Mine started doing this recently. We've had constant rain. Don't know if that is a factor. Is this really a problem? I mean, my car starts. I just need to wait an extra second or two. Not really an issue for me unless it gets worse. If it's a battery thing, would slow trickle charge be a good idea?

 

My daughter's 07Yaris has a real nice ignition. Switch key to start and immediately let go, the engine is in an automatic start sequence. It will crank on it's own until the engine fires. There is a cut-off I think, but it is a fail-safe hands free starting system. Very nice.

 

Yeah, but then you have to drive a yaris.

 

I don't HAVE to wait. I just prefer to because I don't want the starter running that long. If I just pop the key in and start normally on a cold start (first thing in the morning) it turns over about 4 times and then starts, if I wait the 2 seconds it takes for the fuel needle to move then it starts on the second, if not first turn over.

 

I was thinking about putting an ignition button in to where you just put the key in and turn it to on and then hit the button and it does it on its own. But I refuse to drive a Yaris. Even the "sport" one. Car looks like a damn jelly bean. That and a friend of mine has a red one with black polka dots... calls it her Lady bug....

 

letting the needle rise up first didn't work for me. dam only if i didn't move, i can use my friend's battery and test it out.

Can anyone with the same problem use someone else's battery and test it out?

 

My car was having the same problem until i took it in for the recall. when they did there usual inspection they told me my battery was worn and gave me a new battery because the battery was under warrenty even tho my car was not (50,000 miles) 2009 fit. The manager told me he has seen alot of ge8s with worn batteries and has replaced them under battery warranty 5yrs i believe. my car starts like when it did new, on the first crank

 

also the replacement battery seem a tad bit bigger and sturdier

 

mines also take a second longer. it's the drenching rain (humid air). try again once the sun is out.

 

My car did this recently. Crank would make 7-8 revolutions before catching even with the ECU working the timing and enrichment schemes overtime.

For me it was fuel related, which is my first suspect with these sorts of issues. My guess was excess water in the fuel, as a bottle of Iso-HEET took care of it. It was almost like starting an E85 car in the winter before adding the HEET.

My process with this sort of problem:

Fuel
Spark plugs
Battery
Valve Lash (compression)

 

Put me down for the same problem everyone else is having....

 

If this is a new problem for so many people my guess is the computer is having trouble adopting to a change in gas? Still, don't know why it would make starting that much harder...

This bugs me because so much engine wear happens at start-up, so if it takes longer to start...

 

My guess is the switch to summer fuel included extra long molecular chains this year lowering the evaporation rate compared to prior years. I've noticed extra cranking before it fires too.

Shouldn't hurt anything except your starter. The extra turns before catching might help lube stuff up before it fires actually helping reduce wear.

 

Isn't there wear when it's cranking, whether or not the car starts?

 

I've been letting my fuel pump start up first before cranking and that seems to have helped. Is this a Fit isolated incident or can others confirm it is happening to their other cars?

 

It isn't unheard of in many cars. Part of building up the fuel pressure on a cold start.

 

wear to the electric starter motor (but Honda makes pretty good ones if my last Honda is any indication; no replacement needed after 225K miles and 14 years).

 

Count me in for the summer fuel fiasco on my 09. Started behaving this way over the past week or so.

 

Steve, when you're cranking the starter aren't engine parts moving too? Being pushed by the starter motor?

 

Yes, but at a fraction of the speed, pressure, and heat as when the cylinders are firing. It's like you were turning it over by hand: kinda gentle.

The extra revolutions while on the starter motor add nothing to engine wear, and helps start oil pumping potentially, decreasing wear once running. Besides it may execute a dozen revolutions before firing. In the first minute after firing it runs at 1000RPM (revolutions per minute). The 12 or so turns it takes to get going is nothing.

It does increase the wear on the car's electric starter.