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Need some help, my 98 civic ex, totally stock, is very hard to start if it has been sitting 10 hrs or more, when/if it does finally start, takes a couple of minutes(to point where I am afraid battery will die)(sounds like it wants to but stumbles/like a carb with only gas in the bowls), it is fine for the rest of the day no issues runs fine/starts first crank, I still think old school and believe in the spark/fuel theories you need them both to run, the only scenario i can come up with is that it is not holding fuel pressure and gas/pressure is seeping back to tank after sitting for such a long period. Any thoughts am i way off base? Any help would be very much appreciated.

 
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Try leaving the key in the "on" position for a little bit before cranking.

 
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Agreed with LordHelmet, if that is the case and it starts right away the fuel pressure regulator may be acting up. If not I guess it could be within the realm of possibility that your fuel pump is a bit weak.

 
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Your battery might be dead, try leaving it overnight with the negative terminal unhooked. If it starts up fine, you got an electricity leak somewhere.

 
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It's a 98. It could definitely be showing it's age. Check the fuel pressure checked. I had a bad solenoid iswitch in my gas tank on my 96 that was causing me to lose power and every mechanic said it was a starter or alternator (of course). I had that diagnosed by a master mechanic with a serious diagnostic system. That's what it took. Cost like 238 with labor.

 
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It's a 98. It could definitely be showing it's age. Check the fuel pressure checked. I had a bad solenoid switch in my gas tank on my 96 that was causing me to lose power and every mechanic said it was a starter or alternator (of course). I had that diagnosed by a master mechanic with a serious diagnostic system. That's what it took. Cost like 238 with labor.

 
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go to autozone and get them to check your battery, they will do it for free. it bight be that your battery is going bad and will not hold a good charge.

 
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I had a prob similar to this (no where near as extreme tho) when my gas tank is nearing empty. The car just takes a couple more cranks than usual to start, its just an old fuel pump. Give the car a bit of gas or even a large amount of gas when you first turn the key and then let off when it turns over, thats what i do and it starts faster, if it starts faster when you do this then i think its safe to say fuel pump is slowly losing pressure. Have same prob with old lawn tractor and its the fuel pump. Since it turns forever i wouldn't think battery or alt at all.

 
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x2..

 
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Thanks, for responses! , battery is about 6 months old, cranks good no cold weather to deal with in florida, turn key on hear fuel pump buzzing for about 3 seconds, hasn't acted up in a couple of days, so still checking everything, leaning towards fuel pump but runs great all the time, cept when it stumbles trying to start, do these cars have a factory fuel regulator? that might not be holding pressure?

 
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Please read my post above about the fuel pressure regulator. Thanks.

 
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there's also a relay there that is pretty common to go on these cars.

 
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****, I totally forgot about that. Good thinking Dex. My sister's 92 had this exact problem a few years ago. Switched out the fuel pump relay located under the dash near the fuses and she hasn't had a problem since. I'd put big money on this relay being the culprit of your problems. Go to autozone and buy a new relay. Its pretty cheap.

Have some rep Dex.

 
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Found the fuel injector on the #1 cylinder isn't working, but is getting power, anybody ever replace one of these and what parts would I need to buy?

 
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I'd get a used injector. BUT, when removing the fuel rail you MUST, I repeat, MUST replace all the O-rings that seal the top of the injectors into the rail. NEVER reuse the original O-rings, replace them all. The bottom seal (in the manifold) needs to be cleaned and oiled with a bit of motor oil.

 
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Thanks but you should rep the people that I've learned from on this site over the last 4 years! Plus for some reason I can't seem to accumulate more than what I have now. No matter how many reputation points I get, it always stays at the same green bars I have. Oh well.