[aychaych]

Hey all,

Recently purchased a used 2017 V6 Touring Accord privately. Had it inspected at a local Honda dealership and a couple of things came up (brake service, transmission service, timing belt due soon). However, I recently noticed that the car sounds like it struggles to turn on sometimes. It doesn't happen every time but enough to make me worry a bit. Any idea what could be the cause of this? I'm likely going to take it into a shop but thought others may have experience with this sort of thing.

Here's a link to a short video I posted of the issue

Thanks!

 

[WiiMaster]

There's an interesting one. It almost sounds like the starter is skipping along. Wouldn't surprise me, starter issues are pretty common with this gen, especially on the V6, though I was under the impression the 16-17s had fewer issues with it.

 

[aychaych]

There's an interesting one. It almost sounds like the starter is skipping along. Wouldn't surprise me, starter issues are pretty common with this gen, especially on the V6, though I was under the impression the 16-17s had fewer issues with it.

Is that a big issue? I'll be taking it in to a mechanic to have a look but just want to be ready for a big blow if that is a big deal haha.

 

[joe'vil]

Is that a big issue? I'll be taking it in to a mechanic to have a look but just want to be ready for a big blow if that is a big deal haha.

How many miles and is it cranking strong but just takes a few seconds to start? My 2013 accord was struggling to start occasionally and the culprit ended up being the fule pump. It could be the starter still though.

 

[aychaych]

How many miles and is it cranking strong but just takes a few seconds to start? My 2013 accord was struggling to start occasionally and the culprit ended up being the fule pump. It could be the starter still though.

It has 113KM (70K miles). It cranks fine but that last crank sounds like it's stuttering. And it only happens sometimes, both with the remote starter (both the original Honda one and the MyCar app one) as well as the push start when I'm in the car starting it.

 

[WiiMaster]

A fuel related issue wouldn't sound like that usually. A fuel issue would typically just sound like the engine cranking over normally but for a longer period of time.

 

[zippster]

Does it only happen if the car is turned off for a couple hours and then you try to start it? Mine does the same thing occasionally when the engine is a little warm. It never happens if the engine is cold or hot. There's a thread on this issue:

Long Cranking Duration Only When A Little Warm

At a high level, this is the issue my 44,000 mile, 2016 Honda Accord EX-L V6 is having. Intermittent long cranking time when the engine is warm’ish. The normal cranking time is 1 - 1.5 second duration. When it does exhibit the issue, the cranking time is about 4 - 5 seconds. The issue is getting...

www.driveaccord.net

 

[joe'vil]

Does it only happen if the car is turned off for a couple hours and then you try to start it? Mine does the same thing occasionally when the engine is a little warm. It never happens if the engine is cold or hot. There's a thread on this issue:

Long Cranking Duration Only When A Little Warm

At a high level, this is the issue my 44,000 mile, 2016 Honda Accord EX-L V6 is having. Intermittent long cranking time when the engine is warm’ish. The normal cranking time is 1 - 1.5 second duration. When it does exhibit the issue, the cranking time is about 4 - 5 seconds. The issue is getting...

www.driveaccord.net

Yeah that issue is 100% the low pressure fuel pump thats in the gas tank, that's exactly what was happening to mine

 

[joe'vil]

It has 113KM (70K miles). It cranks fine but that last crank sounds like it's stuttering. And it only happens sometimes, both with the remote starter (both the original Honda one and the MyCar app one) as well as the push start when I'm in the car starting it.

Oh wow I totally missed the video link lmao, yeah that's a new one to my knowledge. I'd like to say it's the starter.

 

[aychaych]

Does it only happen if the car is turned off for a couple hours and then you try to start it? Mine does the same thing occasionally when the engine is a little warm. It never happens if the engine is cold or hot. There's a thread on this issue:

Long Cranking Duration Only When A Little Warm

At a high level, this is the issue my 44,000 mile, 2016 Honda Accord EX-L V6 is having. Intermittent long cranking time when the engine is warm’ish. The normal cranking time is 1 - 1.5 second duration. When it does exhibit the issue, the cranking time is about 4 - 5 seconds. The issue is getting...

www.driveaccord.net

So I came home from work, car had been off for ~12 hours and it turned on no problem at all. I drove the car and came home. Decided to try turning it on again about 1.5 later to see what would happen and it did the weird start again. So it was off for 12 hours and had no issues, but it acted weird turning on a second time 1.5 hours after being driven.

 

[joe'vil]

So I came home from work, car had been off for ~12 hours and it turned on no problem at all. I drove the car and came home. Decided to try turning it on again about 1.5 later to see what would happen and it did the weird start again. So it was off for 12 hours and had no issues, but it acted weird turning on a second time 1.5 hours after being driven.

Huh, that points pack to the fuel issue. Maybe it's both? You can get a fuel pump for cheap on ebay for around $50, maybe start with that?

