Ping Some Ideas

[simplegreen]

So im not totally with out ideas on what it could be but i watned to get a few hits back from you guys.

Twice now my hatch has done something very odd. It cranked but didn't start. Let me explain both times to you which contridict my thoughts initially.

1st time. it was like 2 weeks since i've driven the car.. got in started it up idled a bit funny.. i didn't let it warm up (hot out lol) so i drove it 3 blocks to quizno's.. went back out.. the car didn't start... check the battery terminal.. checked the starter cables it all looked good.. so i was kinda pissed.. walked back to my place got the other civic with the jumpers.. got back to the car.. it started right up .. no problem..


So the other day i'd been driving the car for a good hour.. got home and wanted to go back out for something.. did it again.. so took the xterra and came back few hours later.. car started right up.

Symptoms:

Car cranks hard.. doesnt' seem to be the battery.. but could be.. im not sure.
Again car is cranking fine doesn't seem to be the starter
oil level is good

loose ground or something??

[Doughboy]

loose ground, or just crusty as ass.. Clean your ground first, The only thing that has me thinking otherwise is that I wouldnt think it would it would even crank hard enough if this was the case.

Could it be the alternator? Never experienced symptoms of it "going out" just gone out.. Thats when the battery CEL turned on.

[96ek_hatch]

Also, check your fuel pump... how much gas did it have in it? full tank? half tank? sometimes when you don't have much gas... it cracks forever without starting up.. check that out.

[simplegreen]

yeah car had a full tank the second time.. low the first time. so i dont think it's that.. im well aware of that honda bug.

not sure about the fuel pump explain...

[karizmah]

Did you check the ground yet? The one at the starter?
that would be my best guess.

[mikelowrey]

i realize u mentioned u checked the starter cables, but did u get a chance to check out the ignition switch?

[simplegreen]

no i can't say i have checked the ignition switch.. as a matter of fact im not sure i know how....

[CivicSi04']

this seemed prevalent in my older car. we ruled it down to basically vapor lock in the fuel lines. sometimes i could take off the gas cap and it would start, and other times i had to put a lil gas in the mani to get it going.

[dubcac]

Possibly a weak spark? Try plugs/cap/rotor tune up.

[estebones]

I know your solution... swap the r itno the ahtch, get a GSR motor for the coupe and call it a day!