'92 Civic LX, 1.6L, 5 speed manual, 240K miles

Over the past, maybe 6 months this problem has been getting progressively worse and I've ignored it until now.

Occasionally I will go to start my car, and instead of firing right up, the engine will slowly, and dull-like, crank, trying to start, then it usually gets enough gusto and finally starts.

At first appearance it felt like, as if overnight the battery had just leaked juice, and didn't have enough in it to start the car. That's what this seemed kind of symptomatic of.

However, recently, I was driving for about 30 minutes, went to a gas station, and tried to start it up and this happened. I just kept cranking slowly, but would never get the gusto to start, then immediately started when it was jumped. There were no issues once the car had actually started.

It's been getting worse and worse, so as now I would say there's only an 80% chance that it will start when I go to fire it up, and its time to get it fixed. Especially after I had to have it jumped when I went on a date yesterday. (It started before, then later when I went to drive her home, but of course not when we left the restaurant......)

Is this the starter motor, or ignition switch?

And what's actually happening to cause this problem, and why does it feel like the battery gets drained when in reality its probably fine, and why does jumping it immediately start it?

Thanks for your help!

 

Go to your closest advance auto or auto zone free battery testing.

 

If the battery is bad, then hypothetically the car would never start if it didn't start on the first couple cranks right? Since its requiring more electricity everytime you try to start it?

In this case I can sit there cranking for 20 seconds, and it will finally go, or sometimes if i've stopped altogether, only to try again an hour later and it fires right up, which indicates that the battery had enough power in it from the start.



Does this make sense?

 

Still get your battery checked its free...
Possibility could be due for a tune up gas filter could be clogged . Check your air filter for excessive dirt or rat nests. Plugs and wires. Ect if you get your battery checked mostly like advance or auto zone can check your alternator to.

 

Gas Filter, Air Filter, Plugs+Wires are all new within a year.

Alternator was just fixed 3 weeks ago after it failed.

 

I say get a tune up

 

Get a battery, problem solved..... Your battery can have 12 volts but not enough amperage to spin the starter over quickly. Depending on what part of the compression stroke its at it may spin very slowly at first. I've been a Service manager and technician for 28 years and its classic symptoms. Jumping it proves my theory, but I would get it check anyways. At my Honda dealer I do free battery tests on any vehicle that rolls in.

 

Isn't this the functional equivalent of a tune up?

 

Ok I'll get it checked today and report back if you guys are interested.

Thanks for the tips.

 

and you sir should remove your self from HT

 

lol.....

 

It was the battery, thanks guys!