weird starting problem when cold
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weird starting problem when cold
OK, I know this is going to sound crazy and not make sense...
2001 Civic EX manual trans, when the car has sat overnight, it won't start with the starter. It will turn over, crank crank crank, but no start. Green key light is not flashing. When this issue happens it kind of makes a weird crank crank crank puh, crank crank crank puh noise. No start, not so weird, I know. Here is where it gets weird. If I roll the car and bump start it, it starts right up. I can turn the car off and try starting with the starter again, no start. Roll it and bump start, starts right up again. After about 60 seconds of running, I can turn the car off and it starts right up with the starter. It will continue to start with no issues the rest of the day. I can let it set for several hours (have tried up to 8) and it still starts right up. Let it set over night, same thing, no start in the morning.
Unfortunately, I purchased the car this way, thinking it was a timing belt issue (would crank but not start). The guy I purchased from said it ran fine then just wouldn't start one day. He replaced the spark plugs and cam sensor previously, due to engine codes, but now there are no engine codes. I have driven it for several days and put about 300 miles on it, bump starting in the morning.
I was thinking it may be related to the ignition switch, so I turned it to run and tried to jump the starter, same thing, crank crank crank puh. Battery seems good and there are no issues with it. Wires and connections are clean. I removed the cable from the started and ran a separate cable from the battery to the starter, same, crank no start. I have also done the idle relearn, even though the idle was good. Idles smooth at 600rpms. I have also replaced the key with a key from the dealer, no change.
I have not specifically checked spark or fuel pressure since it starts fine when being bump started, I'm assuming these are not changing. I have checked the timing, all is good, marks on pulleys line up as they should.
So, any ideas?? My sanity is being tried...
No mods other than CAI.
2001 Civic EX manual trans, when the car has sat overnight, it won't start with the starter. It will turn over, crank crank crank, but no start. Green key light is not flashing. When this issue happens it kind of makes a weird crank crank crank puh, crank crank crank puh noise. No start, not so weird, I know. Here is where it gets weird. If I roll the car and bump start it, it starts right up. I can turn the car off and try starting with the starter again, no start. Roll it and bump start, starts right up again. After about 60 seconds of running, I can turn the car off and it starts right up with the starter. It will continue to start with no issues the rest of the day. I can let it set for several hours (have tried up to 8) and it still starts right up. Let it set over night, same thing, no start in the morning.
Unfortunately, I purchased the car this way, thinking it was a timing belt issue (would crank but not start). The guy I purchased from said it ran fine then just wouldn't start one day. He replaced the spark plugs and cam sensor previously, due to engine codes, but now there are no engine codes. I have driven it for several days and put about 300 miles on it, bump starting in the morning.
I was thinking it may be related to the ignition switch, so I turned it to run and tried to jump the starter, same thing, crank crank crank puh. Battery seems good and there are no issues with it. Wires and connections are clean. I removed the cable from the started and ran a separate cable from the battery to the starter, same, crank no start. I have also done the idle relearn, even though the idle was good. Idles smooth at 600rpms. I have also replaced the key with a key from the dealer, no change.
I have not specifically checked spark or fuel pressure since it starts fine when being bump started, I'm assuming these are not changing. I have checked the timing, all is good, marks on pulleys line up as they should.
So, any ideas?? My sanity is being tried...
No mods other than CAI.
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Re: weird starting problem when cold
Is cranking RPM normal, or is it unusually slow?
Check and clean all grounds for chassis, trans, engine block, especially ground G101 for the computer and most of the engine electronics?
G101 is on the left:
Check and clean all grounds for chassis, trans, engine block, especially ground G101 for the computer and most of the engine electronics?
G101 is on the left:
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Cranking is normal. The two connections to the starter are clean, no corrosion. I have removed and replaced both, as well as removed and re-seated the started.
If no other ideas come up, I'll grab a JY starter to swap in.
I will check the G101 ground later today, however, I have also added three additional ground wires going from the -battery terminal to the chassis, Trans, and engine. Not that any of the ground wire showed any unusual corrosion.
Thanks for the input.
If no other ideas come up, I'll grab a JY starter to swap in.
I will check the G101 ground later today, however, I have also added three additional ground wires going from the -battery terminal to the chassis, Trans, and engine. Not that any of the ground wire showed any unusual corrosion.
Thanks for the input.
