my girlfriends 99 civic 4 dr EX operates/runs fine and smooth, however, when she starts up her car and her gas is pretty low to empty(1/8 quarter to the bottom and lower), she has a hard time starting up, like it chugs 2-5 seconds b4 it starts, it always seems like it will start up but takes forever to actually start. now i know when ur car is low on gas some people have told me its hard to start up a car, but i think its weird this happens, ive been an owner of a camry and new 98-02 model accord, and never had this problem, and ive been below empty many times and never had a problem starting a car. she just recently changed her battery cuz her mechanic said she needed to(who knows if she had to?), she does need to change her spark plugs(according to the manual), could there be a particular reason this happens? is it normal, and am i just lucky my cars dont do this, i know a simple solution, fill the gas up b4 close to empty cuz its bad anyway, but im just wondering if she has a bad part or something else clogged relating to fuel or something that could lead to other problems. sorry, and thxs guys.

 

Could be fuel filter related. Sometimes, there is a buildup of sludge that only gets sucked into the fuel lines when the tank is low. Or it could just have problems developing fuel pressure when the tank is low.

 

it happens when u dont fill your tank........its trying to suck gas from an almost empty tank thats why

 

well, i dont know if its cuz simply an empty tank, yesterday she was barely below half, ill say 1/3 to the bottom even, and she still had that struggling start up. ive been in plenty different cars, classes of cars, bmws, hyundais, benzs, toyotas, and no one struggles like hers to start up once in below the half mark. all my friends have had their car near bottom tank, and it may start up not as smooth, but my gfs car clearly struggles, almost like it wont start, im so used to it, i know its gonna start everytime no matter how long it takes, but to someone in her car for the first time your thinking the cars has a weak battery or starter or something.

 

agreed. this often happened to me so i jus try keep full.....ish

 

i would try a good old service,
1) OIL AND FILTER
2) fuel filter
2) air filter
4) spark plugs
5) ht leads
6) dont know if it has a coil pack or a dizzy but if dizzy then clean all contacts.


also check your base timing. has the timing belt been changed recently.

 

It may actually be a weak battery.

 

this is exactly the correct answer. mine does it also when I'm running low on fuel. also happens to every person I know with a 96-00 civic.

 

if the engine is turning slower during startup its the battery. if it still turns at the same speed but just takes longer its her fuel level. also if you havent already changed her fuel filter, now would be a good time it only takes 5 minutes.

 

THANK you very much guys! i will do the fuel filter, like i said, the battery was just changed last weeK... it turns about the same speed always a bit slower only when the fuel is low