Hello All - I just bought my 2011 Manual Sport fit 2 months ago. Lately, on cold starts, the car has taken longer and longer to start. By that, I mean the engine has to turn over a lot to start up. In the beginning it's the usual roughly 2 cranks and the engine buzzes to life. Now it's probably 6 or 7 cranks. Sometimes it starts on a half crank...like between the 2nd and 3rd crank. If the engine is warmed up, then it starts like a champ.

Anyone else have this issue? Anyone know what this may be? I don't want to bring it in for warranty service with a general "it starts slow" problem. Probably end up wasting a while day!

Thanks in advance!!

 

mine did this the other day, it was a cold wet sloppy morning. on warmer days is starts right up, bing

 

Mine fires up like a jet engine. I always turn it to the ON position and wait a couple of seconds for the fuel gauge and dash lights to kick in. I then let it rip. Don't know if that makes any difference though. I hear something going on (like the fuel pump kicking in). Just a habit I've had for many years.

 

I have a 2011 base manual fit and it generally starts a little slower than i expect for a new car. It cranks a couple of times before starting. 6 or 7 cranks sounds too much though.

 

I do the turn and wait a few seconds too- it works for me.

But a couple weeks ago, I found it was cranking for a bit longer. I kinda realised that I was actually babying the turn over, being a bit of a whimp with the key. I began turning the key in earnest and it helps. I turn the key to on and wait for a couple seconds- mostly until my fuel gauge is up- and then I turn the car over with a good turn of the key. Somehow I got into this whimpy turn of the key along the way. Now I turn the sucker and the car fires right up. Weird, the habits we fall into.

Dan

 

OP. By Cold... are we talking Florida/Texas Cold or Michigan Cold. It can make a difference. The fit fires up most of the time right away but occasionally, it takes a few cranks. I too on colder days let it wait a few seconds after the 2nd click before turning it over.

~SB

 

What sort of fuel are you using, is it a 10% or greater ethanol blend? Could be a bad batch of fuel or the ethanol not atomizing and lighting up the first go around.


If its not the fuel, go to AutoZone or someplace similar and rent a compression tester and a leak down tester. I recently started having the same issue at only 26k miles on my GD3, and I know it's not the fuel and I am beginning to think my valves are way out of spec.

Slightly down on power and fuel economy. Which is what really tipped me off because switching to summer gas should've improved performance in both respects.

I let the system prime and build rail pressure by turning the key to on till I hear the pump cycle off, then crank. In spite of that it will still take 5-7 rotations before catching when cold, and this is at only 650' above sea level with 55F ambient temp and 50% humidity.

I really don't mind taking the ~2 hours to do it, but it is an inconvenience. Maybe I can pen Honda USA a nice letter and coerce them into doing it for me. A car built in 2008 should not need a lash adjustment in less than 30k, at least IMHO.

Let us know what you find OP. You may become part of my plea to Honda

 

I notice that problem too, I also do the key on and wait and it seems to help. They are putting toluene back in and its still cool for it to vaporize. The light end need to vaporize and lights the mixture off. The problem will disappear when it warms up. Toluene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toluene_(data_page) vaporizes better above 50 degrees.

 

Ya I have a definite tendency to agree with ya there SB! Unfortunately I don't think my particular issue is fuel related, hopefully the OP's is however. Because that is cheap and easily sorted out.

I think I am going to have to do a leak down here soon when I get some time.

Sorry I have been seriously behind in PM's lately, in addition to school and an interesting project for the GE guys came up that I will have a hand in and I truly hope it comes to fruition.

Can't say anything about "what," "when" or "who" because it's in the initial fabrication stages, but if this comes through I think we'll have a bunch of 2nd gen owners with big sh*t eating grins on their faces

I should have some time to get back to you tomorrow night, I had to give a big speech and presentation tonight on alternative energy solutions and retro-fitting systems to allow people to use alcohols as primary fuel in otherwise stock passenger cars. That is for something entirely unrelated to the vague teaser above though.

A "neat" methanol powered Fit would be a lot of fun though, build up the bottom end with something like 14.0:1 Compression Ratio!

Hope all is well!

 

There is a problem of bad gas going around at high prices, I told the guy at work to use higher octane mid grade but think the head gasket is already blown. Steam will only make it worse and its not in the oil yet. The iso heet really help my car when I had the 2 tanks of bad E10 premium. Its the toluene because it holds 4 times water ethanol does and because of the cooler all around temps the toluene squeezes the water out by becoming more dense then the water. Water does not burn and neither does toluene until its heated.

I would take the compression all the way to 16, or 14 with some boost.

 

Funny I come across this thread today... mine had a slow starting incident this morning but I think it had more to do with my clumsiness with the key.

 

I have the same habit - learned it soon after fuel injection started to surpass carborated engines. The slight delay allows time for the fuel pressure to build, cold weather/cool mornings the issue is more pronounced. Works like a charm.

My DeVille almost demanded the technique. My old F150 used to need a few pumps on the gas pedal [as well as moat other earlier rides] then holding it to the floor and crank it. That beast had the first Ford electronic ignition and a four barrel carb. Glad those days are behind me... took a while for me to keep off the gas pedal before starting after FI engines moved in for real.