Greetings folks,

My 2012 TSX Wagon did something quite unusual, and since my knowledge is far more old school, I thought I would run this by you. The car had sat for two days, weather 50 degrees, plenty of battery, it cranked but wouldn't start. Didn't even try to start, just a rapidly spinning starter motor turning over the engine. No check engine light, and no codes according to an Ultra Gauge I have mounted in the car. Not finding a port in the fuel line to check pressure from the pump, I disconnected a line under the hood, wrapped it in a rag, and turned on the key for a second. I could hear the fuel pump and it did indeed pump gas into the rag. Re-connected the fuel line, tried starting again, no luck. Knowing this was the wrong thing to do with a modern drive by wire car, I depressed the gas pedal slightly and cranked the engine. It immediately started, running rich (black smoke from the exhaust) for a second or two. Everything was fine then. The car now starts normally.

Obviously there was un-burned gasoline in the engine when it started, which makes sense I suppose.

Does anyone know what tapping the pedal does while starting? There's no accelerator cable of course, so I'm unsure if the throttle is even opening when I do that. Also, does this engine (2.4l - 4 cyl) have an idle air control valve? I snooped around for one on the car, and unless it's beneath the throttle body I couldn't find one. Looking for the part online draws a blank. I'm aware those can cause issues involving idling and possibly starting.

Thank you.....

 

more like coincidence.
check the voltage on the battery, most likely the culprit.
if battery checks out good with 12.2-4 volts with the car off, it may be the starter.

 

Well, the engine was definitely cranking. As I recall the UltraGauge showed 12.4V with the ignition on, but not engine not running. I did find out these engines don't use an idle air control valve, so that's in the clear. I will keep an eye on the battery voltage as you suggested. It's a three week old Wally World battery so that's certainly suspect. I'm pretty sure it read 11.8V while cranking.

 

Check that injectors are firing w/ a noid light or feel injectors for vibration. If good check for spark w/ a test light.

good luck

 

Will do Tex. I have those things. Thank you.

 

Sounds like the engine was flooded. By pressing the gas pedal, I believe it stops adding fuel and allows the engine to reset the throttle. If you search, several people have had this happen randomly, most often after a quick start and shut down.

 

Yep, this has happened to me after a moving the car just a couple feet. Thought what the hell, if I was in my '78 MGB I'd depress the accelerator to the floor to start a flooded engine, and sure enough it worked. Didn't make sense though...