Honda Car Forum

"'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote in message
> Bryan,
>
> Inless your manual is completely different from the CRV and Odyssey
> manuals, it doesn't say to 'press the pedal to the floor'!
>
> It says: For Cold weather / high altitude starting: Turn off all
> electrical accessories (to reduce battery drain) HOLD the gas pedal
> half-way to the floor, turn the key to START position for up to 15
> seconds (no longer).
>
> When the engine is not running, pushing the pedal to the floor and back
> does NOTHING (except maybe free up a stuck throttle plate, but that's a
> different thread). Your car is fuel injected. There's no mechanical
> choke that needs to be 'loaded', and no accelerator pump to piss fuel
> into the venturi.
>
> We should really start calling it the air pedal, not gas pedal. Your
> manual is telling you to hold the pedal half way to the floor because
> the engine needs a little extra help getting air when it can't crank at
> full speed, and because that position sets the computer to the optimum
> fuel and ignition timing for cold starts.
>
> I don't think it's really suggested in the manual, but in winter I
> always perform the 'lamp check' to give the puel pump time to charge up
> the system, before I start to crank it.
>
> I hope this will clear up some confusion for some who don't understand
> cold weather starting. I had some preconcieved notions about Fuel
> Injection before I read my manual(s).
>
> 'Curly' On the chilly Canadian Prairies.

Thank you 'Curly' for the informative post (well, it wouldn't be *as*
informative if we all read the manual every once in a while -- I
remember skimming through it when I bought the car but that was in
Florida so, yes, I should give it a more thorough read again)

I will revise my starting procedure to (1) switch the key to 'On' (not
'Accesories' because that will start draining the batteries, right? Or
should I turn off the radio and turn it to 'Accesories?') and (2)
press the gas pedal about half way and hold it there for a couple of
seconds and finally (3) turn the key to Start position and hold it
until start or about 10 seconds.

Today was comparatively mild and it started within a second but cold
weather is on the way again, so this will come in very handy. Also, I
am taking her for service on Wednesday so I will ask them for advice
and post it here.

Drive safely all.

Bryan Canter wrote:

> Thank you 'Curly' for the informative post (well, it wouldn't be *as*
> informative if we all read the manual every once in a while -- I
> remember skimming through it when I bought the car but that was in
> Florida so, yes, I should give it a more thorough read again)
>
> I will revise my starting procedure to (1) switch the key to 'On' (not
> 'Accesories' because that will start draining the batteries, right? Or
> should I turn off the radio and turn it to 'Accesories?') and (2)
> press the gas pedal about half way and hold it there for a couple of
> seconds and finally (3) turn the key to Start position and hold it
> until start or about 10 seconds.
>
> Today was comparatively mild and it started within a second but cold
> weather is on the way again, so this will come in very handy. Also, I
> am taking her for service on Wednesday so I will ask them for advice
> and post it here.
>
> Drive safely all.

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

Bryan,

I'll clarify a couple of things you said, since this is a very timely
topic for many owners in Eastern Canada and the New England states...
The 'accessories' part is talking about conservation of your poor
battery's precious resources. In very cold weather your battery's
ability to crank is greatly diminished, so the point they're making:
Don't sit there with the headlights on, listing to the weather report,
with heater fan blowing, and then expect your engine to start
effortlessly.

About the gas pedal. the 'FINE' (love that) manual states that you hold
the pedal half-way to the floor _while_ cranking in extremely cold
weather, because 1_ The engine needs air. 2_ That position of the
throttle sets the computer for the best combination of ignition timing
and fuel mix.

About the key: The manual also states that you should check your 'idiot
lights' once in a while, and it gives the added bonus of waiting an
extra two seconds for the fuel pump to 'charge' the injection system
BEFORE you start cranking the engine. For the owners of the Hondas that
have MAIN RELAY PROBLEMS, it gives them the opportunity to listen to the
fuel pump run (or not run), before trying to start.

'Curly'
--

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

Started my Honda other day...wind chill factored in at -37C...
SouthWest Quebec....Honda belts sqeaked and moaned...but the sweet
baby started...

R





On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 23:37:04 GMT, "Sean Donaher" <nospam@nospam.ca>
wrote:

>That's perfectly normal when it gets really cold. I live in Nova Scotia and
>this morning it was
>-22 C (-7 F) and my 2003 Accord cranked fairly slow and took about 3-4
>seconds to start. As long as it starts, you're laughing. When it's cold
>the oil gets thick and it's harder for the starter to turn the engine. A
>cold battery doesn't help either. Like I said, as long as it starts, don't
>worry about it. Besides, what do you care about 1-2 seconds? The thing
>won't fire up the instant you turn the key. Most cars take 1-2 seconds to
>start in the middle of summer. If your car started in 1-2 seconds in the
>temperatures you mentioned, that's damn good.
>
>"Bryan Canter" <bcnewsgroups@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:614be1fb.0401081030.4ded7e11@posting.google. com...
>> Last few days (as the temps here in Boston have dropped to single
>> digits) my Accord 2000 has been taking a good 1-2 seconds to start.
>> Fuel tank has been near full all three days and last evening it was
>> well topped off. But it took its own sweet time starting this
>> morning. Not a problem right now, but it has me worried. All the more
>> because, it is parked in a covered parking lot overnight. Last winter
>> it never displayed any signs like these.
>>
>> Any pointers will be appreciated.
>

"'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote in message news:<4002D8C0.F36B59@interbaun.com>...
> Bryan,
>
> I'll clarify a couple of things you said, since this is a very timely

<snip>

> About the key: The manual also states that you should check your 'idiot
> lights' once in a while, and it gives the added bonus of waiting an
> extra two seconds for the fuel pump to 'charge' the injection system
> BEFORE you start cranking the engine. For the owners of the Hondas that
> have MAIN RELAY PROBLEMS, it gives them the opportunity to listen to the
> fuel pump run (or not run), before trying to start.

