2004 Accord EXL slow start

Dear Experts,

I just purchased a brand new 2004 Accord EXL yesterday.
One thing I noticed is that the car seems to work hard when
it tried to start ( 3 or 4 seconds 'dadada' sound before it starts)

The car had less than 10 miles on it. The salesman told me that
it is possbile that the cars has been sitting on the lot for too long
and battery might run low.

I drove it home and open the hood and see the battery indicator
is completely dark.

Is the slow start really related to the battery strength? Will it
improve if I drive on the highway extensively? Is there anything
I need to worry about?

Thanks in advance for all your answers.

Eugene

 

I'd drive it for a bit. The fuel system needs to pressurize too before the
motor will start. If you turn off your fan and radio and turn the ignition
to the start position without turning the ignition key you will be able to
hear the fuel pump running to pressurize the system.

Wait until the fuel pump stops and the attempt to start the car and see what
happens.

 

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

Eugene,

The battery is probably not fully charged, and the engine is not broken
in yet. You need to read your manual, so that you'll break the car in
properly.

Read the part about the 'Lamp Test' of the dash lights... While you're
doing the test, you'll hear your fuel pump run for a second, as LBJGH
has mentioned.

Enjoy your new honda. Learn how the ABS works. Learn how / why the air
bags work. Learn how to fill it with gas properly. You'll save a lot of
trips to the newsgroup if you get to know the manual. Don't change your
oil early :-(

'Curly'

 

id put the battery on a charger. and check the voltage before and after.
might be a bad battery- never know.

dont change it early the first time- let it go the whole 7500 miles.

 

I forgot where I read this (Hondacars.com faq?) but it is supposed to do
that. Apparently it reduces emissions on startup. No problems with mine so
far.

 

"K5" wrote

? Mine starts up right away.

 

Mine starts up right away on the second or third crank but it just sounds a
bit like the battery is low on the first crank then it picks up speed. Hard
to describe in writing.

 

"K5" wrote

Take it back to the dealer and ask them to check it out. It shouldn't behave
that way. I think mine originally had under 10 miles on the odometer, and it
never behaved as you describe.

Or, if it's just that the battery needs charging (and why, I can't imagine
unless it or the system is defective)... take it out for a long-ish straight
drive on the highway to give it some exercise. Just keep varying the speed
if you're still in the 'break-in' period, and don't exceed 60mph for now.
(Whether these break-in guidelines are necessary or not, I'd rather be safe
than sorry.)

 

It's not a problem so I won't worry about it. Just communicating to the OP
my observation.

 

Starting with '03 model year, Accord, the crank shaft has to make at
least one "clean complete" revolution before the sensors start to track
crank/cam position. After the crank position has been determined, the
PCM will fire the injectors and the ignition to start the engine. What I
have experienced is a noticeable increase (from 1.5 seconds, up to 3.0
seconds) in crank time before the engine starts.

If you're used to turning the IG switch and have the engine start in < 1
second; it aint going to happen on this engine.

Slow cranking is another matter; perhaps as others' have said the battery
is in trouble.

--
Tp,

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