles? If it keeps going on for a long period of time, like into the spring of next year, talk to honda. I'm pretty sure that its just taking longer because of the weather change. If you car has already been started and you drove a little while and you stop and turn if off (ex: going into the store) and when you come out, does the car start right up or do you have to wait the "extra" seconds?
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From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Rep Power: 0 mine does it too. only in the winter and it is almost 2 years old. it is just cause its warm out. no biggy. just give it some time to warm up before you go driving it so the oil can heat up and things start running smoothly. also, you will find your tranny (if manual) will be tough to get into gear when it is cold.
happens to me too, i already had my break-in oil changed. I have around 4500 miles on it now. its not always the first start of the day, its sometimes just after walking out of hockey practice, so when it sits for 4 hours or so
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Washington DC
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Its called a cold aluminum block. Aluminum contracts quite a bit when it gets cold, when it does, it makes the clearances tighter and everything is harder to move. Your starter has to crank harder to get the engine to turn over and when it does, the engine makes a few lazy rotations before it gets going. Its normal. I recommend you get some gas line antifreeze and put it in every couple of tanks, it helps make sure you get good gas in the engine when you start it.
That and the oil is thicker when it gets cold, so you gotta let it loosen up. When the break in oil comes out, put in some Mobil 1 0W-30... it'll help your cold starts cuz its a little thinner than a 5 weight when cold. It'll flow better. Its totally normal, had **** squat to do with your SRI.
Oh BTW... the temp gauge on the dash is BS. It reads full temp when the water temp is 125 deg F. If you wanna get cranky about it, the car isn't "warmed up" until the thermostat opens, which is about 185 deg.F. It takes about 15 minutes to get there if you leave the car idling.
That and the oil is thicker when it gets cold, so you gotta let it loosen up. When the break in oil comes out, put in some Mobil 1 0W-30... it'll help your cold starts cuz its a little thinner than a 5 weight when cold. It'll flow better. Its totally normal, had **** squat to do with your SRI.
Oh BTW... the temp gauge on the dash is BS. It reads full temp when the water temp is 125 deg F. If you wanna get cranky about it, the car isn't "warmed up" until the thermostat opens, which is about 185 deg.F. It takes about 15 minutes to get there if you leave the car idling.
Last edited by Boilermaker1; Dec 5, 2003 at 07:19 PM.
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From: Raleigh, NC
Rep Power: 0 okay..heres what happens to me..
normally, right after i start my car, rpm goes up to like between 1.2 - 1.5k and then drop down to about 1k
but, when its cold outside, it goes up to 2k or so and then it drops down to 1.5k..it stays at about 1.5k for about a min and then it drops down to 1k later..
i thought it was just normal..correct?
normally, right after i start my car, rpm goes up to like between 1.2 - 1.5k and then drop down to about 1k
but, when its cold outside, it goes up to 2k or so and then it drops down to 1.5k..it stays at about 1.5k for about a min and then it drops down to 1k later..
i thought it was just normal..correct?
I think that's correct, mine goes up higher when it's cold out, then gradually drops down. It usually goes a little past 1.5 when I start it up, rests at 1.5 for a min or so, then starts dropping, same as yours. (It's warming up as I type this...my car is covered in ice :x )
Well this hard starting is getting worse, I scheduled an appointment with honda to drop my car on tuesday night, so we'll see what happens. I'm pretty dissapointed in my car, I bought a brand new car, mainly so I wouldn't have to deal with any reliability issues, and I'm not even 4000 miles into it, and have a problem already. I should just sell it and get an older civic si or integra...something reliable, and faster.
Just thought I'd update. THey said the reason it's doing that is because of my intake, and that the mechanic (or something like that) has the same thing, and it also does it. I guess I'll buy that for now, as long as it goes back to normal when it's warm outside.
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