rockpatrol
New Member
Hi guys,
I bought a used '05 Civic LX (manual) with ~101K miles a few months ago. Every month or so, when I try to start it, it cranks and cranks and cranks. If I wait a few minutes and try again, it either lugs for a moment (almost like it's not getting enough fuel) and then comes up to idle, or it simply fires up as usual. It then runs like nothing happened, runs fine, doesn't stall, has power, revs up when I want it to, etc.
A few things:
I've already replaced:
My thoughts at this point... fuel delivery? Intermittently faulty sensor? (like the crankshaft sensor - known to not throw codes when it dies) Immobilizer? I have not checked the fuel pressure since I don't have the tools, but that might be next on my todo list if autozone can lend me one. I've also heard of the coolant temp sensor, although the OBDII readings from it look perfectly reasonable - unless it can work fine, then go berserk intermittently? Or a fuel pump check valve? Fuel filter?
Any ideas? Everyone seems to be stumped at this one. Thanks!
I bought a used '05 Civic LX (manual) with ~101K miles a few months ago. Every month or so, when I try to start it, it cranks and cranks and cranks. If I wait a few minutes and try again, it either lugs for a moment (almost like it's not getting enough fuel) and then comes up to idle, or it simply fires up as usual. It then runs like nothing happened, runs fine, doesn't stall, has power, revs up when I want it to, etc.
A few things:
- There are no codes being thrown. Zip, nada, except for the knock sensor a while back - I replaced that, cleared it, and it's been gone since.
- I've seen this happen in different kinds of weather. And if it makes any difference, each time this has happened, the car was driven earlier in the day but had probably cooled down since then. Once when moving the car late afternoon after work, once when getting groceries, once after being in a meeting for an hour or two. Ambient temperatures ranging from a warm late summer CA afternoon to cold, raining OR weather. I started the car last night when it was ~4C and raining, and it fired up just fine for the temperature, so I don't think that has anything doing.
- Letting the fuel pump pressurize a few times before cranking vs letting it pressurize a little vs cranking immediately doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
I've already replaced:
- Battery - First thing I did, since it was 8 years old anyway. Didn't fix anything (though good to replace nonetheless).
- Knock sensor - P0325 code. Cleared the code but didn't fix the starting issue, didn't think it would.
- Spark plugs - I figured that wouldn't help, and it didn't, but ~101K miles is about time anyway. The previous ones were a bit fouled up - looked like some sort of rust almost. Dirty looking electrodes for sure.
- Fuel pump relay. Didn't change anything. And besides, I've heard the fuel pump prime just fine even when the car's right in the middle of acting up for a few minutes.
My thoughts at this point... fuel delivery? Intermittently faulty sensor? (like the crankshaft sensor - known to not throw codes when it dies) Immobilizer? I have not checked the fuel pressure since I don't have the tools, but that might be next on my todo list if autozone can lend me one. I've also heard of the coolant temp sensor, although the OBDII readings from it look perfectly reasonable - unless it can work fine, then go berserk intermittently? Or a fuel pump check valve? Fuel filter?
Any ideas? Everyone seems to be stumped at this one. Thanks!
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