I know this may have been asked but no one is givign a definite answer.. is there a recall or TSB on the EXs not starting? And why only EX? Only difference is vtec.. is it that? Mine just cranked and cranked and cranked the other morning. Only 2,000 miles.

Do you have any mods on it ... alarm, Cd install etc ... at least yours cranked mine was like it was dead ... no attempt to even turn over.

happened once with my brand new 02 SiG(usa EX)

it was on a really warm day after days of non-stop heavy rain....lots of humidity in the car....

took really long to get the engine started....

i wonder if the extreme amounts of humidity in the air box had something to do with it...

it was so humid inside the cabin...(much worse than a tropical green house)


so far, other than that one start, the car has been perfectly fine...no annoying rattles, either...

take it to the dealer

The dealer won't do anything unless they can reproduce the problem. I am having a starting issue that seems to be getting worse as time goes on, so maybe it will eventually be seen by the dealer when i am forced to tow it in or something. This issue exists in hot or cold weather and with a full or close to empty tank of gas (3 gallons left). I have already had the fuel sending unit replaced, although that was related to my faulty fuel gauge. My coworkers are telling me that my fuel pump may be bad, but no codes are coming up when they check the computer. So I'm not even sure what the true issue is. I think I need to make a call to Honda though to bitch about it. The car is 4 months old, it shouldn't be having problems like this. It's a Honda, not a ford, chevy or anything else. Maybe they played switch the engineers for a day or something when my car rolled through the assembly line.

frontierboy
2002 EX Coupe 5spd

My '02 EX coupe has done this to me a couple of times so far also. When it doesnt start, all I do is take the key out, put it back in and turn the key to 'II". Let it sit until the 'bongs' go off and it starts up fine. Basically I'm letting the fuel pump and system pressurize up. Not sure though if this is Immobilzer related or me just being to anxious to start my car.

This probably doesn't have anything to do with your problem, but I found if the key ring on a key chain is wrapped around the key to where the metal ring is touching the metal part of the key, the car doesn't want to start...

I bought a '02 EX coupe w/5spd about 1 week ago and I am experiencing the same problem. Several days after getting the car it began not starting when I turned the key. It took a couple of times of turning the key to get the engine to finally start. This has happened at least 4 times to me (1 time during each of the last 3 mornings/once during middle of the day). The engine also makes a strange whining sound when I accelerate at lower speeds. Its not very loud, but it is noticeabe and it sounds like its coming from the driver's side of the engine. I am pissed because this is a new car! My previous car was a '94 Accord EX w/184,000 miles and it started up every damn time and ran awesome. Between the engine noise and the starting problems I feel like I am driving a car with over 100,000 miles on it. Hopefully the Honda dealership can resolve these problems.

Yeah, this is kinda strange that it seems like only the 02's are having this starting problem. My 01 EX has always had split-second startup, even in sub-zero temperatures (I used to live in Canada). I wonder what they changed between the 01 and 02's.

good question for honda.. maybe its related to VTEC? i hear noone with DX/LXs complainin about starting probs... and the guy that had an accord w/184 k miles.. i had an 92 accord with 230k miles and started up every freakin time. they REALLY dont make em like they used to. Oh and free7civic EX, does your whining sound kin of sound like air is leaking or metal is slightly rattling when you accelerate knd of lightly with the window down (so you can hear better)? cuz mine sounds like a sssssssss sound and it sounds kind of cheap.. like a hole in the header or something...

MangoEX: The sound my car is making at slower speeds is cheap sounding. It sounds like metal rattling (like you said). I mainly hear it when I am driving slowly through a residential neighborhood, through a parking lot, or taking off from a light. It doesn't sound like there is air leaking, but definately a rattle that is bothering the hell out of me. I take it that your car is making this sound too? Do you know what it is and is it anything to be concerned about?

