hey guys,
i bought a 08 lx last april so i havnt gotten to see how it like cold weather in MO yet. i noticed the last few days when i start it in the morning it has some trouble, then makes a weird noise like when you turn turn the key in a car thats already started. im thinking its the started but dont know if its a problem i should get checked out or blame it on the cold temps and expect it to go away in the spring.

any thoughts? anyone ever experience this?

 

It should start with no problems in the cold, it should start just like it does in warm weather, the only difference you might notice is the cold idle might last a little longer and it should be around 2K rpm.

I would have the starter relay checked out, it sound like it is trying to engage the starter while the car is running.

 

Hoping someone can shed some light on this...I'm having the exact same problem with my '07 Civic SI, and unfortunately it gets progressively worse over time.

It turns over a few times, then makes the 'clicking' noise that timbo is referring to. Half the time it'll eventually start, other times it won't. The problem goes away on days that it is warmer out.

Really hoping someone can diagnose this.

Thank you!

 

Get a stronger battery (higher CCA).

 

Your problem sounds like a bad battery, the clicking is the starter solenoid that doesn't have enough power to engage the starter, these newer cars take quite a bit of power to run all the systems and start and run the car.

When you buy a battery get as many CCA(cold cranking amps) as you can get in a battery that will fit the case, I usually buy 1000 amp or as close to 1K.

 

This.

Not really.

Civics, Fits, CR-Vs, and 4-cylinder Accords are equipped from the factory with what is essentially a glorified motorcycle or lawn tractor battery. The engine doesn't need more than 200 amps to crank up.

Good luck finding a 51R battery with anything remotely close to 1000 CCA... most are half that or less. The highest I've seen is 590.

400-500 CCA is fine and more than enough for any 8th-gen Civic.

 

I have never bought a battery for any civics or honda cars I have owned, I used what was in the cars.

I wasn't sure what was available in this size battery, but I would look for something that would fit or come close to fitting, if I had to modify the battery tray to go bigger, longer wider if I could.

Many cars that I have had only took slight modifications to use larger battery's and still looked good if not looked close to stock, just like any other work you need to measure to make sure.