Honda Car Forum

Hello Everyone,

I've been plagued with two problems, one of which
just popped up tonight after returning from the
mall with some Christmas shopping. But first on with problem one. Just to
let everyone know, my car is always in tip-top shape, its been rust-proofed
and always has all the oil changes and Honda inspections done timely.

1) Just recently (in the last 4 days) the engine whicle starting up, is
just not perky anymore. Normally Hondas in general have a quick startup
(upon turning the ignition key). But mine, on the other just suddenly has
devloped a lag in the startup, like its about to "die" on me. After a about
lagging four rounds (while the ignition key is turned) the engine starts up.
I called in Honda and the guy is saying that it might be my battery as Honda
batteries have a 4-5 year life span. But the thing is, I havent got a single
battery light indicator on my dash and after startup the car runs smoothly
(CD player runs, heater). I also just recently got my 96,000km major
inspection done.

2) This next problem has really got me pissed (excuse the language). As I
was saying, after returning to my car with some Christmas shopping and
inserting the ignition key into my door lock the key wouldnt turn! Its like
something got jammed, and it was fine all today (never had the problem since
I bought the car). I resorted to opening the door from the passenger side
and crawling into the driver's side. From what I've deducted, someone tried
to break into my vehicle using some sort of hanger-type wire (inserting into
door lock). But I guess they failed, probably someone was walking by? Now
thats just a deduction, but I also doubt that my key lock would just "fail"
on me out of the blue.

Any ideas? and how much am I looking at to get this fixed? **pulls out
hair**


Thanks for to everyone ahead of time.

"Rick" <ricksen2k@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:elSzb.153237$Fv8.20618@twister01.bloor.is.net .cable.rogers.com...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I've been plagued with two problems, one of which
> just popped up tonight after returning from the
> mall with some Christmas shopping. But first on with problem one. Just to
> let everyone know, my car is always in tip-top shape, its been
rust-proofed
> and always has all the oil changes and Honda inspections done timely.
>
> 1) Just recently (in the last 4 days) the engine whicle starting up,
is
> just not perky anymore. Normally Hondas in general have a quick startup
> (upon turning the ignition key). But mine, on the other just suddenly has
> devloped a lag in the startup, like its about to "die" on me. After a
about
> lagging four rounds (while the ignition key is turned) the engine starts
up.
> I called in Honda and the guy is saying that it might be my battery as
Honda
> batteries have a 4-5 year life span. But the thing is, I havent got a
single
> battery light indicator on my dash and after startup the car runs smoothly
> (CD player runs, heater). I also just recently got my 96,000km major
> inspection done.

still could be the battery, especially as its getting colder out. you could
test it, make sure its at least 12.3v... anything less, and its likely bad.
id also test with the car running, to make sure its putting out at least 14v
from the alternator. then turn all lights, heater, wipers on and make sure
the voltage holds.
>
> 2) This next problem has really got me pissed (excuse the language). As I
> was saying, after returning to my car with some Christmas shopping and
> inserting the ignition key into my door lock the key wouldnt turn! Its
like
> something got jammed, and it was fine all today (never had the problem
since
> I bought the car). I resorted to opening the door from the passenger side
> and crawling into the driver's side. From what I've deducted, someone
tried
> to break into my vehicle using some sort of hanger-type wire (inserting
into

any evidence of this?

> door lock). But I guess they failed, probably someone was walking by? Now
> thats just a deduction, but I also doubt that my key lock would just
"fail"
> on me out of the blue.

try a lock de-icer or lubricant? might have gotten some water in and frozen?

SoCalMike,
You know what? it WAS water that was frozen in the door
lock! I even had a car wash (touchless kind, so there is more water spray).
done yesterday, so that was the culprit I never experienced that before
with this car so it didnt come to mind at that moment. Well you put my mind
to ease!

Thanks for your prompt reply!


"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news7Vzb.307307$ao4.1053534@attbi_s51...
>
> "Rick" <ricksen2k@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:elSzb.153237$Fv8.20618@twister01.bloor.is.net .cable.rogers.com...
> > Hello Everyone,
> >
> > I've been plagued with two problems, one of
which
> > just popped up tonight after returning from the
> > mall with some Christmas shopping. But first on with problem one. Just
to
> > let everyone know, my car is always in tip-top shape, its been
> rust-proofed
> > and always has all the oil changes and Honda inspections done timely.
> >
> > 1) Just recently (in the last 4 days) the engine whicle starting up,
> is
> > just not perky anymore. Normally Hondas in general have a quick startup
> > (upon turning the ignition key). But mine, on the other just suddenly
has
> > devloped a lag in the startup, like its about to "die" on me. After a
> about
> > lagging four rounds (while the ignition key is turned) the engine starts
> up.
> > I called in Honda and the guy is saying that it might be my battery as
> Honda
> > batteries have a 4-5 year life span. But the thing is, I havent got a
> single
> > battery light indicator on my dash and after startup the car runs
smoothly
> > (CD player runs, heater). I also just recently got my 96,000km major
> > inspection done.
>
> still could be the battery, especially as its getting colder out. you
could
> test it, make sure its at least 12.3v... anything less, and its likely
bad.
> id also test with the car running, to make sure its putting out at least
14v
> from the alternator. then turn all lights, heater, wipers on and make sure
> the voltage holds.
> >
> > 2) This next problem has really got me pissed (excuse the language). As
I
> > was saying, after returning to my car with some Christmas shopping and
> > inserting the ignition key into my door lock the key wouldnt turn! Its
> like
> > something got jammed, and it was fine all today (never had the problem
> since
> > I bought the car). I resorted to opening the door from the passenger
side
> > and crawling into the driver's side. From what I've deducted, someone
> tried
> > to break into my vehicle using some sort of hanger-type wire (inserting
> into
>
> any evidence of this?
>
> > door lock). But I guess they failed, probably someone was walking by?
Now
> > thats just a deduction, but I also doubt that my key lock would just
> "fail"
> > on me out of the blue.
>
> try a lock de-icer or lubricant? might have gotten some water in and
frozen?
>
>

"Rick" <ricksen2k@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:5Z2Ab.174671$Fv8.62513@twister01.bloor.is.net .cable.rogers.com...
> SoCalMike,
> You know what? it WAS water that was frozen in the
door
> lock! I even had a car wash (touchless kind, so there is more water
spray).
> done yesterday, so that was the culprit I never experienced that before
> with this car so it didnt come to mind at that moment. Well you put my
mind
> to ease!
>
> Thanks for your prompt reply!

be sure to do something about that battery, its showing signs of age.

SoCalMike,

I took the car into Honda this morning, and yes, the
battery was on its last legs, the technician diagnosed the battery as the
cause of the lag in starting without even doing the APR test (which I was
trying to avoid). They replaced the battery with a new one, and the start up
is as perky as before, should be good for another 4-5 years.

Thanks



"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7z3Ab.437609$Fm2.435929@attbi_s04...
>
> "Rick" <ricksen2k@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:5Z2Ab.174671$Fv8.62513@twister01.bloor.is.net .cable.rogers.com...
> > SoCalMike,
> > You know what? it WAS water that was frozen in the
> door
> > lock! I even had a car wash (touchless kind, so there is more water
> spray).
> > done yesterday, so that was the culprit I never experienced that before
> > with this car so it didnt come to mind at that moment. Well you put my
> mind
> > to ease!
> >
> > Thanks for your prompt reply!
>
> be sure to do something about that battery, its showing signs of age.
>
>