Maybe its valve chatter making that noise.. I notice it in mine also. Not sure though if its normal or if I need to have my valves adjusted. Hopefully its normal, my engine only has 1500 miles on it and its had this noise since day one. I was thinking it could also be the exhaust manifold heat shield, but that doesnt seem as likely. Not sure now, since others have the noise I leaning torwards it being normal... dunno.

I have a LX and I have had the same problem but it happened last year and only happened once
It was a fairly cold day no snow just COLD and the car wouldn't turn over it took a while for it to turn over. But I've had no other problems after that
hope this helps[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

Man I had the same problem at about 1500 miles... and ever since then, ever once in a while, it takes a while before my car starts. it's sad but true, they just don't make them like they used to...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/IMG]

Happens to me about once a week now. Was much worse when the car was new. If you notice it won't start, take the key out...release the clutch...then try again. That always works for me. I'm thinking it's a combination of gas tank pressure and clutch start (sensor).

Yes thats the same noise. Taking off from a stoplight (esp when another car is bedises me) sounds like a ratling/diesel type noise lol. And its definitely not that "normal valve chatter"... i know what that sounds like for sure.

I took my '02 EX to the Honda dealer this morning to have that rattle/diesel sounding noise checked out. I wasn't surprised though when they told me though that nothing was wrong. The mechanic checked the engine and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. He checked for loose parts (ex. heat shield), but everything was tight. I guess this noise is just common for '02 EX's. Apparently, it isn't anything to be concerned about and I was told that the only "strange" noise it will make (common to EX's) is a whining sound at higher rpms.

I get whining sounds (and all kinds of sounds) at all RPMS up in this ****. [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

I have a 2k2 civic manual trans. and the engine didnt start on me couple times. had it for a while... i know for sure its not because i'm not steping on the clutch all the way. I think that EX models just have a tendency to do that.... I'm gonna start trying to put the key to II and leave it for a min. then start the car.

-I also heard from one of the mechanics that the reason why it sometimes it wont start is because we shouldnt mix the fuels..lf your using a 87 stick with it, dont keep switching from 87 to 91 to 89 etc.

My fiancee and I both have '02 LXs with 2,900 and 3,200 miles, respectively. They both have had mild startup problems. I don't like to crank for more than a second and we both have had random events where we had to crank 2-4 times before the car started.

Try turning the key to the accessory position for like 3 secs before trying to crank the car. This is ONLY to pressurize the fuel system. If you leave the door open you will hear a pssst type sound for about a sec or so.

If it doesn't crank after doing that, simply remove the key, reinsert and she should start right up.

There is no reason why the car shouldn't start though when putting the key in the ignition and immediately turning the key to the start position. My previous car was a '94 Accord EX w/184,000 miles and it never did that crap where I had to turn the key to the accessory position to let the fuel system pressurize. As a matter of fact my first car ('86 Accord LX-i) started every time and it had over 170,000 miles!

It just seems odd to me that you would have to wait several seconds to let the fuel system pressurize. Its a freakin' new car. Almost every other car I have driven or been in, whether new or old, always started up the first time. It may be "normal" for most '02 EX's, but it sure can be annoying. Hopefully, Honda fixed this minor inconvenience on the '03s.

NO no no. I have a 2k3 EX auto. I have the same problem. It takes a while turning the key in order for the engine to start in cold weather, t he sound is like a diesal engine. I dont know what the problem is, it will start, just sounds like its not firing unless i hold the key in the iginition stage for a few seconds.

You are 100% correct. I have a 2002 Honda EX, 4 door bought in Scottsdale (Right Honda) and the Service Director informed me upon mentioning the same problem to pull out the key and reinsert. Yes, it starts up upon doing so. However, no one has told me how to permanently correct the problem and apparently no bulletin from American Honda Corp.

Let me know of a permanent cure...

Any new updates on this problem that we seem to all have? My car averages at least 3 times a week where it won't start until I take the key off and reinsert it...I have an 2k2 LX Coupe...I've brought it to the dealer and all I get is just ish from them.
Thanks.