Hey I have a 2002 TL-S and I was noticing a potential problem occasionaly when i start up my car. I'm not sure if this is normal but let me get your opinions.

SOmetimes when I start the car, I turn the key and it makes the engine starting noise you know the cranking noise. I hold it there there for two secs and it ends up not starting. This happens like two times until i can actually start it like normal and I was just wondering if this is foreshadowing any potential problems. So basically it just cranks and it doesn't start until my third try.

I'm not sure if i'm clear enough but i'm looking for some suggestions.

THanks in advance.

 

If my car has been sitting for a few hours I do this:

Turn key to position II (just before cranking)
Let it sit there for a few seconds
Crank engine

My theory is to make sure the fuel system is charged.

 

sounds like either your starter is starting to go or maybe a loose ground or battery terminals are loose. check your battery terminals, then grounds if those look good it sounds like your starter. BTW when you turn the key to the ON position do you have power?

 

1. your battery may be dieing

2. your coils may be bad

3. you may need new spark plugs

4. starter may be going

5. fuel pressue is not sufficent, may be as simple as a new fuel filter

 

If it cranks, Its not the battery or starter.


Ive had that happen before (alongg with other members) All we can assume is that its a hicup in the ecu or something in the fuel (like it floods, or doesnt get pressure right away causing the ecu to do something wacky.

Try what NSXNEXT mentioned

 

alright thanks for the tips guys I will try what NSX said next time.

 

yeah, I don't think it's the starter. It would just click if it were either the starter or the battery.

 

does it happen after a bunch of short trips? this is common if you make frequent short trips and constantly start and stop the engine.

 

Not necessarily..now that i think about it...whenever i go back home and start it..it has a higher probabilty to "stall"...because none of my family members really drive it..so i think the long absence of somebody not driving it is causing the problem.. I'm not talking about just couple of days..i'm tlaking about week- couple of weeks so yea..that possibly is the problem.

 

yeah if youre going for weeks without starting it, then this seems pretty normal to me, i honestly don't think its anything to worry about.

its likely that the pressure in the gas line to the engine is low because its been sitting. when you try to start it for the first time in a while, it takes a little extra time (crank time) for the fuel pump to build enough pressure to feed the engine with enough fuel to get the system running.