Honda Car Forum

I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start. It turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or fuel or both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just fine. When is dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All the spark plug wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from exhaust.

Any ideas what is wrong?

That is quite odd. I thought right away that perhaps water in the fuel.
But then how much would it take to cause a problem when freezing and how
much would it take to become a driveability problem when above freezing.
Perhaps a bottle of HEET in the tank might help. Otherwise I fail to see a
reason why a freezing temperature would prevent a car from firing.

You said it was turning over fine so I assume it is turning over fast enough
to start. I believe it has to turn over at minimum rpm to start but I could
be wrong.

Maybe there are some technical service bulletins about this available at the
national highway transportation system or something like that.

CaptainKrunch


"garyj" <garyj@mybluelight.com> wrote in message
news:4a1e25b72d3c37592b211b5469c0ef68@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until
recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start. It
turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or fuel or
both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just fine. When is
dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All the spark plug
wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from exhaust.
>
> Any ideas what is wrong?
>

garyj wrote:
>
> I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start. It turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or fuel or both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just fine. When is dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All the spark plug wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from exhaust.
>
> Any ideas what is wrong?

=====================

Read the manual.

Do the 'lamp test' and listen to the fuel pump charge up the pressure.
Push pedal almost to the floor. Start Odyssey.

You may have a leaky injector that's flooding your engine overnight.

When it did start on the days after it wouldn't start, did it sputter
and clatter, then run poorly for the first 20 seconds? That's how our
Odyssey ran when the engine got flooded by a leaky injector. Holding the
pedal to the floor is OK in a flooded or very COLD engine. Owner's
Manual says so.

If you have ethanol-enhanced fuel avaiiable (or a can of injector
cleaner) try that too.

Second guess: If you smelled no fuel from the tailpipe, read this:
http://members.rogers.com/john-ings/MainRelay.HTM

It's probably one or the other. :-)

'Curly'

====================

In article
<4a1e25b72d3c37592b211b5469c0ef68@localhost.talkab outautos.com>, "garyj"
<garyj@mybluelight.com> wrote:

> I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until
recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start.
It turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or
fuel or both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just
fine. When is dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All
the spark plug wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from
exhaust.
>
> Any ideas what is wrong?

I once lived in the mountains of Virginia and it would get so cold that we
always had trouble getting the car started on those cold mornings. One
neighbor made use of some sort of electric blanket over the engine. I
don't know if they still sell them--they were made especially for cars. If
so, they probably sell them in auto parts stores such as NAPA. You might
try one to see if it solves your problem. I heard an advertisement on
radio for a chemical that you can mix with the gas to prevent cold weather
start up problems. While in the auto parts store--you should ask if they
have such a product.

Newer cars should have no problems starting when it is cold. I live in
Minnesota where is regularly is below zero on January mornings. Other
than battery problems, I've never had a problem starting a '90 or
later model car. When I moved here in 1980, lots of cars had plugs
hanging out of the grill to plug in engine block heaters. Other than
up north where it really gets cold, you just don't see those anymore.
Certainly a 2000 Odyssey should have no problems simply below
freezing.

The gas is a possibility, as others have mentioned, though it would
seem odd to me that you've not had any other symptoms before now. Fuel
pump could be defective and not working properlyl in the colder
weather. I had a computer in a Volvo that didn't work correctly when
it got cold, but again, that meant below zero.



On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 18:31:43 -0800, tomwilson@nospamhotmail.com (Tom
Wilson) wrote:

>In article
><4a1e25b72d3c37592b211b5469c0ef68@localhost.talka boutautos.com>, "garyj"
><garyj@mybluelight.com> wrote:
>
>> I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until
>recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start.
>It turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or
>fuel or both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just
>fine. When is dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All
>the spark plug wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from
>exhaust.
>>
>> Any ideas what is wrong?
>
>I once lived in the mountains of Virginia and it would get so cold that we
>always had trouble getting the car started on those cold mornings. One
>neighbor made use of some sort of electric blanket over the engine. I
>don't know if they still sell them--they were made especially for cars. If
>so, they probably sell them in auto parts stores such as NAPA. You might
>try one to see if it solves your problem. I heard an advertisement on
>radio for a chemical that you can mix with the gas to prevent cold weather
>start up problems. While in the auto parts store--you should ask if they
>have such a product.

garyj wrote:
>
> I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start. It turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or fuel or both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just fine. When is dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All the spark plug wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from exhaust.
>
> Any ideas what is wrong?
=====================

Gary,

Yesterday is was -16.6F (-27c) here in Edmonton. Our '95 Odyssey is
sitting outside, not plugged in. I had to move it to a different part of
the driveway while we shovelled some snow. It started OK, but the
cranking was a bit slow because it has 10w-30 oil in it. We're not
driving it this winter so the oil didn't get changed over to 5w-30. I
was careful to listen to the fuel pump while checking the instrument
lights. I also held the gas pedal half way to the floor.

Let us know how you make out with your problem.

