Rep Power: 0

I've got a 05 LX auto Civic and almost every time I try to start my car it does that never ending cranking and then it will finally start. I turn the key it takes up to 5-8 seconds for it to actually start. I know in that quick start guide I have it says it will do this from time to time cause of the engine management software but this is doing it way to much. I took it into Honda and just my luck they could not duplicate the problem. I'm just wondering if any of you guys have this same problem all the time and if maybe there is something I can do to fix it. I've talked to other people with the same year/trim and all and they said it hardly happens. Any help would be great. It's just a little embarrassing starting up a 05 car and it's having the hardest time starting up and people are looking at you.

 
Rep Power: 413

they never can replicate the damn problem! I would suggest the starter...:idunno:

 
Rep Power: 320

Yeah, that would suck, not being able to start an '05 car 5-8 seconds is way to long.

Uhmm... maybe a bad battery?

If I where you though, I would try to find a pattern to this. Maybe it only has this problem when it rains, or when the engine is cold or somehting like that. Once you can estiblish a pattern, the mechs at Honda may have a better shot. Other than that, I really can't guess much.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah 5-8 seconds cranking is a little too long. Mine starts in 3 seconds max. Maybe you live in very cold weather?

 
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No I live in Texas, but it doesn't matter what time of day it is or whether or not the car has been on prior to trying or if I have a certain amount of gas in the tank. The weird thing is that when I put the key in and turn it two notches and let it sit for a few seconds and you can hear the fuel pump working and then when the gas gauge is done moving the car will start up just fine. So I'm not sure if it's a bad fuel pump or not. I've also tried using the STP Complete fuel system cleaner and that didn't help out at all. I've got 18,000 miles on the car.

 
Rep Power: 320

Bingo!!! sounds to me like you have a fuel leak. Here is what is probably happening, the car is running, the fuel lines are all at full pressure and all is good, you turn the car off, a seal or something somewhere is randomly coming loose, and leaking a small amount of fuel out. This makes the pressure in the lines go down, then when you try to start it, the injectors can't put any fuel into the engine because of a lack of pressure, so they have to wait untill the fuel pump can build pressure in the lines, mean while you are canking away.

Now don't get to worried about the fuel leak, it is probably a bad seal/valve in the pump itself (I've had that happen) so it is simply leaking back into the tank, but I would take it to Honda and tell them what you just told us, and let them trace the problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the info, sounds like it might actually be the problem, I have made an appt with Honda for next week so we will see how it goes. Hope they can get it right this time.