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Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

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Old 05-03-2009, 06:44 PM
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Default Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Its not drastic but definitely noticeable. When I fill the car up it turns over right away yet when the car gets to a quarter tank or less it has to crank a few extra times before it finally turns on. What part of my fuel system could be causing this? Is it a maintenance issue or does it sound like something needs to get replaced?

I drive an EM1, though this shouldn't make a difference.
Old 05-03-2009, 06:53 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

i wanna say your fuel pump could be starting to go bad but It's odd that it only occurs around 1/4 tank or so. Ill keep researching for you man.
Old 05-03-2009, 06:53 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

it's just hard to start...
is it low on gas?
it could be that the float switch gets stuck at 1/4 and your about on empty...
just a thought
but it would be the fuel pump more than likely starting to go out
Old 05-03-2009, 07:00 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Mine does the same thing at 1/4 tank too
Old 05-03-2009, 07:01 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Ive ran from a quarter down to empty so its not the switch.

Can I run a bigger fuel pump even though the car is stock right now, since I plan on doing a couple things to the car in the future I dont think it would make sense to have to buy 2 pumps a stock one now and a bigger one later unless I cant run the bigger one until necessary
Old 05-03-2009, 07:02 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

i think it would probably be the fuel pump as well. at least that's what i'd try first
Old 05-03-2009, 07:03 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

you can but you will need a fuel pressure regulator
with a larger pump and same map and injectors your pressure would be around 60
stock is 40 i think...
Old 05-03-2009, 07:04 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

or you can get it tuned...
but a FPR would be cheeper
Old 05-03-2009, 07:38 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

good god this is a common thing with the civic that is just the way the cars are. try turning the ign to ign II poss. let the fuel pressure come up for several seconds and try to start the car see if it starts normal
Old 05-03-2009, 08:07 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Originally Posted by instructor74
good god this is a common thing with the civic that is just the way the cars are. try turning the ign to ign II poss. let the fuel pressure come up for several seconds and try to start the car see if it starts normal
hahaha... yeah i have an EM1 as well and mine does the same thing but its just caused by the fuel being down in the bottom of the tank sooo it takes more time to prime... ehhh! a good thought
Old 05-03-2009, 09:14 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Originally Posted by 95jeremie
you can but you will need a fuel pressure regulator
with a larger pump and same map and injectors your pressure would be around 60
stock is 40 i think...
Has this happened to you? I've had a Walbro 255 LPH on my stock D16 DD for two years now, with stock regulator. No smoke or weird smells @ 30+ mpg,
Old 05-03-2009, 10:05 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

lol how many cranks are a few cranks?
Old 05-04-2009, 02:03 AM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Originally Posted by instructor74
good god this is a common thing with the civic that is just the way the cars are. try turning the ign to ign II poss. let the fuel pressure come up for several seconds and try to start the car see if it starts normal
happens with my EG and my DC
Old 05-04-2009, 06:32 AM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Both of my em1's have been this way. I'd imagine its just that its working harder to pull fuel in. I don't think its really a problem unless of course its that you have to turn the key more than once to get it going.
Old 05-04-2009, 06:59 AM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Originally Posted by MrRabbit87
lol how many cranks are a few cranks?
Normally it goes like this- chi, chi, chi, vroom

Quarter tank- chi, chi, chi, chi , chi, vroooom.

LOL
Old 05-04-2009, 07:10 AM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Mine does this as well, I did notice however if you turn the ignition over to the #2 position as stated and give it a second it will start right up. I believe this primes the engine with fuel allowing it to start up better, or at least thats my thought.
Old 05-04-2009, 07:11 AM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Sending unit taking a dump, get a new pump in that bad boy!
Old 05-04-2009, 07:22 AM
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Icon6 92 eg change intake to 96-98 intake

I have a 92 civic eg with a 1.5 -vech in it. I would like to put a 96-98 intake on . Does any one know how to wire the ide air control off a 96-98 intake so i can get it wired up
Old 05-04-2009, 04:32 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

im thinkin fuel pump, maybe fuel filter
Old 05-04-2009, 04:36 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

every civic i have ever owned has done this.

had no problems out of any of them
Old 05-04-2009, 04:41 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

It's common, like stated earlier let it prime first (you can actually hear the pump if you listen closely) and it will start like it does normally. Every honda/acura I have had did this. Your fuel pump is not going out.
Old 05-04-2009, 04:43 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

I used to have a 92 civic dx and it didn't do that. I now have a 99 civic but I don't let the fuel go below half so I don't know if it has this problem (but I doubt it).
Old 05-04-2009, 05:48 PM
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Default Re: 92 eg change intake to 96-98 intake

Originally Posted by SEBASTEAN929
I have a 92 civic eg with a 1.5 -vech in it. I would like to put a 96-98 intake on . Does any one know how to wire the ide air control off a 96-98 intake so i can get it wired up
Where did you come from?
Old 05-04-2009, 08:39 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

^^^ lol
Old 05-04-2009, 08:55 PM
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Default Re: Car struggles to start on quarter tank or less, why?

Originally Posted by instructor74
good god this is a common thing with the civic that is just the way the cars are. try turning the ign to ign II poss. let the fuel pressure come up for several seconds and try to start the car see if it starts normal
mine does the same thing...
it works for me sometimes but not always.


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