It's a 94 Honda Civic DX. Ever since I got it, this is how it starts every day.
(I've had it for about a year.)

http://media.putfile.com/honda-start

If i cut it off after that, and start it again, it will start up a lot quicker.

What do you think is wrong?

 

Its a spark related issue. We are having the same problem with a friends car. Changed everything already. One thing we were told was that the matting surface of the dist. and the head if its to dirty it wont give a good ground for the ignitor. Might want to try cleaning that off (last thing we didnt try yet). Do you ever get a code 15 when you keep it turning over to start?

 

i doubt it'd be spark related...other wise he'd have that problem all day long. i'd lean towards fuel. try key on/key off/key on a few times and than crank and see what happens. sure sounds like its starved of fuel...

 

I have no idea what a code 15 is. I did recently replace my spark plugs and wires. I had oil leaking into one of the plugs. What are you talking about cleaning?

 

I replied just as you did it appears... didn't see your post til now.

Does it make a difference if I leave the key in the on position for a bit?

...or does it have to be "on, off, on, off"?

 

Well i tried that, and it didn't do anything to help.

Both, sat there for a bit with the key in on position, and turned it from on to off a few times--neither worked.

 

i wouldve said maybe the fuel pump isnt priming but you just covered that by leaving the key "on" for a bit...umm, distributor maybe...i doubt its your starter, but try hooking a multimeter up to the battery just to make sure your getting the correct power which should be a steady 14volts...or bring it to a mechanic and see what they say.

actually...the pump might be bad if they person who had the car before you drove the car on damn near empty gas tank all the time..and if you do the same it probably wont help. but if you fill the car once it gets to 1/4 tank left the damage may already be done if the owner before you always ran it dry (or almost dry very frequently ) so you might want to look in that direction if nothing else is effed up

 

how about pulling the dizzy cap and checking the rotor button for wear, could be very simple as a tune up

 

http://jdmlyfestyle.com/how_to...m.htm

check this out. the specs are about the same. this what i used when my whole dizzy went bad. i had the same long start when my icm when was starting to act funny. hope this helps.

 

in the morning before you start your car, put the key on the "on" position. smack your fuel tank with a rubber mallet/hammer as hard as you can without denting the tank. do it a bunch of times. now start the car. does it start up right away? or still the same?

 

It doesn't sound like it's firing up rich once it starts. It seems to go right into normal idle. With that said, have you ever changed the fuel filter, plugs, rotor or plug wires?
I'm just guessing here but I'm tossing optons at you. They are all simple replacements.
At least it does start

 

start by changing ur fuel filter, cap and rotor

 

My car sorta does that (but not nearly as long) its only when my tank is low on fuel (below 1/4 tank) i dont why it does this. It doesnt do it when the tank has more than 1/4 of fuel left. Does this mean my pump is bad/going out?

 

I have the same problem with my roommates car right now, but it takes longer and after it starts you smell a lot of gasoline.

 

check if ur distributor cap is crack or check is there any oil inside of it because that want happen to mine. u'll have to replace the whole distributor is that happen. mine use to have that start problem like that too and also check ur timing if i change the distributor

 

i m not sure wer u r located but if u r near by i m lindenhurst ny. if not i wud start by checking your cap and rotor and also check the fuel pressure on it with a gauge. also this only happens at cold starts or if u were to crank it the second time i wud b the same or start rite up ?