I searched a bit and couldn't find anything on this, so here it is:

I have a 1999 civic ex coupe, 120k miles

Any time the car is starting cold it has to crank 7-12ish times to start. It's a rough start.
Once the car is running, there aren't any noticeable problems. If the car is turned off, and then restarted (hot start) it cranks right up.

I have no CELs displaying.

Timing belt/water pump was changed at 106k miles according to previous owner.

I changed plugs/wires/fuel filter/oil/oil filter 2 weeks ago.

A few friends and myself pulled the plugs out to see that they are covered in carbon already.

Does anyone have any ideas on this? We are all stumped and I do not care to take this to a shop/dealer since all they will do is start replacing things 1 by 1 until it's fixed, which I can do myself.

Thanks in advance.

 

try a new battery

 

Thanks for the reply, but the battery was tested and the voltage is the same as a new one.

Any other ideas?

 

hmm, how much fuel is the car on average when you start it and do you turn the key til the main relay clicks and then start the car or do you just full on start the car as soon as the key goes into the ignition? - how is your fuel pump?

 

it could be your main relay...located at passenger side kick panel

 

I think this is what you mean;

I turn the key to the on position (not starting), wait 5 seconds til after the fuel pump stops running and then turn the key fully to start the car.

I rarely go to gas light on in terms of fuel in the tank.

I see no issues with the fuel pump. It hasn't been tested officially by any means, but if it were the fuel pump, wouldn't you say I would have issues when the car is running?

 

What could I do to test if the main relay is bad?

 

its possible it could not be priming right away - lol and this is a very dumb question but hey, ignorance is bliss...is your car flat when you're starting it cold??

id also try running an injector cleaner and see if that helps a bit

 

Yes, the car is flat in my garage, at it's worst it is MAYBE a 1 degree incline.

I've run seafoam through the gas tank and the PCV.

As far as priming, I've tried turning the key to on, off, on, a few times to try to rid of that possibility. So far, that method has done nothing. It still takes way too many cranks to start.

 

im not sure then - you pretty much checked everything i wouldve checked had it happened to me...id say bring it to a mechanic if you have a 2ndary car


fuel pressure good???

 

Ok, thanks for your efforts. I want to avoid a mechanic if I can. I don't wish to overspend on this. I may have to go that route soon though.


Anyone else have any ideas?

 

The fuel pressure does seem good. After testing the starting, I've pulled the plugs and found them slightly wet from the gas (obviously due to the 10ish cranks).

My thoughts tend to lean more toward the not enough spark part.