 

[zippster]

Yeah that issue is 100% the low pressure fuel pump thats in the gas tank, that's exactly what was happening to mine

Did replacing the fuel pump completely resolve the problem? Did you replace it yourself? From the youtube videos I watched it doesn't look too difficult to replace.

 

[joe'vil]

Did replacing the fuel pump completely resolve the problem? Did you replace it yourself? From the youtube videos I watched it doesn't look too difficult to replace.

Yes and yes. It's a very easy job. Be sure to disconnect your battery before working on anything fuel related. After that, You have to take the rear lower seat part out and that's simply an 10mm bolt and 2 clips, after that the cover will be right in the middle. Looks like this:

The 4 plastic tabs can be turned with a flat head to release the cover plate. Under that is a harness and a fuel line, the harness you simple disconnect and the fuel line can be disconnect by a flat head screwdriver by pressing down the tab and pulling the line off the connector. Fuel line:

After everything is disconnect you can remove the lock ring around the entire unit, there's a few ways to do this, I used a big flat head and a hammer. You can look on yt for other ways. After that just repeat the steps backwards.

 

[joe'vil]

Yes and yes. It's a very easy job. Be sure to disconnect your battery before working on anything fuel related. After that, You have to take the rear lower seat part out and that's simply an 10mm bolt and 2 clips, after that the cover will be right in the middle. Looks like this: View attachment 548329

The 4 plastic tabs can be turned with a flat head to release the cover plate. Under than there is one harness and fuel line, the harness you simple disconnect and the fuel line can be disconnect by a flat head screwdriver by pressing down the tab and pulling the line off the connector. Fuel line:

View attachment 548330

After everything is disconnect you can remove the lock ring around the entire unit, there's a few ways to do this, I used a big flat head and a hammer. You can look on yt for other ways. After that just repeat the steps backwards.

Another thing I should note, make sure to do this with a near empty tank of gas. Makes less of a mess

 

[Bkord123]

I would get a cheap battery tester just to make sure the battery is strong and within spec.

 

[aychaych]

Huh, that points pack to the fuel issue. Maybe it's both? You can get a fuel pump for cheap on ebay for around $50, maybe start with that?

So I've been paying close attention to when the weird starts would occur, and every single time that it's happened, the car has been off for a couple hours-ish. It never happens when I start it first thing in the morning (after being off all night) or when I get to my car after work (after being off for 8+ hours). Also, if I start my car and turn it off multiple times back-to-back, it never occurs (unless the first time turning it on was within a couple of hours of it being driven like I originally noted).

This sort of sounds like the issue in that linked thread where OP mentioned it only happened when their Accord was warm, but not cold or recently running. Going to keep monitoring for a bit to make sure my observations are solid and then take that information to a reputable Honda mechanic in my city.

 

[aychaych]

I would get a cheap battery tester just to make sure the battery is strong and within spec.

When I purchased the car I had a Honda dealership do an inspection on it and they noted the battery was perfectly fine, so I'm not sure if that could be the cause.

 

[joe'vil]

So I've been paying close attention to when the weird starts would occur, and every single time that it's happened, the car has been off for a couple hours-ish. It never happens when I start it first thing in the morning (after being off all night) or when I get to my car after work (after being off for 8+ hours). Also, if I start my car and turn it off multiple times back-to-back, it never occurs (unless the first time turning it on was within a couple of hours of it being driven like I originally noted).

This sort of sounds like the issue in that linked thread where OP mentioned it only happened when their Accord was warm, but not cold or recently running. Going to keep monitoring for a bit to make sure my observations are solid and then take that information to a reputable Honda mechanic in my city.

This is VERY similar what was happing to my 2013 i4 ex.

I actually made a post about it a few months ago: Link

something you can try is going to start the car around the time it would do the long crank but before starting it put the car in the "run" position without the engine on by pressing the Start button twice without hitting the brake. Leave it in the run position for a few seconds and then try starting the car, by putting it in the run position you are priming the fuel pump and giving it a chance to build up pressure. If it starts up normal than its a fuel pump issue.

 

[aychaych]

This is VERY similar what was happing to my 2013 i4 ex.

I actually made a post about it a few months ago: Link

something you can try is going to start the car around the time it would do the long crank but before starting it put the car in the "run" position without the engine on by pressing the Start button twice without hitting the brake. Leave it in the run position for a few seconds and then try starting the car, by putting it in the run position you are priming the fuel pump and giving it a chance to build up pressure. If it starts up normal than its a fuel pump issue.

So I've tried doing this twice today (both times ~1.5 hours after the car was last drive) and unfortunately it did not mitigate the issue. However, as noted before, I can turn the car off immediately after the weird start and turn it back on right away and it has no problem.

I also do have the MyCar starter app installed on this car. I'm wondering if it's possible that could have something to do with it? I'm not really knowledgable about this stuff so I could be completely out to lunch. Is it possible that a third party starter could be interfering somehow?

 

[aychaych]

Video of the car turning on from inside.