"Curly'

====================

I would start by using synthetic oil and of the proper weight given the
temperatures. I use synthetic all the time but most assuredly I would be
using it with those kinds of temperatures. I am sure that will help the
spin speed of the engine and help it to start. There is no reason to
depress the accelerator pedal at all on a fuel injected vehicle unless you
hold it all the way down, which shuts off the injectors and helps to clear
the engine of extra fuel if it gets flooded. Turning the key should be all
that is needed.

CaptainKrunch

"'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:3FF99DA8.E3534679@interbaun.com...
> garyj wrote:
> >
> > I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until
recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start. It
turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or fuel or
both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just fine. When is
dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All the spark plug
wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from exhaust.
> >
> > Any ideas what is wrong?
> =====================
>
> Gary,
>
> Yesterday is was -16.6F (-27c) here in Edmonton. Our '95 Odyssey is
> sitting outside, not plugged in. I had to move it to a different part of
> the driveway while we shovelled some snow. It started OK, but the
> cranking was a bit slow because it has 10w-30 oil in it. We're not
> driving it this winter so the oil didn't get changed over to 5w-30. I
> was careful to listen to the fuel pump while checking the instrument
> lights. I also held the gas pedal half way to the floor.
>
> Let us know how you make out with your problem.
>
> "Curly'
>
> ====================

"CaptainKrunch" <nothing@nobody.com> wrote in message
news:E46dnR69O8iWTWSiRVn-uA@comcast.com...

There is no reason to
> depress the accelerator pedal at all on a fuel injected vehicle unless you
> hold it all the way down, which shuts off the injectors and helps to clear
> the engine of extra fuel if it gets flooded.

Shuts off the injectors? Eh?
I floor the pedal, the injectors are shut off....certainly it won't start
without injectors?
So, a floored FI car can _not_ start.

I learn something new everyday.

assuming you don't have a floor mat in the way. And then again I don't want
to put my foot in my mouth by saying all cars but I would bet money that the
majority are like that.

I imagine it has to be that way to help if an engine with EFI got flooded,
if for some reason the engine wasn't starting and fuel was pumping into the
engine.



CaptainKrunch







"Stephen Bigelow" <sbigelowPOV@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:tskKb.152$AJB.26@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.ro gers.com...
>
> "CaptainKrunch" <nothing@nobody.com> wrote in message
> news:E46dnR69O8iWTWSiRVn-uA@comcast.com...
>
> There is no reason to
> > depress the accelerator pedal at all on a fuel injected vehicle unless
you
> > hold it all the way down, which shuts off the injectors and helps to
clear
> > the engine of extra fuel if it gets flooded.
>
> Shuts off the injectors? Eh?
> I floor the pedal, the injectors are shut off....certainly it won't start
> without injectors?
> So, a floored FI car can _not_ start.
>
> I learn something new everyday.
>
>

CaptainKrunch wrote:
>
> I would start by using synthetic oil and of the proper weight given the
> temperatures. I use synthetic all the time but most assuredly I would be
> using it with those kinds of temperatures. I am sure that will help the
> spin speed of the engine and help it to start. There is no reason to
> depress the accelerator pedal at all on a fuel injected vehicle unless you
> hold it all the way down, which shuts off the injectors and helps to clear
> the engine of extra fuel if it gets flooded. Turning the key should be all
> that is needed.
>
> CaptainKrunch
>
> "'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote in message
> news:3FF99DA8.E3534679@interbaun.com...
> > garyj wrote:
> > >
> > > I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey. I have never had any trouble with it until
> recently when the weather went below freezing and the car wouldn't start. It
> turns over just fine but no cylinders fire at all: like no spark or fuel or
> both. When the weather gets above freezing it then starts just fine. When is
> dropps below freezing, it turns over but won't start. All the spark plug
> wires seem to be hidden, and I don't smell any fuel from exhaust.
> > >
> > > Any ideas what is wrong?
> > =====================
> >
> > Gary,
> >
> > Yesterday is was -16.6F (-27c) here in Edmonton. Our '95 Odyssey is
> > sitting outside, not plugged in. I had to move it to a different part of
> > the driveway while we shovelled some snow. It started OK, but the
> > cranking was a bit slow because it has 10w-30 oil in it. We're not
> > driving it this winter so the oil didn't get changed over to 5w-30. I
> > was careful to listen to the fuel pump while checking the instrument
> > lights. I also held the gas pedal half way to the floor.
> >
> > Let us know how you make out with your problem.
> >
> > "Curly'
> >
> > ====================

Captain,
READ THE WHOLE THREAD--

Our Odyssey is sitting, unused, so oil didn't get changed to 'winter
oil'.
The manual says, in COLD weather, to push pedal half way to floor.
(engine needs air)
I suggested his Odyssey might be flooded if it doesn't fire at all
(which was happening to ours because of a leaky injector)
Good point about 'all the way to the floor'
Maybe he's gone over to Odyclub to shop around for better answers.

'Curly'

====================