When i start up my car it's different everytime. It seems that it struggles to start up, but it eventually does. sometimes it's longer than other times to start up. It also makes a loud pop noise while starting up sometimes also.

Here's the thing, maybe within 15 minutes, and i start it up. it starts up perfectly fine. it starts mainly in the morning on the first start up were it does it's little hiccup.

I've taken the car to the dealership, autozone. they say the battery is fine, the starter is fine. i guess they don't see it when i start it up in the morning. any ideas?

 

cold starts are always going to be alittle rough, as opposed to warm starts.

cold starts= car left without starting for at least 12 hours.
warm starts = the engine is already warm.

now with that being said, your description does seem like your cold starts are TOO ROUGH.

instead of electronics - alternator, battery...you should be looking into the fuel delivery and spark to see if everything is running right.

 

Check plugs, wires, EGR valve, throttle body cleanliness, etc.

The owners manual DOES say that cold start up times/sounds will differ in their effort to try to eliminate/reduce emissions on start up.

How many miles on your car?

 

i really think its one of the above that you've stated. and it has 58xxx. just purchased it.

 

i had the answer correct, and you quoted JJh.

yes, i'm mad breaux

 

lol sorry. how often should you change the plugs and wires for these cars?

 

I'm playing.


I live in Houston as well.
but, you need to check them.

also agree on checking the throttle body, and EGR valve.

 

I have the same issue I have a 04TL and im going to clean the EGR and throttle body to see if that helps.

 

any DIY write ups on how to clean these?

 

quite easy.

the EGR valve is held on by two bolts.
take off two bolts and check the valve.
it will be caked with carbon build up if that was the culprit.

i can assure you the throttle body is clean and will not have an effect on start ups.

 

Unless you use a oily K&N air filter like me then your throttle body will be dirtyyyy as can be after only 7000 miles of driving with it.

The bolts that hold your EGR valve on may or may not be rusty; I doubt it because you have such low mileage. But, if they are rusty, observe caution in removing them because those bolts are notorious for heads breaking off the bolts in Hondas.

Be selective on the carb cleaner that you use to clean the EGR valve. Try to find one that is sensor safe or you risk damaging the rubber diaphragm that is inside the EGR valve.

 

Should've bought a Base TL

 

^ I was comming in here to say this.

The TL-S is dodgy bra. Way lower quality than the base. It's built in Romania or something I think.

J/K . Yeah, check the EGR. I cleaned mine when I bought the car at 65K. It was pretty dirty. Never noticed a difference when I cleaned it but the car never had a problem to begin with so probably just preventative maintenance.

 

couple things OP:

1> if you start the car and rev it and hear a pop, its a misfire and it will happen as Acura designed this to heat the cats up quicker....

2> if the car is talking toooo long to start, then its electrical....

3> if the car starts and then kinda dies out with the rpms falling, its the air/fuel delivery system....

how to go about fixing it???

SEAFOAM her....

get 2 cans of seafoam...
when your fuel empty light is on, throw in half the can of seafoam in the gas tank...
the other half can using the slurp slurp method into the vac port....
a full can of seafoam in the engine crank case....

let her sit for 15 minutes....and take her for a spin....do the italian tune up (hit redline couple times....city driving, hit redline only on 1st....highway driving, hit redline on 2nd and 3rd gears)....this will clean your fuel and air delivery system....

then take her to advance auto parts and get a free electrical system check up....this will tell you if your stater/alternator/battery is doing fine

 

this is what it looked like before i cleaned it.





is this even bad looking? am i suppose to take this thing apart?

 

Maybe. Someone with hard starting issues should have their friend with a scantool check it for possible. Iac valve problems, or have the fuelpressure checked. It'll be a start...