'89 Civic SI Turns Over And Starts But Takes A Long Time To Start

[DjMosy]

Hey my civic is starting to get a little annoying - heres the deal

Start Here: id like to start this off with naming a sound. u know when ur car is running and u turn the key over it makes that horrible grind sound - lets call that sound (that horrible grind sound) lol- - ok on to the question......

- lets say i get up in the morning to start my car....
i have to turn the key for at least 3 seconds before it starts to like get life "on its own"

- and even then it freaking sounds like it wont start - but it "always" does....

BUTTT if i turn the key for even a milisecond longer than it takes to start the car it makes that "horrible grind sound"

Conclusion: i bleive there is 2 problems but im not sure. basically #1 getting rid of that "horrible grind sound" when im starting the engine. and #2 is getting my car to start smoothly - not all bubbly sounding like it about to freaking not start.

IF ANYONE HELPS ME I LOVE U! lol - j/k

[CRXperiment]

That grinding sound could be you just cranking the starter longer than it needs to be turned. Maybe your holding the key too long? Also, when was the last time you gave the car a full tune up?

[johnb16a2]

Sounds like the starter solinoid might be getting lazy, I'd look there. GL

[DjMosy]

Originally Posted by CRXperiment

That grinding sound could be you just cranking the starter longer than it needs to be turned. Maybe your holding the key too long? Also, when was the last time you gave the car a full tune up?

ROFL thats exactly what i said....

but in other cars if u turn the key to start the car it doesnt crank over longer than it needs to when its just starting up - unless u like let go of the key and then like try to turn it again when the car is ALREADY on.

[DjMosy]

Originally Posted by johnb16a2

Sounds like the starter solinoid might be getting lazy, I'd look there. GL

ok can u tell me what that does?

[Hybrid1990crx]

that noise is the starter gear mashing into your flywheel, not a good thing.

first place I would check is your plugs and wires, make sure your not leaking any oil into your plug chambers, since older hondas are known to do that with the valve cover gromets. also couldnt hurt to change the fuel filter.

[DjMosy]

Originally Posted by Hybrid1990crx

that noise is the starter gear mashing into your flywheel, not a good thing.

first place I would check is your plugs and wires, make sure your not leaking any oil into your plug chambers, since older hondas are known to do that with the valve cover gromets. also couldnt hurt to change the fuel filter.

How would leaking oil into there make the starter gear mash into the flywheel? and how would i check if there is oil leaking into there? because when i do go about 4-6 x1000 rpm i smell oil burning but when im driving idle-3 rpm it doesnt smell like it is... but yeh. tell me how to check that and ill tell u if it is

[johnb16a2]

Originally Posted by johnb16a2

Sounds like the starter solinoid might be getting lazy, I'd look there. GL

Originally Posted by DjMosy

ok can u tell me what that does?

Sure, the starter solinoid is part of the starter and it pushes the out the little gear that engages the flywheel (big gear) when you turn the key to the start position, the same part pulls the little gear back in when you let go of the key during a start attempt. If it's slow to move the gear in and out it may cause the grinding you discribe. So it might be your starter.

However, I also agree with Hybrid1990crx, your flywheel could also be missing a few teeth but I can't connect letting go of the key too slow during the start attempt and the noise...

I believe there is an inspection panel on the bottom of the tranny for this kind of thing, if not you can remove the starter, rotate the motor by hand, and look there for missing teeth. GL

[DjMosy]

ok thanks guys ill check it all out

[Hybrid1990crx]

Originally Posted by DjMosy

How would leaking oil into there make the starter gear mash into the flywheel? and how would i check if there is oil leaking into there? because when i do go about 4-6 x1000 rpm i smell oil burning but when im driving idle-3 rpm it doesnt smell like it is... but yeh. tell me how to check that and ill tell u if it is

i didnt mean the starter leaking oil into anything. I was saying that for the noise you keep getting.

for the oil, i meant your spark plug grommets might be old and shitty and allowing oil to seep past into your sparkplug chambers and not allowing optimal spark to start the motor.