Civic-EG.com Forum 3.3.1

- Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:35 pm #76718 Occasionally, when the car has been sitting for a few hours, It cranks for a few seconds and makes a gasping noise, like it's choked for air/gas. It's sorta odd and hella scary. It's never a problem if the car has been running recently, just when I'm first starting the car up in the morning, or after getting out of school. I usually remedy the sound by pumping the gas while starting. It doesn't really help, but it sounds louder when it finally starts, so the sound compensates for the weird sounding startup.


(the ladies love it... not really)

- Fri Oct 31, 2008 4:11 pm #76723 most cars make a sound, normally the intake. Remember once the car is running its a smooth system, there is vacuum where it needs to be and all parts are lubricated.

From a dead start seems kinda expected, vacuum pressure is non-existant etc etc

- Fri Oct 31, 2008 6:54 pm #76736 naw man. this sound just started about a week ago. I know normal car sounds, and this aint one of them. Normally the car takes a second to turn on, cold start or otherwise. Lately, when the car has been sitting for a few hours, it takes 3-4 seconds of cranking, followed by a pffffft sound, then it turns on. A coupla times it has taken two attempts to get her running.

[suspendedHatch]

- Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:54 pm #76761 I know the sound! When I had my cranking fuel settings too lean on the AEM EMS it would crank for a long time and then make that sound like you'd make if someone were choking you and suddenly let go.

Is your fuel pump priming? Is your coolant temp sensor working? How filthy are your injectors? When's the last time you changed the fuel filter and the fuel pump sock?

- Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:04 am #76892

I know the sound! When I had my cranking fuel settings too lean on the AEM EMS it would crank for a long time and then make that sound like you'd make if someone were choking you and suddenly let go.

Is your fuel pump priming? Is your coolant temp sensor working? How filthy are your injectors? When's the last time you changed the fuel filter and the fuel pump sock?

I'm not too sure what you mean by priming, sorry, I'm a total noob. The coolant temp sensor is not working. We are actually thinking I have a blown head gasket because when I bought the car a year or so ago, there was a red rust like residue all over the engine bay, and the radiator was an aftermarket one. When we checked out the thermostat housing, there was no thermostat in there. Soooo, we figured that the previous owner was trying to cover up possible engine problems. I haven't checked my injectors (not sure how) but I did just buy some injector cleaner today. I have never changed the filter or the sock. My guess is the guy who had the car before me hasn't either.



I'll post a sound clip of the beast firing up tommorow when I get a chance. It sounds like a vah-vah-vah-vah-vah-vah-pffffftt-plufft-plufft-car starts.

- Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:14 am #76893 I've got it!

it sorta sounds like a lawnmower right when it's starting up, and the gas lever isn't being held down all the way. Do you guys get what I'm saying? it cranks, makes a hollow sucking sound (like a sort ram intake after you turn the car off) and then put-puts a couple of times like a lawn mower being starved before the engine finally roars to life.

[suspendedHatch]

- Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:13 am #76987 You have a laundry list of problems and you're asking for what now? Fix your car! Any of the things you mentioned could easily cause that.

Your car needs the coolant sensor to know how much fuel to inject to start. Ambient air temperature is the most critical determining factor.