Hi everyone,

My 2009 Fit that I bought really cheap last year to help me get around has been running relatively fine. While my habits did not change, gas mileage has been degrading these past few months (went from <6 to ~7 L/100km.) A bit much to account only on winter fuel. However, yesterday when I tried to start it, I let go of the key just a bit too soon as I often do (old habit -- my previous car used to start more quickly.) When I tried to start it again, it did something I never experienced on a car so it's hard to describe. Basically, the starter appeared to be attempting to turn the motor.. but it sounded like the motor did not feel like it and just would not start.

I've not seen the check engine light but I thought of pulling my bluetooth OBD scanner and scan for codes with Torque. Indeed, there was. All of them "pending fault" (not sure what it means.) The codes are C1555 - Chassis, P0300 - Random - Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected, P0302 - Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected & P0302 - Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected.

Even tho, I upgraded the battery to a 51R (from Costco) exactly a year ago, I did check the battery.. it was low -- 11.8V but that would make sense it I just tried three/four times to start.. Having nothing to lose, I hooked it for most of the afternoon on my charger.

So after charging the battery, I attempted half-heartedly another crank.. and it started after complaining a bit! I let it run for about ten minutes, drove it back just a few meters and stopped the engine. I waited about an hour to let it cool and I cranked it again. It started more or less like it usually do.

Both times, while it was running, I cleared the codes multiple time with Torque and scanned again. The codes were instantaneously there each time.. almost like Torque was not clearing them.

So, it's been a few months since I loaded Torque and scanned for codes. It must have been early in the summer or even before.. so I wonder.. could I have been running like this for a while? Maybe the check engine light is burned? To your knowledge, with these codes.. it is simply a matter of checking for loose plugs.. maybe changing two coils and being at it, replace the plugs with good ones (yeah, I know.. Denso Iridium.. ) Could it be worse? O2 sensors, fuel injectors/pump.. Should I look into adjusting the valves also?

I admit to being quite broke for January.. it's going to be better in a month so I wonder.. should I touch wood and drive it like that until I have the money?

Anyway, thanks for reading and looking forward for your guidance!

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Martin

 

How many miles since the last spark plug change and valve adjustment?

Those are the two most important things to do besides making sure you don't have a loose spark plug.

 

Well, I bought it in December 2019. Can't be sure about the odometer but it's currently at 235km and I doubt I've made more than ~5k since. I have absolutely no history of the car beyond the fact that it was declared VGA in NY and the Carproof says it was rear-ended. It was bought and used in Quebec, Canada so I guess it's a holiday trip that ended badly. Which matches the cosmetics of the back of the car. Also, given the fact that I just had to change the calipers, rotors and pad in the front and the pad at the back, plus a new battery, I'd say that this car never had much love. My guess would be never for the valves and _maybe_ once for the plugs as I doubt it would have made it so far without a least a new set.

Update.. After making sure my CAA membership was still valid, :) I decided to run some errands today... I cleared the codes before leaving while it was not started (just at the ON position to get power to the ECU.) And after 4-5 stops at various places, it not only never failed to start, no codes showed up. I was really attentive to the idling and while it's not quite purring like a kitten, it was not rough.

So I'm really puzzled on what happened yesterday.. Did I flood it (can a car be flooded nowadays?) Obviously, that more or less answer my question about waiting to have it checked in about a month.. I'm still very curious on what needs to be checked/changed...

Cheers!
Martin

 

It sounds like you flooded it by not letting it start. Seems plain unlucky. Although fuel, air and spark are all monitored and, for the first and last, adjusted to meet needs, it strikes me as possible for one to be able to begin the starting process and cancel it before the fuel gets burned up/pressure is built up enough in the cylinders to get a good bang.A valve adjustment should serve to improve sealing of the cylinders, resulting in an easier start up. If you want some validation before doing the work, I believe a compression tester could be used to confirm the idea. Really i'm just guessing based on the situation presented

In regards to the engine having too much resistance to start, maybe with compression built up the starter was encountering too much resistance?