Hate to sound so dumb but what are 'idiot lights?' Sounds like you
mean all the lights in the dash. But why do they call them so?

bc

Bryan Canter wrote:
>
> "'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote in message news:<4002D8C0.F36B59@interbaun.com>...
> > Bryan,
> >
> > I'll clarify a couple of things you said, since this is a very timely
>
> <snip>
>
> > About the key: The manual also states that you should check your 'idiot
> > lights' once in a while, and it gives the added bonus of waiting an
> > extra two seconds for the fuel pump to 'charge' the injection system
> > BEFORE you start cranking the engine. For the owners of the Hondas that
> > have MAIN RELAY PROBLEMS, it gives them the opportunity to listen to the
> > fuel pump run (or not run), before trying to start.
>
> Hate to sound so dumb but what are 'idiot lights?' Sounds like you
> mean all the lights in the dash. But why do they call them so?
>
> bc
===============

bc,

They're called 'idiot lights' because they are used in the place of
guages, which gave much more information, but an IDIOT couldn't be
trusted to interpret the display. So we have idiot lights, but the
problem with them: A true idiot won't know that the lights have to be
checked from time to time (per the fine manual)

P.S. Don't you love it when you drive by another car and there's a light
(or two) glowing red, blue, or maybe amber on the dash? Makes me wonder
if there's a loose wire, possibly between the ears :-)

'Curly'

=============
--

Glad to hear it. What was the actual temperature? Wind chill doesn't
affect starting, only the rate at which the car cools down to the
actual temperature.

Coldest so far in Saint Paul (Minnesota) was about -5F. The car
cranked a little slowly, but started right up.

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:21:21 -0500, Bob <bluesmack@videotron.ca>
wrote:

>Started my Honda other day...wind chill factored in at -37C...
>SouthWest Quebec....Honda belts sqeaked and moaned...but the sweet
>baby started...
>
>R
>

TL wrote:
> Glad to hear it. What was the actual temperature? Wind chill doesn't
> affect starting, only the rate at which the car cools down to the
> actual temperature.
>
> Coldest so far in Saint Paul (Minnesota) was about -5F. The car
> cranked a little slowly, but started right up.
>
> On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:21:21 -0500, Bob <bluesmack@videotron.ca>
> wrote:
>
>> Started my Honda other day...wind chill factored in at -37C...
>> SouthWest Quebec....Honda belts sqeaked and moaned...but the sweet
>> baby started...
>>
>> R

12 year old Accord fired up on first crack in -27 C the other morning.
Mike

That morning my outdoor thermotor was at -27C, about -18F...tonight...
they're forecasting -28C...or -20F...it's presently (18:09 EST -18C)
Honda in garage...Left the 2004 Matrix AWD with fresh Synthetic
outside.

I should tape the sounds that baby will make tomorrow AM!

BTW that Matrix AWD is real good in the snow

R






On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 13:49:08 -0600, TL <tlehman@visi.com> wrote:

>Glad to hear it. What was the actual temperature? Wind chill doesn't
>affect starting, only the rate at which the car cools down to the
>actual temperature.

Good to know
>
>Coldest so far in Saint Paul (Minnesota) was about -5F. The car
>cranked a little slowly, but started right up.
>
>On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:21:21 -0500, Bob <bluesmack@videotron.ca>
>wrote:
>
>>Started my Honda other day...wind chill factored in at -37C...
>>SouthWest Quebec....Honda belts sqeaked and moaned...but the sweet
>>baby started...
>>
>>R
>>

Hi,
Make sure you push the gas pedal 2-3 times before engaging starter
when it is really cold. Even mentionedin the owners manual.
Tony

Bob wrote:
> That morning my outdoor thermotor was at -27C, about -18F...tonight...
> they're forecasting -28C...or -20F...it's presently (18:09 EST -18C)
> Honda in garage...Left the 2004 Matrix AWD with fresh Synthetic
> outside.
>
> I should tape the sounds that baby will make tomorrow AM!
>
> BTW that Matrix AWD is real good in the snow
>
> R
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 13:49:08 -0600, TL <tlehman@visi.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Glad to hear it. What was the actual temperature? Wind chill doesn't
>>affect starting, only the rate at which the car cools down to the
>>actual temperature.
>
>
> Good to know
>
>>Coldest so far in Saint Paul (Minnesota) was about -5F. The car
>>cranked a little slowly, but started right up.
>>
>>On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:21:21 -0500, Bob <bluesmack@videotron.ca>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Started my Honda other day...wind chill factored in at -37C...
>>>SouthWest Quebec....Honda belts sqeaked and moaned...but the sweet
>>>baby started...
>>>
>>>R
>>>
>
>

Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote in news:0I%Mb.84167$ts4.51362@pd7tw3no:

> Hi,
> Make sure you push the gas pedal 2-3 times before engaging starter
> when it is really cold. Even mentionedin the owners manual.
> Tony
>
> Bob wrote:
>> That morning my outdoor thermotor was at -27C, about -18F...tonight...
>> they're forecasting -28C...or -20F...it's presently (18:09 EST -18C)
>> Honda in garage...Left the 2004 Matrix AWD with fresh Synthetic
>> outside.
>>
>> I should tape the sounds that baby will make tomorrow AM!
>>
>> BTW that Matrix AWD is real good in the snow
>>

Don't you guys have a block heater? :-) ... try to stay warm!