CRX Update: it runs and I don't know why

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
03/03/2015 at 18:45 • Filed to: None

Follow up from earlier, I went home and got in the CRX. Turned the key to on and heard the distinct sound of a fuel pump pumping. Seriously, Ive never paid attention to it but that sucker is noticeable.

Turned it to start and...fired right up. High idle but its fairly cold and does that normally.

I'm stumped. The car just hates the cold apparently. Any thoughts? I went ahead and ordered new spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, and distributor rotor. I don't necessarily think all this will help, but it won't hurt and I bought this car to learn some wrenching skills so for $100 shipped (along with a new hood release cable) it should make for a nice weekend project this summer.

It's still not perfect though, quite a lot of noise coming from the accessories, noticeably a whining sound in the cabin responding to throttle. Best guess is water pump is due for replacing, which I was planning on doing this weekend with the timing belt anyways.

TL;DR: My CRX wishes it lived in the tropics, apparently

DISCUSSION (17)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 18:53

My car hates the cold too. It'll idle 400rpm higher for a couple seconds when it's below zero before it settles. Diesels are usually worse with cold than petrols though.

Jayhawk Jake > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
03/03/2015 at 18:55

It stays high for a while. It was up there for a few minutes while I sat in the car and only came down to like 1200. Usually when I drive it it eventually comes down to 800 or so where it vibrates like one of those magic finger coin operated beds

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 18:58

Ah mine is only for 5-10 seconds when I start it, idles at 1300 for that time then settles at 850 where it's meant to be. My car vibrates a lot but it's meant to because diesel.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 19:01

All of my Civics have idled around 1200, even 1500rpm if it was below -10. but normally idle around 850rpm when warmed up and happy. But they have never refused to start because of the cold.

Jayhawk Jake > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/03/2015 at 19:16

That's why I'm confused. I don't understand why it won't start in the cold.

I saw some people suggestion re-soldering the main fuel relay, so I might give that a shot. New plugs and distributor rotor should hopefully help as well

daender > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 19:54

Eh, the Miata idles high on cold starts (usually anything below 40 degrees) up to about 1500 and will slowly drop down to about 1100-1200 after about 2 minutes of idling. After it's warmed up, it settles into its usually 900 rpm idle.

Jayhawk Jake > daender
03/03/2015 at 20:36

Yeah, the idle doesn't worry me too much. The lack of starting does.

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 20:37

As an owner of many late eighties/ early nineties Hondas and Acuras...

That idling in cold was always "normal" as far as I could tell. Its when they start oscillating between 1500 and 500 that you gotta worry...

Jayhawk Jake > AthomSfere
03/03/2015 at 20:44

Great, thanks.

Any thoughts on it not starting in cold?

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 21:03

Nothing concrete that I don't assume you checked... namely battery and alternator.

I also missed the original post on this though, I think.

Jayhawk Jake > AthomSfere
03/03/2015 at 21:09

It was this morning.

I'm starting to think I just turn the key too quickly...

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 21:18

Yep, I went back and found it.

I think its a good catch on the fuel pump too. Never had one fail on a Honda, but makes sense. I know when one failed on my Taurus it was pretty sudden and certain though.

My fuel injected Hondas never seemed to hate the cold nearly as much as the carburated ones though.

Short of it, I'd probably go to Autozone and have the alternator and battery tested if you haven't. If either is just getting older then cold will lower your cold cranking amps (and of course your plugs and wires address lower loss of what you are putting out).

Good luck though, and I should let you take the Si out if you want before I leave town for your gopro series ;)

Jayhawk Jake > AthomSfere
03/03/2015 at 21:20

I didn't think of the battery, that makes sense.

When are you leaving town?

Roadster Man > daender
03/03/2015 at 21:46

After it's warm, does yours still take 2-3 seconds of high idling before it drops down below 1k rpm? My NA started doing that in the cold and I dunno why.

Roadster Man > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 21:48

My buddy has an 97 Si that has 200K but has been taken very well care of. It's got a really funky hunting idle when it's cold out. So at least your idle issue isn't out of the ordinary, it might just be part of being in the rad CRX club.

daender > Roadster Man
03/03/2015 at 22:03

Nah, there's rare occasions where it's jump to 2000 on start up but instantly settle into its proper idle (either 900 or 1500 depending on the temp).

AthomSfere > Jayhawk Jake
03/04/2015 at 06:52

March 16th, so not much time.

Sadly, I am real busy here too so barring tomorrow and maybe one day next week that might be an empty promise.